02/10/2026
February is American Heart Month, so our Nurse Practitioner, Rachael Marshall, is sharing about how we can be a steward of and advocate for heart health in February!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined. It is often overlooked because symptoms in women may be subtle or atypical, including fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, jaw or back pain, dizziness, or indigestion.
The good news is that many risk factors are within our control. Research shows that regular movement, nourishing food, managing stress, adequate sleep, not smoking, and routine health screenings can greatly reduce risk. Risk increases with certain conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, chronic stress, autoimmune disease, family history of heart disease, and hormonal changes during menopause. Pregnancy-related conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth also raise long-term cardiovascular risk.
This February, wear red to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind women to listen to their bodies and seek care when something doesn’t feel right.
Our bodies are a gift, and caring for our hearts is one way we steward that gift well!
