❤️ Heart Month 2026: A Call to Action — Know Your Heart, Know Your Risk

Every February, American Heart Association leads the nation in recognizing American Heart Month, a time to focus on the health of our hearts and to take action to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), the No. 1 cause of death in the United States [(www.heart.org)]. Cleveland Clinic is world renowned for cardiovascular care and patients travel from near and far with the hope of salvaging what they have been told is unsalvageable. Or for the promise of quality, safety and the high reliability systems which are the north star of each and every Cleveland Clinic team. As a Cleveland Clinic vascular surgeon, I am honored to join this month’s effort to promote awareness of this all too common chronic medical condition, especially on behalf of those most impacted by limited access to cardiovascular care.

Click here to Learn about cardiovascular deserts

Cardiovascular disease is not one single condition — it’s a broad spectrum of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels and includes hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease), structural heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and peripheral vascular disorders such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and carotid stenosis that can lead to stroke and limb loss.

Understanding Cardiovascular Deserts

One critical concept we must highlight this Heart Month is that of cardiovascular deserts — geographic areas with limited access to cardiovascular specialists and services. Originally described in the Journal of the American Heart Association, cardiovascular deserts may occur in rural communities that are miles from specialists or in urban settings where structural barriers like transportation, socioeconomic disadvantage, and healthcare workforce shortages limit access to care. These deserts contribute to delays in diagnosis, inadequate prevention, and advanced disease at presentation.

Whether it’s patients struggling to see a cardiologist, a vascular surgeon, or even primary care providers who can screen and manage early disease, cardiovascular deserts increase risk and worsen outcomes.

Risk Factors at the Root of It All

Cardiovascular disease rarely strikes in isolation — it is usually the downstream result of common and interconnected risk factors:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Diabetes mellitus

• Hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol and triglycerides)

• Chronic kidney disease

At the root of these risk factors are modifiable lifestyle and social determinants of health: diet quality, physical activity, and social influences like income, education, access to healthy food, safe spaces for exercise, and equitable healthcare access. These social drivers shape every step of the cardiovascular disease continuum.

Healthy diets rich in whole foods, regular physical activity, and avoidance of tobacco reduce risk. Equally important are systems that ensure education, opportunity, and medical access for all.

How You Can Take Action

This American Heart Month, you aren’t just observing — you’re participating. Learn CPR, get your blood pressure checked, support healthy food access in your community, and help friends and family understand their risk. Ordinary actions can save lives.

Cleveland & National Heart Month Events — Join the Movement

Here are some known events and initiatives you can participate in — both national and in the Greater Cleveland area:

National & Association Events

National American Heart Month Activities (February 1–28)

• Campaign & resources from American Heart Association promoting awareness, CPR training, and lifesaving education throughout February. Includes downloadable toolkits and infographic assets like Hands-Only CPR and AED information. (www.heart.org)

National Wear Red Day

• Held the first Friday of February, a signature event of Heart Month dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease especially in women and historically underserved communities. (NHLBI, NIH)

Association of Black Cardiologists Events

The Association of Black Cardiologists hosts several events during February that local advocates and patients can join, including:

• Mississippi Congregational Network Go Red Event (Feb 7)

• Bloodlines Film Screening & Dialogue (Feb 6)
  (Check the ABC Event Calendar for updates and more events.) (Association of Black Cardiologists)

Cleveland Area Awareness & Activities

While specific 2026 Heart Month community events in Cleveland are still being finalized, here are established local heart health engagement opportunities:

• American Heart Association Cleveland — local AHA chapter offering educational resources, community outreach, CPR classes, and Heart Month announcements.

• Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Education — the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic regularly shares podcasts, webinars, and heart health campaigns during Heart Month, such as Love Your Heart programming and educational sessions. (Cleveland Clinic)

Additionally, mark your calendar for broader Cleveland cardiac engagement events such as the annual Heart & Stroke Ball, typically held in the spring, bringing together clinicians, advocates, and community partners to support cardiovascular care and research. (Aha Cleveland)

Heart disease affects millions of Americans — including children, adults, and elders. Yet it is one of the most preventable and treatable conditions when we understand risk, access care early, and work together to eliminate inequities across communities. This Heart Month, I invite you to learn your heart risk, understand the concept of cardiovascular deserts, and take meaningful steps to protect not just your heart, but the heart of your community.

❤️ Your heart matters — take action this February.