You're the Cure NC

One Advocates Story: Meet Larry Calhoun

2012-01-13T12:28:00.000-08:00

Larry with his wife, Karen and grandchildren

Five years ago in June, I completed a 75 mile charity bikeride--a proud achievement and testimony to my level of fitness to complete theride. The next day I didn’t feel at mybest and wrote it off to the heat and the fatigue from the day before andthought nothing more of it. Thenabout a week later I went to bed earlynot feeling well. I awoke at three inthe morning with a pain in my chest that felt like someone tightening a straparound it and had a VERY rapid heartbeat. I drove myself to the local ER and called Karen, my fiancee, on theway. About halfway there all the pain wentaway and my heart rate returned to normal. I decided to continue on to the ER and have all this checked out. The ER Doctor checked me out for all commonheart issues since my symptoms clearly indicated a heart problem, but all thetests turned up negative. Just as theywere readying to release me, recommending that I go see my family practicedoctor for more testing, the heart monitor and alarms started going off!! Karen and I were startled with all of the noise in my room and knew something drastichad happened. The ER doctor rushed inand studied the heart monitor and declared confidently, “You have atrialfibrillation. We will need to transferyou to the main hospital for further testing.” Thus began my journey from a fit man in his 50s to a heart patientovernight. Karen began a journey withme, but also resumed a journey she had previously traveled . Her father had AFibs and had died from astroke caused by his AFibs in 1991. Iwas unaware her father’s AFibs hadcaused his premature death, and it was awhile before she revealed this tome. So that day we both began a journeywith her family history and my experiences.

Following my transfer from the ER, the Wake Med cardiologistassigned to my case ran a battery oftests on my heart. After my release fromthe hospital, I started regularly seeing a cardiologist. After three months of ever increasing medications after each new episode ofAFibs, my cardiologist referred me to a local EP (Electrophysiologist). After his involvement, we were referred to another EP specialist atthe Medical University of SC to have anablation preformed. I studied intently what was involved in the ablation, andwith my background in computers and engineering understood the high tech natureof this still experimental procedure. Without research dollars thesespecialized procedures would not be available. My ablation was preformed in Charleston and after extensive testing Iwas declared cure of AFibs!!! Only then did I find out about Karen's dad.

I knew that my procedure would not have been possiblewithout intense research into atrial fibrillation and the work of organizationsinvolved in heart health. We knew thatwe needed to support the American Heart Association with our gifts andwork. Karen and I support the heart walkand make a yearly donation to the American Heart Association.

This year while vacationing in Florida with friends, I againstarted feeling badly--light headiness, dizziness and fatigue with my heartracing at times. We scheduled a visit tomy local cardiologist and he determined that I fall in the 15% that experiencerelapses after having a successful ablation. We decided that we needed to do more to help the American HeartAssociation in both their efforts to fund research as well as in educating the public about heart disease.

We have both joined the “You're the Cure” team (www.yourethecure.org) of the AmericanHeart Association. We want to be able toimpact our lives and those of the lives around us. We are especially concerned that futuregenerations do not have to suffer with heart disease, especially atrialfibrillation. We encourage all of you to contribute your gifts to them and joinus in the You're the Cure team. Futuregenerations depend on us!

Turn the White House Red - We need your help!

2011-12-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-08T13:43:00.001-08:00

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!

2011-12-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-02T07:48:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-28T18:22:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-28T07:06:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-16T15:47:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-02T07:03:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-08-02T09:40:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-26T07:58:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Get Your Social Media On!

2010-07-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the information below about how you can spread the word about new tobacco regulations that began last week.

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working to educate consumers, public health partners, and the general public about new tobacco regulations that took effect July 22, 2010. These regulations prohibit the tobacco industry from distributing or introducing into the U.S. market any tobacco products for which the labeling or advertising contains the descriptors “light,” “low,” “mild,” or any similar descriptor, irrespective of the date of manufacture. However, consumers may continue to see some products with these descriptors for sale in stores after July 22 because retailers are permitted to sell off their inventory.

