Turn the White House Red - We need your help!

25,000 signatures.

That's what we need by Jan. 4th for the White House to consider our petition to illuminate the building in red to honor National Wear Red Day and the American Heart Month.You know how important education and research are to fighting this country's No. 1 killer of men and women - heart disease. It's often silent, hidden and misunderstood. That's why we need you help to shine a 'red' light and bring this disease to the forefront in February.

Every signature makes a difference, so sign up and share with colleagues, friends and family today! There are a few steps, but with your help we can get there!
1. Visit our special petition page on whitehouse.gov.
2. Create an account (we know, what a pain!).
3. Watch for a verification email and click on the notification.
4. Sign the petition.
5. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers to sign up!

Don’t stop there, please share this petition with friends and family!
Forward this email to your friends and family.
Once you sign the petition, promote it by using the social media section of the site to help spread the word on Facebook page or tweet the link out to your followers.
Use your connections with media. Share with neighborhood or community groups.

AHA Recognizes Volunteer Excellence in Advocacy

American Heart Association Recognizes Volunteer for Excellence in Advocacy, Years of Service

MORRISVILLE, December 15, 2011 – Peg O’Connell, JD was honored with the 2011 Dr. Robert Blackburn Award for Advocacy Excellence by the North Carolina American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee.
The award, presented at the Advocacy Coordinating Committee’s fall/winter meeting, recognizes individuals for outstanding achievement in advocacy and decades of volunteer service.
O’Connell, Senior Advisor for Government and Legislative Affairs at Fuquay Solutions, is a founding member of the NC AHA Advocacy Committee and has helped build a robust and highly regarded program. Her service spans over twenty years and includes participation in both state and federal lobby days. O’Connell serves as a coach and role model to new advocates. O’Connell’s volunteer work also extends to involvement with the American Heart Association Triangle Heart Walk, Heart Ball, and Go Red for Women movement.
Yolanda Dickerson, Chair of the NC AHA Advocacy Coordinating Committee said “Peg O’Connell has given so much of her time and talents to improve the health of our state. She is a positive force that not only gets results as an individual, but influences those around her to act as well.”
Currently O’Connell serves as the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Representative for the Justice Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and is a member of the North Carolina Advocacy Coordinating Committee.
“I am honored to volunteer with the American Heart Association and to play a small part in the important work they do. This recognition of my service means a great deal to me,” said O’Connell. “I am especially honored because this volunteer recognition award was named for Dr. Bob Blackburn—he is personal hero of mine and a man committed to improving the health of North Carolina.”
For more information about the American Heart Association advocacy program and You’re The Cure Grassroots Network, please contact the AHA at 919.463.8328 or betsy.vetter@heart.org.

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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.

2.5 Million Young Adults Have Health Insurance Thanks to the ACA

Today Health and Human Services announces that 2.5 million young adults have gained health insurance coverage in the last year as a result of the provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows young people to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. American Heart Association volunteer advocate Libbie Hough is participating on a press call with HHS Secretary Sebelius at 1:30 p.m. today to share her family’s story about how her daughter Natalie, who has a genetic heart disorder, has benefitted from this provision.

HHS Press Release
Learn more about young adult coverage.

Physical Fitness Trumps Body Weight

Physical fitness trumps body weight in reducing death risksIf you maintain or improve your fitness level - even if your body weight has not changed or increased - you can reduce your risk of death, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.In a study of 14,345 adult men, mostly white and middle or upper class, researchers found that maintaining or improving fitness was associated with a lower death risk even after controlling for body mass index change.The study underscores the importance of physical inactivity as a risk factor for death from heart disease and stroke, said researchers. Researchers also found no association between changes in body fat percentage or body weight and death risk. ...more

Help Us Urge the White House to Go Red during American Heart Month!

Want to help “shine a spotlight” on heart disease? Join our campaign to urge the White House to “Go Red” during American Heart Month!
We have just 30 days to get 25,000 signatures in order for the White House to consider our petition- and we need your help! It’s up to all of us to show the Administration how important it is to raise awareness about our nation’s No. 1 killer.
It’s easy to do!
Visit our special petition page before January 4th.
Create an account (we know, what a pain!)
Watch for a verification email.
Sign the petition.
Share with family, friends, and colleagues to encourage their support too!
Get started now!

