| Heart Health (Forever) Postage Stamp
With the Heart Health (Forever®) stamp, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise public
awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.
The stamp art focuses on the feelings of wellness and vitality that
come from physical exercise, a key element in controlling and preventing coronary heart disease, or CHD. The design shows a bright
yellow sun disc, a leafy green tree icon, and a blue swirl of a sky. The striding figure at the center of the stamp has a full red
heart. At the figure's feet, a large red apple represents a well-balanced diet, another essential factor in maintaining a healthy
heart.
Although CHD is the leading cause of death among women and men in the U.S., it doesn't have to be. Many cases of heart disease
can be prevented. Most people can lower their risk of developing CHD — and protect their hearts for a lifetime — by making just a
few lifestyle changes. Exercising and eating a heart-healthy diet are critical factors. Quitting smoking, managing stress, and getting
enough sleep are equally important.
Because heart disease can develop over decades without symptoms, many people do not know they have
it. Some risk factors, like age and a family history of CHD, can't be avoided, but regular medical checkups make early detection and
treatment possible.
The U.S. Postal Service has a long tradition of issuing special stamps to help raise public awareness about health
and social issues. For this beautiful and upbeat stamp, art director Derry Noyes teamed up with award-winning illustrator Nicholas
Wilton.
The "Heart Health" stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 20. Forever stamps are always equal
in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate. |
