American Heart Month: supporting heart health & preventing heart disease

February is the month that gets us thinking about hearts — the candy ones and the beating ones in our chest.

Designated as American Heart Month, it aims to remind people to either start or continue practicing heart-healthy habits. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing nearly 655,000 Americans each year — one in every four deaths.

By becoming aware of risk factors in our lives and the conditions and habits that put us at higher risk for heart disease, we can take preventative action. The Haxtun H...