Throughout June, Men’s Health Month focuses on improving the lifestyles of men. While there are several approaches to improving overall health, diet and exercise are the targets of any changes.
All month long, community events and clinics take place to increase awareness of the leading health concerns men face. It’s important to encourage the men in our lives to get regular checkups and be aware of the risks for their age, ethnicity, and lifestyle.
The Day the Music Died Day on February 3rd remembers the unfortunate and untimely death of singers 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 17-year-old Richie Valens, and 28-year-old J. P. Richardson, aka: “The Big Bopper.” These three artists died in an airplane accident on February 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa. Their pilot, Roger Peterson, also perished in the crash.
The Day the Music Died was dubbed so by Don McLean’s song “American Pie”
Buddy Holly’s band was on tour and had played at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. They were headed to their next destination in Moorhead, Minnesota. For this leg of their journey, they decided to take a charter plane rather than go with their tour bus. Richardson “The Big Bopper”, had swapped places with Waylon Jennings, taking the latter’s place on the plane and Tommy Allsup had lost his place to Ritchie Valens in a coin toss.
Not long after takeoff, they were no longer able to be reached by radio, and they did not reach their destination. The aircraft was reported missing. The next day, the wreckage was found less than 6 miles northwest of the airport in a cornfield. Poor weather conditions and pilot error were determined, during the investigation, to have been the cause of the pilot losing control of the plane.
Pilgrimage & Tribute
The tragic event echoed through history for over 50 years. Visitors still make the pilgrimage each year to Clear Lake, Iowa, the resort town about 110 miles north of Des Moines, as this was the point of their last concert before the fatal accident.
“The day the music died” is a line in the 1972 Don McLean hit “American Pie.” McLean’s song, which he wrote in the late 1960s and released in 1971, was in part inspired by the tragic event which took the lives of three great musicians and their pilot.
“American Pie” lyrics by Don McLean
“But February made me shiver, With every paper I’d deliver, Bad news on the doorstep I couldn’t take one more step. I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride But something touched me deep inside, The day the music died.
NATIONAL THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED DAY HISTORY
The observance commemorates the fateful day in 1959 when four young lives were cut short. When Don McLean’s “American Pie” hit the airwaves in 1972, the world came to know the day as “the day the music died’ from the line in the lyrics. Another line in the song reflected on the music of Buddy Holly & The Crickets. In their song “That’ll be the Day” the chorus goes like this:
“Well, that’ll be the day, when you say goodbye Yes, that’ll be the day, when you make me cry You say you’re gonna leave, you know it’s a lie ‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die“
In McLean’s “American Pie” his similar line appears in the chorus as well:
“Bye, bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die This’ll be the day that I die“
American Heart Month isn’t just for lovers. February also reminds us to take care of our hearts and consider our risk factors.
Believe it or not, heart disease can happen at any age. However, some risk factors for heart disease and stroke are preventable. American Heart Month teaches us how we can help reduce our risks while eliminating those we have control over. Do you have one of these risk factors for cardiovascular disease? Obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
AMERICAN HEART MONTH HISTORY
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the first American Heart Month to tackle heart disease in the United States.
HOW TO OBSERVE #AmericanHeartMonth
Review these signs for heart disease risk:
High blood pressure. Millions of people in the United States have high blood pressure, and millions of them are as young as 40 or 50. If you are one of them, talk to your doctor about ways to control it.
High cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity are all conditions that can increase your risk for heart disease. If you fall into this category, work on eating healthy and getting some physical activity a few times a week.
Smoking cigarettes. Over 35 million adults in America are smokers, and thousands of young people pick up the habit daily. If you’re a smoker, do your best to quit or cut down. It’s what’s best for your health.
So, if you want to stay on top of your health and try to avoid the risk of heart disease, there are a few things you can do. First, don’t smoke, and if you’re already a smoker, do your best to quit. Click here for options for help. The next step you can take is managing any conditions you may have, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. Next, make heart-healthy diet decisions. Eat whole foods low in trans-fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. A good rule of thumb is to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Finally, get moving! Living a sedentary lifestyle will put you at a much greater risk for heart disease. Try to get in at least 20 minutes of physical activity 4-5 days a week, then build from there!
Visit www.millionhearts.hhs.gov to learn more about the risks and how to prevent heart disease and stroke. Use #AmericanHeartMonth to share on social media.