Holiday Healthy Eating Guide

Check out the My Heart. My Life.™ Holiday Healthy Eating Guide for great tips on how you can fight off the pounds during the holidays. From holiday savvy to eating with family to winter workouts, this easy-to-print guide is a great resource to have by your side! Be sure to look at the recipes in the back ... salad greens with baked pears and goat cheese, roasted turkey breast with lime and herbs, and cherry chocolate tiramisu. They could be hits served at your next get-together!

My Story and Why I Advocate by Jenni Surface

Please enjoy this guest blog post from NC You're the Cure advocate Jenni Surface.

No one in the prime of their life ever thinks that they have to worry about their heart unless it is a condition that they have had from birth. So when I became dizzy one day at work I thought what many people my age would have thought I must be dehydrated or have an inner ear infection or something of that nature. When I passed out on my way out the door to meet my husband, who had come to pick me up, my life changed forever. My work called 911 since I would not fully come to. When I got in the ambulance they took all the normal vitals and found I had a low heart rate and low blood pressure, but the other thing they found is what I was not prepared for. I had what is called a left bundle branch block on my EKG. Just 2 years before when I had routine checks done I had a normal EKG. What had happened to cause this sudden change?

I was taken to Wake Med Raleigh because it was a hospital that could handle heart issues. I was in shock with that statement but thought it was better to be safe than sorry still fully expecting to go to the hospital and be released after getting some fluids. I was WRONG! This is where my true journey began.

When you talk about heart failure you think of people at least in their 50s who have not been very healthy at all during life. Not a 34 year old mother of 2. Yes, this proves it truly can happen to anyone. I had absolutely no symptoms until I passed out at work and the ambulance driver and my co-workers who chose to call the ambulance probably saved my life. My heart has an ejection fraction of only 10%-15% and normal at rest is 60%. An ejection fraction is the amount of volume your heart pumps to your body. They believe what caused it was a virus. See, during my pregnancy with my daughter I had developed H1N1 which led to pneumonia for 2+ months during my 2nd trimester. This means it could happen to anyone at any time. Who knew a virus that anyone could catch could create heart failure? It could happen to anyone!

After this initial visit I thought that everything would even out but over the past 3 months since I found out in May I have been in and out of the hospital various times for multiple days each time. Since I was going in and out of the hospital and things had not settle down they decided that I needed to have a defibrillator/ pace maker put in to help my heart pump. I thought that was the end of my struggles. Yet, sadly it wasn't. I found myself back in the hospital not a month later because my heart had decided to go the other way and beat too many times in a minute and I was having severe chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. In the ER they even pulled the crash cart and placed the metal pieces on my chest to shock me. Thankfully, my heart did it on its’ own. It was quite the eye opening experience.

Since then things have evened out some for me but I still have a long road to travel and I do not know what the future will hold. For now, I am forced to face realities I never would have really thought I would have to face at this age. I almost lost my job due to hospitalizations. I have to look at my children and wonder sometimes if it is the last time I will see their beautiful faces. I know it is more important than ever that I make a will for my children. I also am faced with a reality of making sure I make the best memories I can with my children right now. I am optimistic with meds that I can feel better, but for now extreme fatigue and exhaustion take the place of what I use to do. Every day is a struggle, but I want so badly to get better so I can see my kids graduate, get married, and have children so I will continue to fight and hope that they continue to come up with new ways to help those of us who suffer from this awful disease.

With everything that happened I knew the only way to truly make a difference and help others prevent or fight this disease was to share my story and join You're the Cure with the American Heart Association to help raise awareness and fight for strong health policies to help those who find themselves in this awful place like me! Anyone who suffers from heart disease or has a family member who suffers from heart disease should join me and be a part of You're the Cure to advocate for the changes we need for better health policies!!

It's easy to join simply register at www.yourethecure.org.

NC Smoke-free Law Saves Lives: Dramatic Reduction in Heart Attack Rates

Congratulations to You're the Cure NC for your awesome work to get smoke-free in our state.

Today was a very exciting day for North Carolina! This morning, State Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Engel announced that visits to the emergency room by North Carolinians experiencing heart attacks has declined by 21 percent since the state’s Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law was enacted in January 2010. American Heart Association MAA Board President Dr. David Goff was a part of the historic announcement.

Here is the AHA news statement in response:

American Heart Association Statement
N.C. Heart Attack Rates Down Since Passage of Smoke-Free Law
Today, State Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Engel announced that visits to the emergency room by North Carolinians experiencing heart attacks has declined by 21 percent since the state’s Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law was enacted in January 2010. Researchers from the Division of Public Health and the University of North Carolina Department of Emergency Medicine compared rates of heart attack before the law in 2008 and 2009 to rates after the law took effect in 2010.

