AFMC to promote American Heart Month in February Published Jan. 18, 2013 Air Force Material Command Wellness Support Center WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and the importance of heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; approximately one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke. You can take action for your health and lower your risk of developing heart disease by: Maintaining a healthy weight Monitoring your blood pressure Limiting the amount of dietary fat, cholesterol, and alcohol you consume Exercising regularly Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke Managing stress Knowing your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose Civilian Health Promotion Services will be conducting heart-healthy activities during American Heart Month to help prevent heart disease and increase awareness of heart healthy lifestyle habits. Activities include: The Heart and Sole Walking Initiative for physical activity Heart-healthy education classes for awareness and prevention Cardiac Risk Profile Wellness Screenings to monitor for risk factors (for Department of Defense civilians only) During the month of February, Air Force Materiel Command will be promoting the Heart and Sole Walking Initiative. This initiative involves the use of the AFMC Wellness Support Center website (http://www.afmcwellness.com) and the Pedometer Walking Program. The goal of the initiative is to log steps into the Pedometer Walking Program five days a week during the month, for a total of 140,000 steps. Participants who complete this task will receive a travel fitness kit. The Heart and Sole Walking Initiative is open to AFMC active duty military and appropriated-fund civilian employees. To sign up for the Heart and Sole Walking Initiative, visit http://www.afmcwellness.com or contact your local CHPS team for more information.