February is Heart Attack and Stroke Awareness Month. But I’m aware of heart attacks every single day of every single month of the year. And I have been since my son Buddy had a massive heart attack on December 19, 2016. His heart attack and resulting oxygen deprivation caused severe and irreversible brain damage. He was 49 years old.

Heart disease the leading cause of deaths in the United States. According to the CDC, about More than 859,000 Americans die of heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular diseases every year. That’s one in three deaths. While men are more likely to die of heart disease, women aren’t far behind.

One of the saddest things about these statistics is our life choices could make a difference. Some of the risk factors we can change are smoking, high cholesterol, unhealthy eating habits, obesity, type 2 diabetes, a sedentary life style and high blood pressure. In the United States, more than 78 million people have high blood pressure.

Besides being aware of risk factors for heart disease, people should be aware of the symptoms. The mind picture we have of a person clutching his chest in agonizing pain isn’t the way most heart attacks present. While chest pain may be one of the symptoms, other indications may be:

• Profuse sweating
• Heartburn
• Pain that radiates up into the neck jaw, shoulders or arms
• Shortness of breath 

Women are likely to have “silent” heart attacks, which show little or no symptoms. When they do have symptoms of a heart attack, the symptoms are usually not as dramatic as the symptoms of men. Women are also more likely than men to have different symptoms of a heart attack, including:

• Pain in the back, neck, jaw, or throat
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Extreme fatigue

According to the Internet Stroke Center, strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes are also the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 795,000 people each year suffer a stroke. The obvious signs of a stroke and what to do if you suspect one can be remembered by the letters FAST:

• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call 911

If you or someone else has shown any of these three signs of a stroke, you should call 911 even if the symptoms have gone away. Women may show these signs, but they also may show some others such as:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures
• Trouble breathing
• Fainting or loss of consciousness

The information about what to do if you or someone you love shows signs of a heart attack or stroke is helpful. It may even save someone’s life. However, wouldn’t it be better to lower the chances of needing that information?

You can do that by talking to your doctor about your risk factors, including a family history of heart disease, strokes, or high blood pressure. If you smoke, stop. And don’t replace it with vaping, which may be worse for your health than cigarettes.

Take some steps to adopt a healthier lifestyle with what you eat and how much exercise you get. And be proactive in your health care. Ask your doctor what you can do to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Do those things and then focus your attention on what to get that special person for Valentine’s Day.