The American Heart Association applauds the results of the study, presented to the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force, as adding to the increasing number of studies that show the health and economic benefits of smoke free laws.

“The reduction seen in emergency department visits for heart attacks since passing our smoke-free law provides further evidence that such policies save lives while lowering healthcare costs and saving money,” said Dr. David Goff, American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Board President.

Secondhand smoke is a known cause of heart attacks, particularly for those with existing heart disease, family history of heart disease or with risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Data from the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General report on the consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke that stated there “is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke” and a 2009 report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association showed that heart attack rates drop after smoking bans and continue downward over time.

“This large decrease in emergency room visits is a validation of the hard work put in by countless grass roots volunteers for over ten years to make North Carolina a healthier place to live and work,” said Frank Amend, Immediate Past Chair of the North Carolina American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee and heart attack survivor. “Unfortunately this law came too late for some, but it illustrates that a business/legislative partnership can improve the long term wellness of our fellow citizens.”

More information about the effects of secondhand smoke and the effects of smoking on heart attack risk can be found at www.heart.org.

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Wear Red Day Website

New website for National Wear Red Day® (Friday, Feb. 3, 2012) On National Wear Red Day, hundreds of thousands of women and men remember the women who lost their lives to heart disease and pledge to fight this No. 1 killer of women. We have launched the new Wear Red Day website to provide individuals, groups and organizations information to help raise awareness of the issue of women and heart disease.

The site has free downloadable promotional materials including fliers, posters, heart-health information and instructions on how to create your own fundraising page.

How does it work?
Visit the website and sign up for our free online materials.
Fundraise, donate or download the tips sheets and promotional materials.
Celebrate National Wear Red Day with your company, friends, an interest group or family.
Sign up now for your free Wear Red Day materials.

Science News You Can Use: Sodium

AHA's Gayle Whitman discusses sodium and healthIn this "Science News You Can Use" video, Gayle R. Whitman, R.N., Ph.D., the AHA's senior vice president of Science Operations, provides a brief overview of the role of sodium in cardiovascular health and the need for most Americans to reduce their consumption of salt.

To watch the video, visit YouTube.

CDC report on usual sodium intake compared with dietary recommendations

American Heart Association comment:
CDC report on usual sodium intake compared with dietary recommendations

Americans are eating too much sodium, and the American Heart Association believes that we need to increase our public health efforts to encourage the public and private sectors of the food industry to reduce sodium in the food supply, a point emphasized in a report issued today from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Currently, more than 75 percent of the sodium we consume comes from packaged or prepared foods, and sodium levels are high in many restaurant foods. Statistics presented in the CDC report underscore the urgency of reducing sodium in the U.S. food supply. Experts agree that people in certain population groups, such as those who either have high blood pressure or who are at high risk of developing it, should aim for a sodium target of less than 1500 mg a day. Ninety-eight percent of the people in the highest risk groups, which include African-Americans, older adults (51+) and persons with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic disease, are not achieving that goal.

“However, we believe this CDC report is too conservative in its suggestion that only 47.6 percent of American adults fit into the population group that should be consuming no more than 1500 mg a day of sodium,” says Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., president of the American Heart Association, and the Michel Mirowski, M.D., professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. “With the direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease already at $444 billion a year and rising, and with high blood pressure the single largest driver of those costs, this suggestion doesn’t go far enough to address either the human or economic burden that our excessive intake of salt costs. Other countries have realized this and are addressing it aggressively.”

The American Heart Association believes that many more Americans should heed a target sodium intake of 1500 mg a day or less. “Given that most of us – as many as 90% - will develop high blood pressure with age, we all should be consuming less than 1500 mg a day of sodium, unless your healthcare provider has told you that this doesn’t apply to you,” says Clyde Yancy, M.D., former American Heart Association president and the Magerstadt professor of medicine and chief of the division of cardiology; Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago, Illinois.

Yancy points out that a prior 2009 report from the CDC on this same topic suggested that approximately 70 percent of American adults should be included in the 1500 mg/day of sodium restriction. In the absence of new science, this target certainly shouldn’t be reduced. Yancy says, “The data which drove us to this new target of 1500 mg of sodium per day cannot be minimized and conversely the benefits of significant sodium reduction globally and especially in those at risk cannot be overstated.”

