The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is using Valentine’s Day to highlight the importance of heart and brain health. The DHEC’s Take Brain Health to Heart campaign provides information and resources to promote cardiovascular and cognitive health. The campaign notes that while some brain health risks, like age and family history, can’t be controlled, healthy lifestyle habits can help maintain brain function.
Dr. Virginie Daguise, Director of DHEC’s Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, said that a healthy heart contributes to a healthy brain. She recommended regular exercise, managing heart disease and stroke risk factors, using safety measures like seat belts and helmets, and quitting smoking.
The DHEC offers resources for quitting smoking through the SC Tobacco Quitline. This free service for South Carolina residents includes personalized quit plans, text and web support, printed guides, and free nicotine replacement therapy for eligible individuals. The Quitline supports multiple languages and offers extra help for individuals with mental or behavioral health conditions and pregnant women.