Feb. 14 has been a day dedicated to the heart for millennia now, and it’s deeply associated with love.

It’s also a chance for us to show our love to ourselves and to others by making sure we’re staying heart-healthy.

Doing so would solve a huge problem. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, as well as for most racial and ethnic groups.

In 2022, more than 700,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, which works out to about 1 in 5 deaths.

The leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease are heart attacks and strokes. One way to stay safe is to remember the signs of both.

According to the American Heart Association, discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that lasts several minutes or goes away and comes back, could be a sign of a heart attack.

Other signs include possible shortness of breath and breaking out in a cold sweat.

Possible signs of a stroke include one side of the face drooping, weakness in one arm and difficulty speaking clearly. If someone is showing symptoms like that, it’s time to call 911.

Cardiovascular disease can be deadly, but being aware of some of the signs and symptoms might just save your life.

— JK