February 2019
1. Go Red for Women this month and learn your risk factors.
For years it was thought that heart disease was for men. But 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke. But it can be prevented. It’s the No. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer.
2. Gender Differences in Heart Attacks
When it comes to heart disease, not only are the symptoms sometimes different for men and women but the disease itself may also be different.
Heart disease kills 500,000 women every year — 10 times more than breast cancer and more than all other cancers combined. It’s also a leading cause of disability. Eight million women are living with it. While women develop cardiovascular disease about 10 years later than men, it’s estimated that 1 in 10 American women 45 to 64 years of age has some form of heart disease, increasing to 1 in 4 women over the age of 65.
Inspired by the true stories of real women impacted by heart disease, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement and Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks created the short film, “Just a Little Heart Attack,” to educate women about the realities of heart disease and encourage them to put their health first. The short film, directed by and starring Ms. Banks, chronicles one woman’s experience ignoring her symptoms and putting herself last. Go Red For Women hopes the film, “Just a Little Heart Attack,” will engage and inspire women to put their health first and take care of their heart.
4. February is National Cancer Prevention Month
This is a great time to become more informed about cancer prevention and even make lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk for cancer.It is estimated that approximately one-third of cases of the most common cancers in the U.S. could be prevented by eating healthy, being active, and staying lean.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, killing 307,225 men in 2009—that’s 1 in every 4 male deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men of most racial/ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and whites. For Asian American or Pacific Islander men, heart disease is second only to cancer. About 8.5% of all white men, 7.9% of black men, and 6.3% of Mexican American men have coronary heart disease. Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men.
7. There are more than 120 Types of Cancer
Cancer.Net offers individualized guides for more than 120 types of cancer and related hereditary syndromes.
10. Proclamation about American Heart Month.
Some Fun Facts:
February 2nd brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year—and the only one led by a rodent. Legend has it that on this morning, if a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is on the way.
Each year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine.” The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia.
The 2nd month of the year brings us George Washington’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day, and the shortest month of the year.
In the Gregorian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, February is the second month of the year. Most of the months have 30 or 31 days in a month but February is shorter. February has 28 days until Julius Caesar gave it 29 and 30 days every four years. This is because the Roman emperor Augustus took one day from February and added that to August because August was a month that was named after him. February is a very cold month followed by January in the northern half of the world. However, there are sunny days in February that indicates that spring is almost here. Different from the northern half, the southern hemisphere usually enjoys midsummer weather.
Below are some fun facts about February:
- The birthstone for February is Amethyst.
- Two zodiac signs for February are Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) and Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
- The month has 29 days in leap years, when the year number is divisible by four. In common years the month has 28 days.
- Viola (plant) and the Primrose are the birth flowers.
- Black History Month is celebrated in Canada and United States.
- National Day of the Sun is celebrated in Argentina.
- In order to complete the Soviet Union’s victory in Stalingrad during World War II, the last German troops surrendered in the Stalingrad pocket.
- On February 4, 1861, a temporary committee met at Montgomery, Alabama where they organized a Confederate States of America.
- On February 6, 1933, Amendment 20 to the United States was proclaimed which moved the Inauguration Day to January 20th.
- In February 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.
- On February 6, 1899. The U.S. Senate ratified the peace treaty that led to the end of the Spanish-American War.
- On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
- February 11 – National Foundation Day in Japan
- February 12 – Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day
- February 21 – International Mother Language Day
- February 22 – Independence Day in Saint Lucia
- February 22 – George Washington’s Birthday
- February 24 – Flag Day of Mexico
- February 25 – People Power Revolution (Phillippines)
4. 
When is Fat Tuesday? February 28, 2017; February 13, 2018; March 5, 2019; February 25, 2020; February 16, 2021; Arch 1, 2022; February 21, 2023
It’s time to party it up, and ….eat!!
Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is also known as Mardi Gras Day or Shrove Day. It is a day when people eat all they want of everything and anything they want as the following day is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a long fasting period for Christians. In addition to fasting, christians also give up something special that they enjoy. So, Fat Tuesday is a celebration and the opportunity to enjoy that favorite food or snack that you give up for the long lenten season.
Nowhere on the planet is Fat Tuesday celebrated more than on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The day is celebrated with festivities and parades and of course much food and drink. While in New Orleans, a big tradition is in wearing Mardi Gras beads and giving them to others. And tradition requires that if a guy gives a girl some beads, she has to do something for him…..this can be just loads of fun………
Did You Know? On Bourbon street in New Orleans, store owners coat poles and columns with vaseline to keep wild and rowdy revelers from climbing them (and perhaps falling).
5. This day in Disney History – Off to Never Never Land
the crafty lady in combat boots 