Given that an estimated 90 percent of adults will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime, this is not the time to be moderate in this recommendation. People who don’t currently have high blood pressure may be able to prevent it or blunt the rise in blood pressure that accompanies aging by lowering their sodium intake and achieving that limit.

As a science-based organization focusing on the strong evidence linking sodium intake with blood pressure -- and on the major adverse outcomes of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease – the American Heart Association will continue to advocate specifically that the daily intake of sodium for all American adults should be limited to 1500 mg.

Public policy efforts to reduce sodium consumption, much like the early work in reducing tobacco consumption, will not be easy. Collaborations with government agencies, other health organizations and the restaurant and food industry, including those areas influencing prepared and packaged foods, will be necessary. However, if the majority of Americans achieved a daily sodium intake of 1500 mg/day or less, we might save an estimated $24 billion in healthcare costs per year. Americans deserve the freedom to choose how much sodium they eat—and with the levels of sodium currently so high in the food supply, that choice has been taken away.

The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

President’s advisory on sodium link: http://my.americanheart.org/professional/General/Cutting-Sodium-to-Prevent-CVD-and-Stroke_UCM_424966_Article.jsp

Vote Now for the Ultimate Food and Travel Game Changer

Help the American Heart Association support two of its passionate volunteers, Kelly Meyer, founder & supporter of the My Heart. My Life. Teaching Gardens, and Jamie Oliver, who works with the association to seek funding to open Food Revolution Kitchens, by voting for them in the Huffington Post’s Game Changers series. They’re nominated for the Ultimate Food and Travel Game Changer category. Don’t forget to tell your friends to vote too!
Link: http://huff.to/pLcEQa

Primary Stroke Center and Advanced Certification in Heart Failure Programs

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are pleased to announce that we have enhanced our existing strategic alliance with The Joint Commission in order to benefit Primary Stroke Centers and Advanced Certification in Heart Failure programs.

The enhanced alliance combines the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific expertise with The Joint Commission’s expertise in evaluating the quality and safety of health care organizations. By enhancing this alliance, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint Commission are responding to current and future customer demands by providing a powerful package of services including a more comprehensive set of tools that will help enhance the quality of care for stroke and heart failure patients.

The tools and enhancements that will be available to hospitals include:

· Virtual networking capabilities
· Trend reports
· Future integration of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines and The Joint Commission’s Certification Measure Information Process (CMIP) measurement system.
· Future clearinghouse of clinical tools and best practices

Additionally, beginning February 1, 2012, certified Primary Stroke Centers and Advanced Certification in Heart Failure programs will be able to use designated seals from The Joint Commission and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to signify that they are providing the “next generation of stroke or heart failure care.”

The new American Heart Association/American Stroke Association certification mark shown below may be used only by hospitals participating in AHA/ASA hospital certification and accreditation programs. Stroke and heart failure patients will easily be able to recognize the hospitals that provide state-of-the-art stroke and heart failure care.

You're the Cure for Healthy Kids - What's On Your Plate Launches

The “You’re the Cure for Healthy Kids - What’s On Your Plate?” campaign was launched by the
American Heart Association in North Carolina to support efforts to pass legislation that requires
the NC State Board of Education to adopt national nutrition standards consistent with those of
the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy School Program or the National Academy of
Sciences Institute of Medicine for foods sold outside of the school meal program. This includes
foods sold in vending machines, schools stores and through other means to students.

The kickoff of the campaign took place in Charlotte at the Greater Charlotte Heart Walk,
on September 17th, reaching 14,000 people. At the “You’re the Cure” booth, participants
decorated paper plates and wrote simple messages in support of improving child nutrition
standards in schools. The statewide initiative will conduct launches in Raleigh on September 25
and Winston-Salem on October 15.

“This is such an important issue, I have two kids and my wife and I want them to grow up
healthy and strong. Having nutritious food options is one way that my kids can
live a heart healthy life.” said Juddson Rupp, Vice Chair of the NC AHA Advocacy Committee.

The 2011 Trust for America’s Health F as in Fat report ranked North Carolina as the 14th most obese state in the nation for adults and the 11th most overweight and obese state for children. Almost one out of three children is either overweight or obese. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight and obese adults. This increases to 80% if at least one parent is overweight or obese. They are being sentenced to a possible early future of cardiovascular disease, disability and possible death. One in twelve adolescents has high cholesterol (above 200 mg/dL).

