MARTINSBURG — Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. February is American Heart Month and National Women’s Heart Health Month. In recognition, WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and Jefferson Medical Center are sponsoring several programs throughout the month to educate the community on how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.

National Wear Red Day is Feb. 1. Everyone is encouraged to wear red in recognition of heart disease and make the time to Know Your Numbers: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. Knowing these numbers can help individuals determine their risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.

The Wellness Center at Berkeley Medical Center will allow anyone wearing red on Feb. 1 to work out for free. Members and non-members wearing red will also be eligible for a prize drawing and receive a red dress pen.

Free blood pressure checks will be offered every Thursday in February from 1 – 3 p.m. at both hospital campuses. Jefferson Medical Center will offer blood pressure checks in the main lobby. At Berkeley Medical Center, the screening will be offered in the cardiac rehab department on the first floor of the McCormack Center.

Every Friday in February, heart healthy menu options will be offered in both hospital cafeterias. On Feb. 6, WVU medical students will offer a MedCHEF cooking demo at 7 p.m. in the Mountaineer Room of the WVU Health Sciences Center, located on the Berkeley Medical Center campus. They will also present a program on heart health and fats, which is free and open to the public.

Several healthy heart talks will also be offered throughout the month. “Get to the Core of Heart Health” with Brian White will be held in The Wellness Center on Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 12 at 11:30 a.m. “Yoga for the Heart” with Joann Brennan will be held on Feb. 5 at 11:15 a.m. in The Wellness Center.

On Feb. 19, WVU Medicine East and the WVU Health Sciences Center Eastern Campus will sponsor a community mini-medical school program on heart disease. The mini-medical school program will be held in the Health Sciences Center auditorium at 7 p.m. with registration beginning at 6:30 p.m.

All of these February heart month activities and programs are being offered as a community service of WVU Medicine. For more information or to register for any of the presentations, call 304-264-1287, ext. 31814 or email ddejarnett@healthstationblog.comwvumedicine.org.