We all know someone who has lived with a heart condition, had a stroke or heart attack, or died from heart disease. It would be hard not to. Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death, resulting in 1 out of 3 deaths each year, and more women die from heart disease than from any other cause.

My grandfather suffered heart attacks, lived through multiple heart surgeries, and eventually died from complications of a stroke. This month I will be thinking of him and what I can do to keep my own heart healthy so that I'll be around for my children and grandchildren. It's what he would want.

For more on American Heart Month, visit www.heart.org or www.goredforwomen.org.

~Jessica, Legacy.com