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COLUMBUS — The Columbus Community Hospital is offering an opportunity for residents to take care of their heart health during American Heart Month by providing free screenings for cholesterol and A1C at the Wellness Center from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15.
The Wellness Center will begin screening at 8 a.m. each day and conclude screenings at 9 a.m. No appointments are required as CCH looks to provide residents with necessary heart care and increase awareness for the importance of hearth health as well as the dangers of neglecting heart health.
The service from CCH is part of the American Heart Month campaign that began in 1964 to increase the level of awareness for American citizens over their health in general, but especially their hearts.
Heart attacks are some of the biggest dangers for U.S. citizens with millions of people suffering from heart attacks and many passing from the affliction. President Lyndon B. Johnson first made the proclamation after suffering heart attacks of his own. Each successive president has recognized American Heart Health during February since Johnson’s proclamation.
The U.S. is celebrating its 60th year participating in the awareness campaign as they look to decrease the high numbers of heart attack and stroke victims in the country. The month starts off with National Wear Red Day on the first Friday of February, which was Feb. 2 this year. According to the American Heart Association, wearing red helps raise awareness as many adult men and women participate in behaviors and habits that may increase their risk of heart disease.
Low levels of activity, poor diet, heavy drinking and smoking have all been linked with poor heart health has these behaviors actively lower the heart’s ability to work effectively. Most forms of heart disease are generally preventable according to the AHA. Still, millions of Americans are afflicted as heart disease claims the greatest number of lives in the U.S. every year, and an even larger number worldwide.