The “You’re the Cure for Healthy Kids - What’s On Your Plate?” campaign is aimed at changing
these statistics through legislation. American Heart Association volunteers will collect plates at events throughout the year and then present them to the NC General Assembly as part of the NC You’re the Cure at the Capitol State Lobby Day in May 2012.

An Apple a Day May Keep Strokes Away!

Apples may keep strokes away.

So may pears, bananas and cauliflower – or any fruit or vegetable with “white” flesh.

That’s the conclusion of a Dutch study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association in which researchers say the risk of stroke was 52 percent lower for people who ate a lot of white fruits and vegetables compared to people who ate less.

The study is the first to associate fruit and vegetable color groups with stroke.

White fruit and vegetables also include chicory, and cucumber. Potatoes were classified as a starch. The color of a fruit’s flesh is a clue to the type of nutrients in it. Apples and pears are high in dietary fiber and a flavonoid called quercetin.

In the study, green, orange/yellow and red/purple fruit and vegetables weren’t related to stroke. However, each 25-gram per day increase in white fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a 9 percent lower risk of stroke. An average apple is 120 grams.

But don’t stop eating other-colored fruit and vegetables. They may protect against other chronic diseases, researchers say.

Related Information:
American Heart Association news release
The American Heart Association recommends eating a diet rich in a variety of colors and types of vegetables and fruits, at least 4.5 cups a day. To learn more visit: Eat More Fruits and Vegetables and Tips to boost fruits and vegetables in your diet
Cooking with white fruits and vegetables can be easy – and healthy. Check out these recipes at the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Center:
Cool Cucumber Dip
Modern Tuna Pasta Casserole (add extra cauliflower)
Pear and Cherry Crumble

Heart Facts: The Real Truth

How much do you know about your heart's health? It's easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth - that heart disease affects people of all ages, even those who eat right? Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart. Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. So let's set the record straight on common myths.

"I'm too young to worry about heart disease." How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries.

"I'd know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs." High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because you don't usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don't wait for your body to alert you that there's a problem. Check you numbers with a simple blood pressure test.

"I'll know when I'm having a heart attack because I'll have chest pain." Not necessarily. Although it's common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn your risk of heart attack!

"Diabetes won't threaten my heart as long as I take my medication." Treating diabetes can help reduce your risk for or delay the development of cardiovascular diseases. But even when blood sugar levels are under control, you're still at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. That's because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset also make you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

"Heart disease runs in my family, so there's nothing I can do to prevent it." Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can take steps to dramatically reduce your risk. Create an action plan to keep your heart healthy by tackling these to-dos: get active; control cholesterol; eat better; manage blood pressure; maintain a healthy weight; control blood sugar; and stop smoking.

"I don't need to have my cholesterol checked until I'm middle-aged." You should start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20, even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. Children in these families can have high cholesterol levels, putting them at increased risk for developing heart disease as adults.

"Heart failure means the heart stops beating." The heart suddenly stops beating during cardiac arrest, not heart failure. With heart failure, the heart keeps working, but it doesn't pump blood as well as it should. It can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles or persistent coughing and wheezing. During cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness and stops normal breathing.

"This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my heart." Leg pain felt in the muscles could be a sign of peripheral artery disease, which results from blocked arteries in the legs caused by plaque build-up. The risk for heart attack or stroke increases five-fold for people with PAD.

"My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack." Your heart rate speeds up during exercise or when you get excited, and slows down when you're sleeping. Most of the time, a change in your heartbeat is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a sign of arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can last long enough to impact how well the heart works and require treatment.

"I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack." No! As soon as possible, get the help you need by joining a cardiac rehabilitation program or consulting your healthcare provider for advice on developing a physical activity plan for you.

Learn more - Check out these informative and educational reads:
Answers by Heart fact sheets (These downloadable patient information sheets are in a question-and-answer format that's brief and easy to follow and read.)
Cardiovascular conditions
Heart-health screenings (includes downloadable quick reference chart!)
Read Linda Pena's story
Getting Healthy
Making crucial healthcare decisions, before an emergency

Nancy Brown Talks To Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Did you know heart disease is preventable? Learn more about heart disease prevention by watching Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s documentary, “Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: The Last Heart Attack,” on CNN this Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. As part of this documentary, AHA CEO, Nancy Brown, sat down with CNN to talk about the state of heart health in America.

http://bit.ly/q8mC1y

Half of Americans could be obese by 2030, report says

If current trends continue, half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030, according to a report by Columbia University researchers.