OSH and FDA are seeking your support to help get the word out about these new, historic FDA tobacco regulations. You can support this effort by

o Posting the new “Light/Low/Mild: No such thing” graphical button on your Web site. When clicked, this button will take visitors to new consumer-focused information entitled “No More “Light,” “Low,” or “Mild” Cigarettes.” This information provides a summary of the July 22 regulations, the public health impact, and links to key resources, including a new, expanded feature article by the same title posted on CDC’s Web site.

o Encouraging others to send Health-e-Cards emphasizing the value of being tobacco-free. See the new animated Health-e-Card that reiterates there’s no such thing as a safe cigarette.

o Informing others of a new widget located on FDA’s Tobacco Products Web site. A widget is an application that enables users to embed content from another Web site onto their Web site. As content gets updated on the source site, it’s automatically updated on the user’s site. This particular widget enables readers to embed regulation information from FDA’s Tobacco Products Web site, health information from OSH’s Smoking & Tobacco Web site, and quit information from NCI’s smokefree.gov Web site.

o Following CDCTobaccoFree on Twitter and retweeting new messages related to the July 22 FDA tobacco regulations.

o Becoming a fan of CDC’s Facebook page and posting new “Light/Low/Mild: No such thing” status updates on your Facebook profiles.

o Telling others about our new posting on CDC’s Everyday Health Widget (coming soon).

o Viewing OSH’s new entry on CDC’s MySpace page.

o Following OSH on GovLoop. GovLoop is a social networking site for the government community. It currently serves about 30,000 members, including local, state, and federal government employees and contractors. Academics and students interested in government are also welcome to join.

o Subscribing to CDC’s Smoking and Tobacco Use main feed to receive updates of new and recently changed content from CDC’s Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site on your browser or desktop.

2010-07-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at anytime. That’s why a public trained in CPR and timely access to AEDs is critical. Urge Congress to support the Rural and Community AED Program today. It's easy, simply click on this link and follow the prompts: http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=17461

NC State Lobby Day a Success!

2010-06-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

On June 2nd, 30 You’re the Cure advocates in North Carolina descended upon the General Assembly in Raleigh to share an important message to their legislators- investing in measures to improve the health of our citizens will save the state money and insure a healthier North Carolina.

Advocates came from far across North Carolina to attend You’re the Cure at the Capitol State Lobby Day. The event kicked off on June 1st, with an afternoon training at the American Heart Association headquarters in North Carolina. Advocates heard from state experts on the topics they would be discussing with their legislators the next day. Peg O’Connell, director of the NC Alliance for Health Tobacco Committee, spoke on the importance of investing in an educational campaign to address stroke disparities in Eastern North Carolina. Stroke is currently the 4th leading cause of death in North Carolina and for the first time since 2000, the number of stroke deaths increased in North Carolina between 2007 and 2008. Since 2008, North Carolina has run a media campaign that has shown statistically significant results in raising awareness about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke and get a patient immediate care. Advocates used this information to ask the state legislature to continue to fund this incredibly important campaign
In addition, advocates spoke out about the need to test children’s fitness in schools, and provide healthy foods in cafeterias.

The day of the event, the Heart Association also sponsored a press conference at the General Assembly that honored “Heartsavers”. Heartsavers are ordinary citizens who performed CPR in a time of need and helped save a life.

Thanks to all our volunteers in NC for all their hard work!

The Celebration Must Go On!

2010-01-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

Congratulations and Hooray! Today is the day! North Carolina has finally enacted one of the strongest regulations on tobacco in the history of the state! Amidst all of the celebration, however, it is important to recognize that our hard work must continue. Many restaurant owners and patrons are still skeptical of the bill. Please let restaurant owners know how much you appreciate the change, even if it means just leaving a small note on your bill. All too often, positive voices are overwhelmed by negative ones after a victory like this. Please continue to celebrate this wonderful change. Write a letter to the editor to your local paper, thank a restaurant owner, go to a restaurant you wouldn't have gone to before.
Thank you for all you have done. Keep up the good work!

