For those of you who were unable to join the State of Women's Heart Health call on 2/17, we are pleased to share that the call was recorded and is now available online for you to listen to.
We also wanted to draw your attention to some of the outstanding resources mentioned on the call. First, we heard from Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh about the improvements being made through the Affordable Care Act to ensure women and their families are able to access affordable, quality care. We encourage you to learn about the new law and the options that may be available to you at www.heartsforhealthcare.org or www.healthcare.gov.
Additionally, Dr. Lori Mosca, lead author of the AHA’s new Guidelines on Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women, shared an overview of the new recommendations. More information on these important updates can be found on the AHA’s website.
Dr. Suzanne Haynes from the HHS Office of Women’s Health also spoke about a new campaign- Make a Call. Don’t Miss a Beat- which encourages women to learn the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and take immediate action if they experience them.
And as always, the AHA’s Go Red for Women movement continues to be a great source of helpful information to aid in the fight against heart disease in women, including recipes, tools and tips for improving your heart health.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
You're Invited! State of Women's Heart Health Call
Did you know that 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease? Do you want to learn more about women’s heart health and the steps being taken to help raise awareness and improve access to care? Then join the American Heart Association and some of our country’s leading health experts for a call to discuss The State of Women’s Heart Health!WHO: You!
WHAT: A conference call with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh, a leading cardiologist, and fellow survivor-advocates to learn about some of the latest women’s heart health news, a new campaign aimed at raising awareness, and changes to the health care system that could affect you and your family.
WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 6:00pm EST (5:00 CST)
WHERE: Your phone
HOW: Join us by calling 1-877-918-2509 (passcode: 3321527). Please RSVP your attendance prior to the call! Space is limited.
The experts will take some of your questions at the end of the call, so come prepared to participate in the discussion!
We are looking forward to having you join us for this exciting American Heart Month event!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
AHA Celebrates Let’s Move! First Anniversary
This week marks the one year anniversary of the First Lady's Let's Move campaign- and the American Heart Association applauds the campaign's successes, big and small, that are helping our nation's kids become healthier and proactively combat heart disease!‘Let’s Move!’ has made a concerted effort to engage Americans where they live, work, learn and play- and has been successful in bringing citizens, communities, businesses, government officials and public health groups together around the shared mission of turning the tide on childhood obesity.
Read AHA CEO Nancy Brown's full statement about the Let's Move one-year anniversary-http://bit.ly/e5iyGt
Monday, February 7, 2011
Pop Quiz: How much do you really know about the Affordable Care Act?
How much do you know about the new patient protections available to you under the new health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act? The new law contains many significant reforms that will help heart disease and stroke patients’ access and afford the quality care they need and deserve– and as informed consumers, it is important to understand these changes.Take our short quiz today to test your knowledge of the reforms that have already taken effect and those yet to come in the months and years ahead.
The AHA is continuing our efforts to work with Congress, the Administration, and fellow patient-advocacy organizations to monitor, inform and advocate for the effective implementation of the Affordable Care Act– and to build on the progress made by the new law.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Training the next generation of lifesavers- students!
A new scientific advisory, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, calls for state legislatures to mandate that CPR and AED training be required for graduation- and You’re the Cure advocates in a number of states are helping to make it happen to help save lives from sudden cardiac arrest.
“Training of all secondary education students will add a million trained rescuers to the population every few years,” said Mary Fran Hazinski, R.N., M.S.N., co-author of the advisory and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. “Those students will be ready, willing and able to act for many years to come, whenever they witness an emergency within the community.”
Last school year, 36 states had a law or curriculum standard encouraging CPR training in schools- and a number of states are pursuing legislation this year. In New York, for example, advocates, including paramedics, survivors, CRP instructors, and families of those affected by sudden cardiac arrest, are leading the charge to advance legislation that will ensure all students in the state receive CPR training prior to graduation. They have collected 1500 petition signatures so far and will be taking their message to the state capital in March to meet with lawmakers.
In Tennessee, advocates will be working with state lawmakers and the Department of Education to strengthen their existing law. Currently, CPR is taught as part of the lifetime wellness curriculum, but the AHA is pushing for hands-on-practice during this instruction for all students.
And in Iowa, advocates will be playing defense to protect their law which requires students to be trained in CPR before graduating. Some legislators, concerned with the time and cost the existing law requires, have suggested repealing it. However, the AHA is actively promoting the immeasurable benefits by sharing personal stories from students who have saved a life.
For more information on the new advisory, click here.
“Training of all secondary education students will add a million trained rescuers to the population every few years,” said Mary Fran Hazinski, R.N., M.S.N., co-author of the advisory and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. “Those students will be ready, willing and able to act for many years to come, whenever they witness an emergency within the community.”
