National Hearth Month
www.heart.org

The month of February is dominated by images of hearts — a great reminder to take care of your heart during American Heart Month. One in three people in the U.S. suffers from heart disease, which can include severe chest pain, heart attacks, heart failure and stroke. There are a few simple ways, though, to help prevent heart issues.

The Million Heart Campaign, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years, encourages people to remember their ABCS: ask your doctor if you should take an Aspirin every day, get treated for high Blood Pressure or Cholestorol, and if you Smoke, get help to quit. Here are online resources to learn more about aspirin regimens, assessing blood pressure, cholesterol treatments and smoking's effect on the heart.

Heart disease is particuarly dangerous for women. In fact, it is the number one killer of women in America. On February 3, people across the nation will show their support for women's heart health on National Wear Red Day by putting on a favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or red dress pin. Find out more here and join in the movement yourself. You can also learn about more heart health events from the American Heart Association.

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is hosting a free Heart Smart Seminar Thursday, Feb. 23 to inform the community about heart health. Read this article about why you should attend.

National Senior Independence Month
www.ncoa.org

In February, American celebrate National Senior Independence Month. One of the most important ways to maintain independence as you age is the protect your health! Healthfinder.gov gives these simple tips to help you stay healthy with age:

• Choose healthy food
• Keep your body and mind active
• Get regular checkups
• Take steps to prevent accidents

Nutrition is an important part of overall health. Be sure to choose lots of vegetables and fruits of different colors; make sure most of your grains (like rice and pasta) are whole grains; drink low-fat or fat-free milk; choose lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans, eggs and nuts; and stay away from trans and saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar. Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about senior nutrition.

Staying physically active can reduce your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. It helps you avoid falls and other injuries so that you can live on your own longer, and it can even prevent depression and help keep your mind sharp. Read these tips about being active safely, and talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regimen.

Working on balance and strength are important aspects of preventing falls and accidents that can result in serious injury. The National Institute of Health provides some exercises to try that improve balance and strength.

National Children's Dental Health Month
www.ada.org

Dental health habits are learned early, which is why this month's observance of Children's Dental Health Month is so important. Teach your kids now the right ways to take care of their teeth and give them the tools to have a healthy mouth for the rest of their lives.

You can print out images for kids about how to floss in English and en Español and how to brush their teeth in English and en Español.

For younger kids, the story of Flossy and Buck McGrinn who dance and sing their way to happy teeth inspires kids to keep their teeth clean and healthy. You can download the story to share with your kids here in English and en Español, and the whole set of activity sheets that go with the story here in English and en Español.