When the month of February comes to mind, one often thinks of matters related to the heart. This will certainly be the case across NC State’s campus. 

However, for Campus Health Services, the Counseling Center, Prevention Services, Wellness and Recreation and other wellness-related units, this focus will have little to do with cupid’s arrow, but rather a vital topic related to the health and wellness of the Wolfpack community. February is American Heart Month, and these units will promote various elements of heart health for students, faculty and staff, with the crown jewel of these efforts the third annual Take Care of Your Heart event. 

“Heart disease is the number one killer,” said Campus Health Educator Dan Passonno. “We know that. It causes more deaths than cancer, accidental deaths and other causes combined. I think it goes back to that holistic approach to wellbeing. What are some of the lifestyle factors, such as checking your blood pressure, usage around tobacco, diet, substance use, your movement/exercise, things like that. There are also genetic factors. There’s so much that goes into it. It’s not just ‘I eat relatively healthy and I go for a walk, I’m good.’ There’s so many other factors. So it’s just important to check in with your well-being regarding your heart.”

This year’s event, set for Thursday, Feb. 12 from 12-2 p.m. on Stafford Commons, will feature tables and activities from Campus Health, the Counseling Center, Prevention Services, Wellness and Recreation, the LGBTQ Pride Center, Women’s Center, Black Health Lab and other campus partners. 

Students will be invited to browse the various tables and complete heart health-related activities, and will receive a heart-shaped plant after completing nine activities. 

“This event has grown so much, and we’re very excited for this year,” said Christy Sigmon, Prevention Services’ Outreach and Resilience coordinator. 

In addition to activities and information for students, February is also a time for NC State faculty and staff to learn about taking care of their heart health. 

Kelly Vance, an employee wellness senior program specialist for University Human Resources (UHR) said that UHR plans to share State Health Plan resources around heart health in upcoming February campus newsletters, as well as a stretch break video that employees can complete at their desks. UHR will also have a table at Take Care of Your Heart with information and resources for employees. 

“I think it’s really important for employees to be mindful of their heart health, not only focused on lifestyle habits, but also being mindful about the amount of activity they’re getting throughout the day, making sure they’re getting up, taking walks, moving when they can,” Vance said.

While the physical components of heart health draw a lion’s share of attention, equally important are the emotional components. 

Several different student organizations under the Counseling Center and Prevention Services will have tables and activities at Take Care of Your Heart. 

Prevention Services will provide a table with information about how to handle grief and loss, a crucial heart health topic. 

“So many things that we as humans go through in life and our students go through in their time here sometimes involve issues related to grief and loss,” Sigmon said. “Specifically for this event, we wanted to focus on that factor, because it’s something that we don’t talk enough about.”

This also includes Pack Pals, an organization supported by Prevention Services’ Mental Health Ambassadors, designed to help students make connections and form friendships. The Counseling Center will also provide a biofeedback table, designed to help students learn techniques to self-regulate physical functions associated with your emotions. 

“There’s the mind-body connection,” Sigmon said. “We know that what affects our body affects our mind, and vice versa. How we’re feeling, the thoughts that we’re focusing on, also affect the way that our body functions. So there’s this lovely symbiotic relationship between the two. It’s really important to take care of our emotional health, because that’s going to affect our physical health, our heart.” 

This post was originally published in DASA.