As promoted by the Centers for Disease Control, February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.

From heart disease to heart attacks, strokes and heart valve programs, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to this vital organ.

We want to encourage all our readers take steps to protect promote their heart health, this month as well as all year long. Do you eat healthy? Do you exercise? Do you keep an eye on your blood pressure, your cholesterol?

Have you talked to your doctor about your risk factors and the steps you can take to ensure a long and healthy future?

We’re not medical professionals, so we’re not here to lay down definitive statements on the best way to take care of your heart. But we do want to encourage you to take the time and initiative to find out for yourself.

Even if you can’t or don’t want to see a doctor, you can find lots of great advice online from reputable sources like The Heart Foundation, the American Heart Association and the CDC, as well as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

With Valentine’s Day barely in our rearview mirror, it’s the perfect time to be giving some serious thought to heart health.