Red for a Reason: Huntington Health Kicks Off Heart Month

Huntington Health kicked-off Heart Month on February 6 during National Wear Red Day. Staff dressed in red to celebrate our heart patients and raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, as well as cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death among women.

Know the Facts

The American Heart Association's (AHA) 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics show that heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S., and stroke has moved up to the No. 4 position. High blood pressure, diabetes and obesity continue to be major risk factors that lead to CVD and stroke. The report also sounds the alarm about cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a disorder made up of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity that leads to poor health outcomes.

AHA's 2026 Statistics Update for the U.S.

• 47.3% of adults have high blood pressure compared to 46.7% previously.
• Nearly 29.5 million adults have diagnosed diabetes compared to 29.3 million people previously.
• About 50% of adults have obesity.
• 28.1% of youth (2 to 19 years) have obesity compared to 25.4% previously.
• Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have some level of CKM syndrome.
• Over 80% of U.S. young and middle-aged adults show early CKM risk.

Know the Warning Signs

To get medical help quickly, it's important to recognize the signs of heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest (the abrupt loss of heart function). AHA urges people to look out for these symptoms:

Heart Attack Symptoms

• Chest discomfort: Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath: Can occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs: Nausea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, feeling unusually tired, feeling lightheaded or breaking out into a cold sweat.

Call 911 if any of these symptoms are present. Learn more about heart attack symptoms.

Comprehensive Care at Huntington's Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center

Huntington Hospital's Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center provides a full spectrum of cardiac care-including screening and diagnostic tests, advanced medical and surgical treatments, rehabilitation services, and patient education. Each year, our expert cardiac team performs more than 76,000 procedures, ranging from open-heart surgery to non-invasive diagnostics.

To learn more about our cardiac team and services, go to: Cardiac Services | Huntington Hospital