American Heart Month

By Julia Strugala | Published Feb 24, 2022

February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. In the midst of the pandemic, stress and anxiety levels for college students have been at an all time high.

Along with healthy eating and a minimum of fifteen minutes of exercise per day, there are an array of other aspects to health that students can take into consideration when trying to improve their heart health. In relation to the pandemic, students all across Kean tapped in with their experiences related to their physical health during Covid-19.

Kirk Suqilanda, a senior at Kean with a major in Communication Media & Film, said that prior to the pandemic he would train twice a day and was in the best physical health of his life. Slowly throughout the months of Covid-19, his physical activity plummeted.

“I don’t do as much. I got the shots and booster, but I still feel uncomfortable being close to strangers in the gym. In the summer I could workout in my backyard and go for a jog every morning,” Suqilanda said.

Other Kean students experienced the opposite effect. Junior and Communication major claimed her physical health improved drastically throughout the pandemic.

“[The pandemic] left me time to deal with myself. With nothing else to do, exercise made me feel fulfilled while the world sort of stopped,” Sarah Jerome shared.

Although physical activity level is a large part of cardiovascular health, there are an array of other aspects that play into heart health. After speaking with Dr. Consuelo Bonillas, Health Program Coordinator and Professor of Public Health, American Heart Month is much more than eating a serving of fruit and vegetables a day.

“In regards to heart health, let’s also think about alcohol and smoking,” Bonillas said.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), e-cigarettes and vapes raise blood pressure and increase the chance of having a heart attack by 56% compared to non-smokers. Vaping has become a popular stress outlet for college students, but causes mass amounts of harm in the long run.

“We know that tobacco use is strongly correlated with not only a variety of different cancers, but also in regards to heart disease. For American Heart Month, it’s not just about how much we eat or exercise but it’s also about all of these other things,” said Bonillas.

Smoking causes one in every four deaths from cardiovascular disease, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alexandra Beagan, a senior at Kean with a marketing major, gives her perspective on vaping.

“I have friends that are addicted to nicotine and they depend on it. They say it helps with stress levels, but then it gets in the way of class when they have to go to the bathroom to stop their headache from withdrawals,” Beagan said. “In the long run, I think it only causes more stress. There are so many healthier ways to cope.”

Beagan said she has tried to get friends to stop and encouraged them to give other coping mechanisms a try such as meditation, yoga, and building a support system around them that can aid them in quitting.

Bonillas continued the conversation by bringing awareness to how social groups have an impact on people’s health and wellness. Not everyone has the resources to make their health a priority because of the various facets of life that come into play.

Long work hours and hazardous living environments amongst a variety of other factors can be an obstacle that keeps people from investing in their health.

“February is not just in regards to American Heart Month, but it’s also Black History Month and National Cancer Prevention Month,” Bonillas said.

All three of these topics in connection to the month of February intertwine together. Making sure to take steps to ensure your health is a priority and will result in long term positive results.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos.

“We can say all we want, ‘you have to walk 10,000 steps a day’, but do you live in an environment where that is possible? When it comes to eating, do you have access to healthier foods?” Bonillas said.

“There are strawberries that cost around six dollars a bushel, yet you can go to Wendy’s and get a four for four. All that has all these different chemicals that make your brain rush with dopamine. So, it makes you feel great and you’re full. The bushel of strawberries might not even fill you up.” said Bonillas.

Moderation is key when it comes to all aspects of life and American Heart Month is not the only time to focus on bettering yourself. Take time today to hydrate yourself, go for a brisk walk, and make it a priority to put your health first when possible.

---