Smoke-free Is Here

2010-01-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Today North Carolina ushers in a new era and we write a new history - one that focuses on health! So - where are you going to celebrate? At 3:00 pm this afternoon I will be at the Lexington BBQ #1 in Lexington with Representative Hugh Holliman and Dr. David Goff talking about smoke-free.

Let us know where and how you celebrate and remember to take pictures.

HB2 in the Wall Street Journal

2010-01-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a great article about HB2 in the Wall Street Journal, with a quote from AHA State Policy Director Betsy Vetter!

North Carolina Sets Curbs on Smoking
By CHRIS HERRING

North Carolina turns a new page at the start of 2010 in its long history as a tobacco-growing state as it implements a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

"We are keenly aware of the history in our state, but now it's just that -- history," said Betsy Vetter, chair of the North Carolina Alliance for Health, an independent state coalition that, among other things, works to reduce tobacco use.

The law exempts cigar bars and country clubs from the ban. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't include North Carolina on its list of 21 states plus the District of Columbia with 100% smoke-free laws -- meaning smoking is prohibited in all workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Still, the law is a big step for the nation's largest tobacco-producing state, which has long derived a hefty portion of tax revenues from that industry. The state has 255,000 tobacco-related jobs, nearly 40% of the nation's total, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"For North Carolina we feel like it's a huge victory," said Amy Barkley, a regional director for the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy organization.

Tobacco firms opposed the law, arguing that businesses should be allowed to decide whether to go smoke-free. "If they're doing this on their own -- and many of them have -- do we really need a far-reaching, broad rule like this? It should be the business owner's right to decide," said David Howard, a spokesman at Winston-Salem-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc.

Secondhand smoke causes 46,000 heart attacks and 3,400 lung-cancer deaths a year, according to the CDC. The U.S. surgeon general declared in 2006 that no level of secondhand smoke is without risk, and smoking should be eliminated from all indoor areas.

Two recent scientific studies estimated that heart-attack hospitalizations on average dropped 8% to 17% the first year after implementation of a smoke-free law, according to the CDC.

Later this year, Michigan and Wisconsin will also implement laws banning smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Among states with new laws on the books for 2010, Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon have banned the practice of texting while driving. California is the first state to partially prohibit the use of artificial trans fats in restaurants, following a move by several major cities. In Montana, insurance companies are now required to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders. Same-sex couples are allowed to legally marry in New Hampshire.

North Carolina's no-smoking law was passed and signed by Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue in May after two previous attempts at legislation failed. Sponsors of the bill initially sought a 100% smoke-free ban that would include all workplaces, but scaled it back. Smokers can be fined up to $50 for infractions, while bars and restaurants must pay up to $200.

Several North Carolina restaurants and bars said they welcomed the ban. "At least now this way, my customers won't get mad at me about it," said Terry Harvey, owner of Jimmy's Barbecue in Lexington, who contemplated going smoke-free a few years ago, but worried he would lose customers. Earlier this week he put up no-smoking signs and removed ashtrays in his restaurant.

Others said they expect the adjustment to be difficult. "I think it's gonna hurt us a lot, because people here like to drink and smoke," says John Bennett Jones, owner of JB's High Country Lounge, a bar in Fayetteville.

Mr. Jones estimated that 75% of his patrons smoke. "They're mad as hell about this, and with the economy how it is, I'm not happy about it either."

—Betsy McKay contributed to this article.

Celebrate Good Times!

2009-12-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of celebrations on Jan 2 for smokefree NC!

BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Activity: Bowling Event
When: Saturday, January 2, 2010 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Where/Location: Star Lanes Bowling Center, 491 Kenilworth Road, Asheville, NC
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Contact information: Karen Caldwell (828) 250-5048 or karen.caldwell@buncombecounty.org
RSVPs: Requesting RSVP’s from public officials.

