When Cupid takes aim at hearts in February, so does the American Heart Association. With American Heart Month, the association urges us to target our tickers by battling the nation’s No. 1 killer: cardiovascular diseases, including stroke.
February also is an ideal time to focus on heart health because, as one of the coldest months in some regions, it can be dangerous for seniors. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia, and the elderly are at special risk for hypothermia, according to the association. The body’s ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases with age. In hypothermia, the body’s temperature drops, and the body can’t produce enough energy to keep a person’s internal temperature warm enough. Elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, meaning they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they’re in danger.
