February is American Heart Month, and that means it’s a good time to think about a disease that kills more than 600,000 Americans each year. Despite the strides taken through research and education to raise awareness of risk factors and to decrease death rates, heart disease is still the number one cause of death in America.

The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.

Other conditions that affect your heart or increase your risk of death or disability include arrhythmia, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Although heart disease is one of our Nation’s most costly and widespread health problems, it is among the most preventable. Some of the risk factors associated with heart disease include:

•High cholesterol

•High blood pressure

•Obesity

•Diabetes

•Tobacco use and secondhand smoke

•Unhealthy diet

•Physical inactivity

Join us Monday through Friday for our various exercise programs. We have classes in every level of exercise from beginner to advanced. We host free exercise classes, insurance covered classes and offer punch cards for some classes.

Every Tuesday, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your valentine a heart shaped cookie from the senior center. order your cookie and card from Teresa.

For more information on the exercise classes or the cookies call Teresa at 433-2370 ext. 6.

Come in and participate then hang out with your friends after in the Third Ave. Cafe. As usual, You are always welcome at the Senior Center

Upcoming events

Monday: Blood pressure, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie, 1 p.m.

Tuesday: SilverSneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Sams Club Valentine open house 1-2:30 p.m. in the cafe; SilverSneakers, 4:30 p.m.; Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.; Zumba, 5:30 p.m.; movie, “A Walk to Remember,” 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.

Thursday: SilverSneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.; computer class, 2 p.m.; SilverSneakers 4:30 p.m. Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.; Zumba, 5:30 p.m.

Friday: Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; cards (Bridge), 12:30 p.m.

 Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Jan. 30, four tables

1st Ron Peters, 2nd Bud Higgins, 3rd Jim Fisher, 4th Jaynard Johnson, 5th Lois Johnson

Pinochle

Hilton Henschen, Mildred Ballantyne, Jessie Swain

Tuesday Afternoon Bridge

Feb. 3, 4.5 tables

1st Jim Fisher, 1st Bud Higgins,

2nd Steve Howard, 2nd Larry Crowe, 3rd Arnie Lang, 3rd Joyce Crowe, 4th Gail Schmidt, 4th Ray Schmidt

Tuesday “500”

Jan. 31, four tables

1st Eddie Hall, 2nd Arnold Bergstrom, 3rd Jim Fisher, 4th Bernice Scholer

Friday “500”

Feb. 3, four tables

1st Eddie Hall, 2nd Willard Ballantyne, 3rd Bernice Scholer, 4th Jerry Downing

Friday Bridge

Feb. 3, three tables

1st Betty Jorgenson, 2nd Bill Myers, 3rd Ron Peters, 4th Larry Larson, 5th Loretta Nelson

Weekly Cribbage

Feb. 1, two tables

1st Jessie Swain, 2nd John Allen

Weekly “500”

Feb. 3, five tables

1st Arnold Bergstrom, 2nd Betty Fisher, 3rd Helen Broitzman, 4th Dorothy Stern.

 Semcac Daily Meals

Monday: BBQ meatballs

Tuesday: Baked chicken

Wednesday: Hotdish

Thursday: Roast turkey

Friday: Pork steak