CRAVEN/PAMILCO COUNTIES
Activity: Pending
Coordinator: Nicole Jones
Organization: Craven/Pamlico County ASSIST Coalition
Contact Information: 252-636-4920 x 2019 or njones@cravencountync.gov

GUILFORD COUNTY
Activity: Bowling Event
When: Saturday, January 2, 2010
Where/Location: Gate City Lanes 5502 Hornaday Road
Greensboro NC 27409-2936
Time: All day (Coupon all day - buy one get one bowling) Party 3pm-8pm (tentative)
Contact information: Mary Gillett Office Phone: (336) 641-6000 or mgillet@co.guilford.nc.us

HI-TOP CONSORTIUM (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain, and Transylvania counties.)
Activity: Pending
Coordinator: Traci Clark, Hi-Top ASSIST Coordinator
Contact Information: 828-452-6675 or hitop9@verizon.net

MECKLENBURG COUNTY
Activity: South Park Mall and Eastland Mall Event. Free coffee and copies of the latest Tobacco Free Today magazine. Local elected officials will also be on site.
When: Saturday, January 2, 2010
Where/Location: South Park Mall and Eastland Mall Charlotte, NC
Time: South Park Mall 11am-1pm
Eastland Mall 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
(On Sun. Jan 3 Smoke-Free Mecklenburg is sponsoring the Charlotte Checkers hockey game. Four (4) videos that be shown during the game, a table with information, and local elected officials will do the puck drop. The game starts at 2:00pm. at Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC)
Contact information: Lovemore Masakadza Office Phone: (704) 336-4660 lovemore.masakadza@carolinashealthcare.org

NEW HANOVER COUNTY
Activity: Pending
Organization: New Hanover /Brunswick/Pender ASSIST Coalition
Phone: (910) 798-6658
Email Address: emorrissette@nhcgov.com

NORTHWEST TOBACCO PREVENTION COALITION (Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Watuaga Wilkes counties)
Activity: Pending
Coordinator: Teri VanDyke, ASSIST Coordinator
Organization: Northwest Tobacco Prevention Coalition
Contact Information: (828) 264-2995 or teriv@apphealth.com

WAKE COUNTY
Activity: Lunch Celebration
When: Saturday, January 2, 2010
Where/Location: Abbey Road Tavern & Grille,1195 W Chatham St, Cary, NC,
(919) 481-4434‎
Time: 12-2PM (tentative)
Contact information: Ronda Sanders Phone: (919)431-4026, Mobile: (919) 623-2280,
Email Address: ronda.sanders@wakegov.com
RSVPs: forward RSVPs to the above email address.

Other Organizations:

CABARRUS COUNTY
Activity: TRU Crews will hand deliver Thank You Notes to business being smoke free. Youth will wear
TRU crew T-shirts and take pictures in front of restaurants and business.
When: Saturday, January 2, 2010 (January 3rd also delivery a date)
Where/Location: Area smoke free businesses
Time: TBA
Contact information: Barbara Sheppard bksheppard2cabarrushealth.org
RSVPs: Activity not open to the public

CATAWBA COUNTY
Activity: Fresh Air Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser (to benefit ACS and Catawba County Health Partners’ Cancer Task Force)
When: Saturday January 2, 2010 (tentative)
Where/Location: Applebee’s Bar and Grill, Hickory, NC
Time: 7:00 am-10:00 am
Location: Applebee’s Bar and Grill, Hickory, NC
Contact Information: Lindsey Smith/Jason Abernathy at 828-695-5817 or LindseyS@catawbacountync.gov
RSVP: Must RSVP to Lindsey Smith. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

MARTIN-TYRELL –WASHINGTON COUNTIES

Activity: Area restaurants, who wish to participate, will offer a random door prize or raffle a gift during their first day open following HB2. Restaurant participation is voluntary and as an incentive the restaurant name and gift offer will be listed in a funded newspaper advertisement.
When: Saturday January 2, 2010
Where/Location: List of restaurants TBA
Time: TBA
Contact information: John Fulk Phone: (252) 793-1630 or john.fulk@ncmail.net

SURRY COUNTY

Activity: TBA
When: Saturday January 2, 2010
Where/Location: TBA
Contact information: Donna Parks Phone: (336) 401-8413 or parksd@co.surry.nc.us

2009-12-12T08:37:00.001-08:00

New Report Shows Room for Improvement in North Carolina Tobacco Prevention Funding

2009-12-10T20:42:00.000-08:00

North Carolina’s tobacco prevention funding falls short of levels necessary to be effective, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and other health organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that North Carolina spend $106.8 million a year to have a successful, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. The state currently allocates only $20 million per year, which is 18.7 percent of the CDC-recommended level.

