February 3, 2022 – As part of a collaboration with music streaming service Pandora, the American Heart Association will have a station takeover of Pandora’s Dance Cardio Radio during February in recognition of American Heart Month. Three Modes featuring specially curated tracks by Pandora were available for the month of February, according to a release: Reclaim Your Heart: Surviving and Thriving, featuring the anthems of the 2022 Go Red for Women Real Women Class, national volunteers for the American Heart Association, each with a unique heart or brain health journey; Reclaim Your Day, featuring celebrated Black artists in recognition of Black History Month; Reclaim Your Beat, featuring music you can dance to, groove to, and keep the beat, 100 to 120 bpm, for Hands-Only CPR
“Curating a personal playlist can help reclaim rhythm, whether it’s cardio, meditative, or a soundtrack for resting,” the AHS said in a release.
Additionally, the AHS recommended five other ways to create heart healthy habits:
- Mellow out and reduce stress: “Stress can lead to depression or anxiety, as well as unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity, smoking and risk factors for heart disease and stroke like high blood pressure.”
- Move to the music: “Create a playlist that will get listeners moving and grooving. Staying active is one of the best ways to keep body and mind healthy. Not only can it help everyone feel, think, sleep and live better, it also improves overall quality of life. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression.”
- Feed your soul, rock your recipes: “The meaning of “family” may have changed, but family meals still make an impact. Regular meals at home with family can help reduce stress, boost self-esteem and make the whole family feel connected.”
- Stay on beat with your blood pressure: “High blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke and can contribute to worse outcomes for people who contract COVID-19. Close to half of American adults have high blood pressure.[7] Of those, about 75% don’t have it controlled and many don’t even know they have it. The best way to know your blood pressure numbers is to have it measured at least once per year by a health care professional. If your blood pressure is normal and you are at least 20 years of age, regularly monitor it at home with a validated monitor and discuss the numbers with a doctor. “
- Keep the Beat! Learn Hands-Only CPR: “Each year, more than 350,000 EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States and about 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. Help your community reclaim their rhythm by learning the two simple steps of Hands-Only CPR: Call 911, then press hard and fast in the center of the chest. Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch the Hands-Only CPR instructional video and share it with the important people in your life.”