It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans.

President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who’d had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation in 1964. 

This year, the federally designated event is even more important due to the impact of the coronavirus on the public’s heart health, including potential harmful effects on the heart and vascular system, according to recent research.

And while in lockdown, more people have engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating poorly, drinking more alcohol and limiting physical activity, that can contribute to heart disease.

Meanwhile, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans and is still the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the AHA’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2021 Update.  About 647.00 Americans die from heart disease each year–that is 1 in every 4 deaths.

Here are some books/ebooks available with your Library card that can offer guidance and help as you strive to focus more on  your cardiac health.

• American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Reducing Sodium and Fat in Your Diet
• Cardiovascular Health: Living Your Best with a Healthy Heart by Martin Juneau
• Coronary Heart Disease: From Diagnosis to Treatment by Barry M. Cohen
• The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Joel Furhman
• The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease- and the statin-free plan that will by Jonny Bowden
• Healthy Habits for Your Heart: 100 Simple, Effective Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure and Maintain Your Heart’s Health by Monique Tello
• Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar
• Heart Solution for Women: A Proven Program to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Mark Menolascino
• The New American Heart Association Cookbook: Revised and Updated with More Than 100 All-New Recipes
• The New Science of Fighting Silent Heart Disease: Causes, Diagnoses, Prevention, and Treatments by Harold L. Karpman

Here are links to resources from the American Heart Association, including recipes, foods that are high in sodium, and how to get started with being more physically active.

• American Heart Association Recipes 
• Top 25 Foods that Add Sodium to Your Diet 
• Healthy Living Healthy Eating 

Here are some ebooks on heart health on Hoopla.

-Archana, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian