Join Together, Heart to Heart

 By Ginny A. Roth ~

This 1987 public health poster encourages maintaining healthy blood pressure as a way to attain proper heart health.  This is a fitting message for the month of February, which was proclaimed American Heart Month by Congress in 1963.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and a recent study shows that even young adults may benefit from monitoring their blood pressure. The object of American Heart Month is to increase public knowledge of various cardiovascular diseases for the purposes of research, fundraising and the prevention of heart disease by encouraging heart-healthy habits. One of the popular events that takes place in honor of American Heart Month is the American Heart Association’s (AHA)  National Wear Red Day, which takes place today, February 7, 2014.  In an effort to raise awareness for fighting heart disease, people are encouraged to participate in the event by wearing red, a bold, bright and powerful color which also represents the color of our hearts.

Ginny A. Roth is the Curator of Prints & Photographs in the History of Medicine Division at the National Library of Medicine.