The report ranks North Carolina 24^th nationwide in tobacco prevention spending, up from 32^nd last year.

“North Carolina will not see a significant reduction in smoking rates until we make tobacco prevention a greater priority,” said David Goff, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention and professor of Public Health Sciences and Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

“Many smokers want to quit, and prevention and cessation programs are proven to help them give up tobacco permanently,” Goff continued. “The $107 million recommended by the CDC is a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars North Carolina loses each year to smoking-related health care costs. Making a small investment now in tobacco prevention could save billions of dollars and thousands of lives.”

“Although we’re making progress with smoke-free workplace laws, higher tobacco excise taxes and enactment of federal legislation to regulate the tobacco industry, we must do more to give smokers the tools and resources they need to kick this deadly habit,” commented Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “State lawmakers have more than enough resources to make a huge difference in their communities. Now they must back their promises with real and immediate results.”

North Carolina receives millions of dollars per year from the 1998 tobacco settlement fund, which was intended to be used to combat smoking. The state will collect $428 million in settlement funds and tobacco taxes this year, of which just 4.7 percent is devoted to tobacco prevention programs. Conversely, tobacco companies spend $535.9 million each year to market their products to North Carolinians.

In North Carolina, 1.5 million adults smoke, leading to nearly 12,000 preventable deaths a year caused by smoking, and more than 1,000 deaths among non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke. This costs North Carolina taxpayers $2.46 billion in direct healthcare costs ($769 million in Medicaid expenses alone), and $3.3 billion in lost productivity annually.

Almost 12,000 North Carolina children become regular smokers each year, and 193,000 children alive today will die prematurely because of smoking.

The annual report on states’ funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled “A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 11 Years Later,” was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Equipment a good start; now bring back daily PE in NC

2009-12-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a great post from one of our advocates!

Regarding the story, “Area schools eligible to apply for funding for PE equipment,” (AC-T, Oct. 13): I’m pleased to learn that Asheville area schools may soon get new equipment for physical education classes.

The latest statistics about childhood obesity are very alarming, and we need to be doing more to help kids be fit and healthy. Health experts say that children need quality physical education every day — at least 30 minutes a day for younger children and 45 minutes per day for high school students. But 62 percent of North Carolina students attend physical education classes only two days per week — or less. Meanwhile, our state has the 14th-highest childhood obesity rate in the nation. Having PE equipment won’t do any good if we don’t use it.

I appreciate Asheville school officials for trying to improve physical education. Now let’s hope they — along with state legislators — follow through and bring daily PE back to North Carolina schools.

Lee Storrow, Asheville

Youth wants to see more done to keep kids away from tobacco

2009-07-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Great New Letter from advocate Colleen Daly in the Asheville Citizen Times!

As someone who has seen the repercussions of tobacco use on both our youth and economy, I believe that raising the cigarette tax is clearly a win/win situation.

North Carolina is in desperate need of funds. Raising the tax prevents kids from starting to smoke and provides incentives for adults to quit while providing greater revenue for beneficial programs under the state's jurisdiction.

North Carolina has the fourth-lowest cigarette tax in the United States. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, a dollar increase in taxes will generate up to $329 million in the first year and significantly reduce expenditures within the health care system. Within five years, $2.1 billion could be saved from health care expenditures related to preventable illnesses and deaths caused by tobacco products.

Although it is illegal, minors are targeted every day by the tobacco industry. By raising the cigarette tax we can reduce teen smoking by 17 percent and saves thousands of lives in North Carolina. As a young person, I see many of my peers fall victim to big tobacco. I hope that my legislators will work to help them.

Colleen Daly, Asheville

Daly is the 2009 Southern Regional Youth Advocate of the Year for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Changes are Coming!

