February FCS Updates

Having two little girls at home, they get excited in mid-January when stores are flooded with glitter and the color pink. Heart-shaped everything fills the isles, and L-O-V-E is everywhere. Although the hearts cause them to think of Valentine's Day, it makes me think of hearts differently.

February is known for several things, but one of the nearest and dearest to my heart (no pun intended) is American Heart Month. I encourage you to look through your family history and evaluate your daily routine to ensure you're doing everything you can for your heart.

All information provided this month is related to the heart in one way or another.

Another Reason to Hate Mondays
According to the National Institute of Health, heart attacks are more likely to occur on Monday mornings than other days of the week. Scientists attribute this to the disruption in our circadian rhythm over the weekend which leads to increased blood pressure and other changes to the nervous system.

Most heart attacks hit during the early morning hours between 4-10 a.m. when blood platelets are stickier and increased adrenaline released from the adrenal glands can trigger rupture of plaques in coronary arteries. Heart attacks occurring between 6 a.m. and noon were associated with the most damage, in a study reported in the cardiology journal Heart.

Score Big With Super Bowl Snacks
Another February event with a lot of connections to the heart (both physically and emotionally), is the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the number one event for snack consumption. Many Americans put more effort into their Super Bowl parties than they do major holidays. According to recent data collected by Instacart, chips are the number one snack, followed by wings, beer, and frozen pizza. Hummus and veggie trays were at the bottom of the list as the worst snacks to bring.

You don't want your New Year's resolutions getting derailed by the biggest snacking event of the season, but you don't want to bring the hummus and veggies either. Look through our yummy alternatives to popular dishes and enjoy snacks with everyone else at the party!

Women's Heart Week
Although heart disease doesn't discriminate across ethnicities, races, or genders, women are affected by heart disease differently than men.

Studies reveal that heart troubles are the number one killer of American women, and heart disease is most common among women aged 34 and older. Women are busier today than any other time in the past. Juggling between family, career, and caregiving often lead to putting themselves last in the lineup of things. This is why Women's Heart Week was created, and it's during the first week of February. Raising awareness and encouraging precautionary measures can go a long way to preventing or managing heart disease.

Not So Random Acts of Kindness
There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Over time, science has proven that showing kindness to others can actually be beneficial to your heart health. This is especially true if you frequently experience high levels of stress. One of the major benefits to helping others is the reduction of the cortisol hormone produced in the body. High levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. These are common risk factors for heart disease.

Starting on Valentine's Day (February 14) and running through February 20th, is known as Random Acts of Kindness Week. Acts of kindness don't have to be big, elaborate gestures. Sometimes it's simply leaving a coworker a note and their favorite snack. Other times it might be helping the person across the isle from you in the grocery store reach or pick up something.

You Deserve More

Contrary to the lyrics in Nazareth's Love Hurts, love shouldn't hurt. According to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, approximately 1.5 million high school students in the United States experience physical abuse from a dating partner. One-quarter of parents don’t talk to their teens about domestic violence.

What is Teen Dating Violence (TDV)? Teen Dating Violence (TDV) occurs between two people in a close relationship and can include anywhere from one to four types of behavior: physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression. TDV can take place in person or electronically, and it affects millions of U.S. teens each year. (This definition comes from the National Conference of State Legislatures.)

As reported by the CDC, students who experience dating violence are more likely to exhibit antisocial behaviors, engage in unhealthy behaviors such as tobacco, drug and alcohol use, experience depression and anxiety, and consider suicide. These symptoms can continue into adulthood.

The number one tool for preventing TDV is providing social-emotional learning programs for youth. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills (especially communication), and responsible decision-making are all crucial skills needed to stand up against and prevent teen dating violence.