Straight From the Heart of HOPE
- HOPE Family Health
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By Liz Ferrell, Development & Community Relations Specialist
With Valentine’s Day on February 14th, romance and heart themes find their way into every store aisle and media image. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, school valentine exchanges, winged Cupids shooting unsuspecting victims in the heart with love-poisoned arrows – it’s silly fun to brighten a drab month.
But let’s get straight to the heart of the matter. This month HOPE is showing a different kind of love by raising awareness of heart health. And heart health is a deadly serious subject – so serious, in fact, that February has been recognized since 1964 as American Heart Month.
Heart disease kills more people in the United States than any other cause of death – and it’s on the rise. According to a 2025 study published by the American Heart Association, nearly 2,500 people in the U.S. die from cardiovascular disease every day. That’s one person every 34 seconds.
Closer to home, heart disease is also the top cause of death in Tennessee, accounting for 25 percent of all deaths in the state. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, that’s one of the highest heart rates in the U.S.
What is heart disease?
Several medical conditions fall under the category of heart disease, all with their own symptoms and treatment protocols.
The most common type, of course, is coronary artery disease, where blockages develop in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, reducing blood flow and preventing the heart from getting the oxygen it needs to function. Risks include age (over 55 for men and past menopause for women), having diabetes or metabolic syndrome, family history/genetics, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, being inactive, obesity, smoking, and – that symptom we all share – stress. Other heart conditions include congestive heart failure, heart arrhythmias, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart defects.
Though some heart conditions lie beyond our control, we can, if we so choose, prevent and improve other heart conditions by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle: regular exercise; a diet focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairies; not smoking; alcoholic beverages in moderation.
As an added bonus, all these health-focused lifestyle choices also increase health in other areas, helping to prevent diabetes, promote bone and muscle health, and alleviate anxiety and depression.
By the same token, as if the threat of dying from a heart attack wasn’t bad enough, heart disease can also impact other areas of health. For instance, cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to kidney disease, and shares many of the same risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.
The Emotional Connection
Since ancient times, various cultures have regarded the human heart as the holder of human emotions, awareness, knowledge and wisdom. Today, medical and behavioral healthcare professionals continue to study the indelible link between mental and emotional wellbeing and cardiovascular health.
Stress (an unavoidable result of being born and having the audacity to live and breathe) can be toxic to heart health when left unchecked, as can anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. Additionally, medical professionals increasingly note a pattern of patients whose heart conditions occurred in proximity to a stressful life event such as divorce or bereavement.
But sometimes the heart condition might drive the mental or emotional condition. One study showed that an elevated heart rate in mice could, under some circumstances, cause anxiety behaviors. In human example, many, if not most, survivors of heart attacks find that their illness takes an emotional toll long after the event.
In short, an increasing number of medical professionals find value in an integrated approach that includes psychological support as part of the treatment protocol for heart disease – an integrated approach to wellness such as the one HOPE takes with its patients.
So this month, show yourself some love and take better care of your heart, your mind and your life. “A reasonable starting goal for better heart health is to exercise 30 minutes at a time three days a week,” says Dr. Brittany Crider, HOPE Family Health’s Chief Medical Officer.
One small change, one step at a time, one day or even one hour at a time, can help you make a difference in your own health journey, and in your little corner of the world.
HOPE can help. To make your appointment with a primary care provider at one of our three HOPE locations, call 615-644-2000 today.
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