Last school year, 36 states had a law or curriculum standard encouraging CPR training in schools- and a number of states are pursuing legislation this year. In New York, for example, advocates, including paramedics, survivors, CRP instructors, and families of those affected by sudden cardiac arrest, are leading the charge to advance legislation that will ensure all students in the state receive CPR training prior to graduation. They have collected 1500 petition signatures so far and will be taking their message to the state capital in March to meet with lawmakers.
In Tennessee, advocates will be working with state lawmakers and the Department of Education to strengthen their existing law. Currently, CPR is taught as part of the lifetime wellness curriculum, but the AHA is pushing for hands-on-practice during this instruction for all students.
And in Iowa, advocates will be playing defense to protect their law which requires students to be trained in CPR before graduating. Some legislators, concerned with the time and cost the existing law requires, have suggested repealing it. However, the AHA is actively promoting the immeasurable benefits by sharing personal stories from students who have saved a life.
For more information on the new advisory, click here.
Advocate Spotlight! Teresa Rice
Teresa Rice, a You’re the Cure advocate from Kentucky, was only 38-years-old when she suffered from a heart attack. Now with a heart healthy diet, regular exercise, and a less stressful lifestyle, Teresa has become an advocate for lifestyle changes and policy changes that can reduce an individual’s risk for heart disease and stroke.“I feel that it is important to be an advocate because I believe, as a constituent, I am going to be able to reach lawmakers and send a more powerful and personal message to them than an organization would be able to do. Hearing from thousands of individuals across the county through You're the Cure sends a tremendous message to our leaders,” she said.
As a You’re the Cure advocate for the past three years, Teresa has emailed, called, and visited with local, state, and national lawmakers to help advance legislation to improve access to quality health care, to educate the public about heart disease, and to increase funding for research.
One campaign in particular stands out to Teresa. Using her personal story and the relationships she had with some of the council members in her hometown of Bardatown, KY, Teresa was able to help get a local smoking ban passed.
“Because I know some of the council members personally, I took the opportunity to share my opinions with them,” she said. “Since I have had a heart attack, I could relate to them about truly personal concerns of being exposed to cigarette smoke. The ban was passed and went into effect in June, 2010.”
Her advice to others? “I would recommend becoming involved with You're the Cure. It doesn't take a lot of time, but the end result can touch thousands of lives.”
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Do you know some of your local, state, or federal legislator, like Teresa does? Visit http://www.yourethecure.org/ today to update your profile to share that information with us!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
President Obama Honors Heart Month
This February marks the 48th year of “American Heart Month.” On January 31, 2011 President Barack Obama released a proclamation encouraging all Americans to recognize the significance of American Heart Month and to join in the fight against cardiovascular disease. President Obama highlights the dire need to improve heart health – heart disease is the leading cause of death and one in three adults are living with a form of cardiovascular disease.
The Obama Administration is committed to taking proactive measures to reduce the risk factors creating heart disease. Efforts to eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, limit sodium consumption, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and moderate alcohol intake will reduce the life threatening factors leading to heart disease.
The need for prevention is recognized by the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act is one live saving mechanism that enforces all news individual and group health plans to provide recommended preventive care and services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. Also, First Lady Michelle Obama has implemented the Let’s Move! initiative to begin prevention against heart disease early in life by combating childhood obesity.
President Obama also encourages all Americans to show their support of women’s heart health by wearing red or the campaign’s Red Dress Pin on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 4. This day increases awareness of heart disease among women.
February is a time to rededicate ourselves to raising awareness for heart disease and improve our own heart health and the heart health of those we love by committing to efforts of prevention.
To learn more about risk factors, prevention of heart disease, and to increase the awareness of women’s heart disease visit: www.CDC.gov/HeartDisease and www.HearthTruth.gov
The Obama Administration is committed to taking proactive measures to reduce the risk factors creating heart disease. Efforts to eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, limit sodium consumption, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and moderate alcohol intake will reduce the life threatening factors leading to heart disease.
The need for prevention is recognized by the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act is one live saving mechanism that enforces all news individual and group health plans to provide recommended preventive care and services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. Also, First Lady Michelle Obama has implemented the Let’s Move! initiative to begin prevention against heart disease early in life by combating childhood obesity.
President Obama also encourages all Americans to show their support of women’s heart health by wearing red or the campaign’s Red Dress Pin on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 4. This day increases awareness of heart disease among women.
February is a time to rededicate ourselves to raising awareness for heart disease and improve our own heart health and the heart health of those we love by committing to efforts of prevention.
To learn more about risk factors, prevention of heart disease, and to increase the awareness of women’s heart disease visit: www.CDC.gov/HeartDisease and www.HearthTruth.gov
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