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Whether be-ribboned with silk or cut out of red construction paper, you can’t help notice the prevalence of hearts this month. Just like all shades of pink have been used to brand breast cancer awareness, “Go Red!” is the mantra of February, American Heart Month.

And with good reason. Heart disease is the number-one cause of death of women 20 and older. In fact, 82 million Americans have at least one or more types of cardiovascular disease. There are certainly many reasons to maintain a healthy heart and many enjoyable ways to do it, but there is a special relationship between humans and their hearts (and livers and kidneys and corneas) that are worth a little extra discussion this month.

There are thousands of people waiting for any number of organ transplants at this very moment. As of 11:18 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 8, there were 72,230 people awaiting organ transplants (all organs, not just the heart). Each day, an average of 75 people receive organ transplants. However, an average of 20 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs.

Last year, there were 86 heart donors in the State of New York. I was frankly shocked to find the number so low. When a family is confronted with the sudden, traumatic and fatal injury of a loved one, chances are, unless the injured person has stated his/her wishes, the family may have no idea if organ donation is even a desired wish.

I think the main reason for this organ shortage is a lack of education about organ donation, so as a public service I share the following facts from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

Fact: Anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can sign up to be a donor. The transplant team will determine whether donation is possible at the individual’s time of death.

Fact: Most major religions in the United States support organ donation and consider donation as the final act of love and generosity toward others.

Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to a hospital, the number-one priority is to save your life.

Fact: When matching donor organs to recipients, the computerized matching system considers issues such as the severity of illness, blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information and geographic location. The recipient’s financial or celebrity status or race does not figure into the equation.

Fact: An open casket funeral is usually possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process, the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.

Fact: There is no cost to donors or their families for organ or tissue donation.

Fact: Every state provides access to a donor registry where its residents can indicate their donation decision.

Fact: Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs in the U.S. Violators are punishable by prison sentences and fines.

Fact: People can recover from comas, but not brain death. Coma and brain death are not the same. Brain death is final.

Giving the “Gift of Life” may lighten the grief of the donor’s own family. Many donor families say that knowing other lives have been saved helps them cope with their tragic loss.

Here is how to get started:

• Register with your state donor registry, if available.
• Designate your decision on your driver’s license.
• Sign a donor card and carry it with you.
• Talk to your family. To help your family understand and carry out your wishes, sit down with your loved ones and tell them about your decision to be an organ and tissue donor. They can serve as your advocates and may be asked to give consent for donation or provide information to the transplant team. To learn more visit www.organdonor.gov.

On the website www.organtransplants.org, there are two cards you can download and sign indicating your preferences.  One you can carry on your person and the other is to be given to your family. There is also an option to send an e-mail to your friends and next of kin letting them know what organs you want to donate, however I can see how that e-mail, without any prior discussion, could freak a few people out. I say, start with the cards and move from there.

While it is always wise to maintain a healthful lifestyle that keeps your heart healthy and allows you to live a long and happy life, there is something especially generous about living this kind of life so that if you are in a position to donate a heart, or an equally vital organ, you can help save another person’s life.

If you have plans to spend this coming Valentine’s Day with a loved one, have a glass of heart-healthy red wine and begin the conversation about organ donation. It is absolutely a gift from the heart that keeps on giving.

Be well.

Additional resources:

• www.unos.org
• www.heart.org
• http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/