Valentine’s Day is not the only occurrence worthy of our attention during the month of February. Especially for those who, like us, find themselves in the United Kingdom during this time. Indeed, this final month of Winter marks the additional celebration of the UK’s “National Heart Month”: an occurrence which raises awareness of heart conditions, and which promotes heart health.
The national leader of these efforts is the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the biggest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK. Their slogan, “Go Red”, is an invitation to join them in helping find cures and treatments to give people more time with their affected loved ones.
A sad statistic: over six million people in England alone are living with diagnosed heart and circulatory diseases, two of the world’s most infamous killers. It immediately becomes clear that, despite the huge scientific progress over the years, there is still urgent need to show support for life-saving research. This proposition is no news to us at UEA, our university classifies as a research university, after all (and an excellent one at that). However, there is never harm in reminding ourselves of the common causes.
So, how can the students at UEA get involved and show their support for National Heart Month? Below are four possible options.
1) Wear Red and Hashtag it!
“Going Red” can, and should, be taken quite literally during Heart Month. Whether it be a shirt, a dress, a tie, or a ribbon, wearing something red might be a fun way to colour our days and our conversations. Should you and your friends decide to join in on the fashion trend, feel free to photograph and post it along with the hashtags #HeartMonth and #WearItBeatIt.
2) Learn CPR for Free!
Amongst the many educational resources on the BHF’s website (bhf.org.uk), one can also find their 15-minute digital CPR training tool, “RevivR”. It is free, interactive, and literally life-saving! The training aims to build your confidence with step-by-step instructions, prepare you with a practice 999 call, perfect your CPR technique, and teach you how to use a defibrillator. All you need is your mobile phone or tablet and a cushion to practice on. Upon its completion, you will have learnt how to save an adult’s life and also be able to receive your own CPR certificate.
3) Donate or Shop Items at BHF!
With over seven hundred stores nationwide, the BHF is one of the UK’s largest charity shop network. Our city of Norwich, for instance, hosts not one but two BHF stores! They are both located in the city centre and are only a five-minute walk from the Blue Line bus stops on Red Lion Street. Whether you decide to drop by to donate your items or purchase other pre-loved items, all your contributions support their research, as well as the planet.
4) Subscribe to “Heart Matters” and Lead a Healthy Lifestyle!
A healthy lifestyle is a human right, and that also includes having access to a balanced diet, an exercise routine of any kind, enough sleep and rest, and a positive social environment. The benefits of living well are numerous, especially on a cardiovascular level. It is for this reason that “Heart Matters” – the BHF’s own online and print magazine – is available for free to all its subscribers (although donations are welcomed and appreciated). This quarterly publication features trusted information from experts, advice to help you make positive and lasting changes, answers to your heart-health questions. Thus, subscribing to “Heart Matters” and deciding to follow its health advice may help protect your heart for the future.
National Heart Month is an important time of year; a time of coming together as fellow humans to support and help each other enjoy a healthier life. “Keeping hearts beating” is the noblest of pursuits, it is about enabling people to live the life they deserve, to gift them the time to love and be loved, fearlessly and wholeheartedly.
Credits: Unsplash
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