About one-third of the U.S. population is now obese. That would grow by 65 million people, reaching a total of about 164 million.

According to the authors, if every obese person decreased their body mass index by 1 percent (a loss of 2 pounds for a 200-pound adult), as many as 2.4 million diabetes cases, 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke and 127,000 cancer cases could be prevented. ...more

Heartsaver Recognized

The American Heart Association (AHA) and Principal John Wheeler recently honored Cedar Ridge High School faculty members who acted to save the life of a student by performing bystander CPR with the Heartsaver Award.

The “Heartsavers” will be recognized for acting quickly and without reservation during a cardiovascular emergency at the school. In 2009 Cedar Ridge High School faculty saved the life of 17 year-old senior Natalie Hough when she suffered cardiac arrest in the girl’s bathroom due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition called Long QT Syndrome.

Natalie’s parents, Libbie and HB Hough, will join Wheeler and the American Heart Association at today’s school faculty meeting to present the award to the teachers and staff involved in the save.

“It is extremely important that people learn how to perform CPR and be prepared to act when faced with an emergency,” said American Heart Association representative India Lucas. “We are proud to honor the lifesaving actions of the Heartsaver Heroes at Cedar Ridge High School.”

Heart disease is the No.1 killer of Americans. Less than eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive. Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.

The American Heart Association is encouraging the public to learn how to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator. The AHA trains more than 12 million people in CPR annually, including healthcare professionals and the general public.

Learn how to perform Hands Only CPR by visiting http://www.handsonlycpr.org/ and watching a short video, or find a class near you by calling 1-877-AHA-4CPR.

Top 10 myths about cardiovascular disease

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth – that heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who eat right? Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart.

Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. But you can boost your heart smarts by separating fact from fiction. Let’s set the record straight on some common myths. The following article sets the record straight on some common misconceptions about cardiovascular disease.

Top 10 myths about cardiovascular disease.

The Last Heart Attack

Did you know heart disease is preventable? Learn more about heart disease prevention by watching Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s documentary, “Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: The Last Heart Attack,” on CNN this Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. As part of this documentary, AHA CEO, Nancy Brown, sat down with CNN to talk about the state of heart health in America.

Some exercise is better than none.

Some exercise is better than none. More exercise is even better to reduce heart disease risk! As little as 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week can lower the overall risk of heart disease by 14 percent! http://bit.ly/pdSbvv

Physical Activity Levels of High School Students

Physical Activity Levels of High School Students - United States, 2010

MMWR has released a new study on the physical activity levels of American high school students compared to HP2020 objectives. Highlights include:

Nationwide, 15.3% of high school students met the HP 2020 objective for aerobic activity.
A higher percentage of male (21.9%) compared with female (8.4%) students; 9th-grade (18.5%) compared with 10th-grade (15.3%), 11th-grade (13.3%), and 12th-grade (13.1%) students; white (16.9%) compared with Hispanic (11.8%) students; and under/normal weight (16.3%) and overweight (16.5%) students compared with those with obesity (10.7%) met the aerobic objective.
51.0% of high school students met the HP 2020 objective for muscle-strengthening activity.
12.2% of high school students met the HP 2020 objective for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

Please click here to read the full report.

Prevention Works!

Deaths from cardiovascular diseases have fallen. However, it’s still the leading killer in the U.S. and medical costs are projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030. The American Heart Association’s recent policy statement explains what can be done to save more lives and dollars. http://bit.ly/nnZkBP

2011 Legislature Adjourns

On Saturday, June 18, the NC General Assembly adjourned the lNC egislative session with a provision that will bring lawmakers back to Raleigh for a special session on redistricting on July 13. A big thank you is extended to all of our You're the Cure advocates for your support and responses to our action alerts throughout the session.

Thanks to your advocacy efforts, we have made progress on several of our issues.We are pleased that SB 240/HB 443 Justus Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force Recommendations for the Stroke Advisory Council and Stroke Community Education were fully funded in the biennium budget ($900,000). In addition, we have several issues that saw positive legislative action and will be eligible for consideration in the 2012 short session.

These bills have all passed the House of Representatives and are currently in the Senate:

• HB 218/SB 242: Childhood Obesity Task Force


• HB 334: Fitness Testing Reporting


• HB 503: Nutrition Standards/All Foods Sold in Schools


• HB 837: CPR Instruction Completion by Students Required


• HB 914: AEDs State Buildings

We extend our sincere thanks to You're the Cure NC - you are making a difference and moving the AHA's mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke forward.