2009-06-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Now that we have seen the passage of HB2, you might think this blog has no purpose. Wrong! There are many important health issues, and the Heart Association and You're the Cure Advocates will continue to fight the good fight. As you can see, we've changed our address to www.yourethecurenc.blogspot.com. We will make more changes in the coming weeks, but first here is a letter to the editor from one of our advocates, Yolanda Dickerson!

Healthy Revenue

At just 35 cents per pack, North Carolina's cigarette tax is the third lowest in the nation. Bringing it in line with other states would generate significant tax revenue and reduce health care spending as smokers drop the habit and become healthier.

With benefits like that, raising cigarette taxes would be a good idea any time, but the current budget deficits make it even more important. We must find a way to reduce costs and raise revenue, or we face deep cuts in important state programs. Public health programs alone are targeted for $38 million in cuts.

Raising North Carolina's cigarette excise tax by just $1 per pack would reduce youth smoking by an estimated 17 percent, thus preventing addiction among 89,500 young people. An estimated 59,500 adults would stop smoking and 44,400 lives could be saved if taxes go up a dollar.

Legislators face many tough decisions as they attempt to address the budget shortfall, but raising cigarette taxes is a no-brainer. By taking one simple, common sense action, North Carolina can increase revenue, cut spending and improve public health. Increasing cigarette taxes is a win-win-win proposition.

Yolanda Dickerson

Wendell

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters/story/1554401.html

Signing of the Bill

2009-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Governor Perdue has scheduled the bill signing for HB 2 on Tuesday May 19th at 11:30 am at the NC Capitol in the old House Chambers!

It passed!

2009-05-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

HB2 just passed the House. This is a historic step for North Carolina! This is a great step that will protect restaurant and bar employees and patrons. While the bill did not include protection for all workers in places like bowling alleys or convenient stores, we will continue to work at a local level to protect all workers!

HB 2 Passes Senate Without Amendments!

2009-05-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Here's an update from the NC Alliance for Health.

HB 2, Prohibit Smoking in Public and Workplaces, passed third and final reading by the NC State Senate by a vote of 30 to 18. As you may recall from action last week in the Senate Health Care Committee, the bill was scaled back from a comprehensive worksites bill (that would cover all worksites) to a restaurants and bars only bill with some restoration of local control.

Despite the scaled back version of the bill, most see this as an HISTORIC vote for North Carolina and a step toward protecting public health. In its current form, the bill will make all restaurants and bars in North Carolina smoke-free – a huge victory in a tobacco state like North Carolina.

One amendment was offered and defeated during third reading debate:

· Sen. Phil Berger (R- ) offered an amendment that would have vastly broadened the definition of “private club” to include any organization that holds “a permit to sell alcoholic beverages and may or may not serve food for pay to anyone who is a member or member’s guest.” This amendment would have eliminated the restriction that “private clubs” exempted from the bill include only those that were private, non-profit 501c3 organizations (such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars or Elks Lodges), opening the exemption as a possibly larger loop-hole in the bill. This amendment would have allowed bars and/or restaurants to become private membership clubs by charging a nominal fee to become members. Other states with such exemptions have seen bars charge $1 “membership fees” to meet the terms of a “private membership club” so that they could permit smoking and skirt the law. This amendment was defeated by the close vote of 25 to 23. To see the vote count on this amendment, go to HB 2 Senate Amendment 3.
HB 2 will now return to the House where the House can either agree to the Senate’s version of the bill (known as concurrence) or disagree (knows as non-concurrence) and appoint a conference committee. Stay tuned for next steps for HB 2 in additional updates this week.

Teen supports House Bill 2 in battle against teen smoking

2009-05-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a great letter to the editor from one of our advocates with the Heart Association. Colleen also just won the South Regional Award from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Congrats Colleen!

As House Bill 2 goes to the General Assembly for debate, I hope our representatives will consider the dangers secondhand smoke pose to the health of their constituents and the effect House Bill 2 has on youth.

House Bill 2 not only significantly reduces most people's exposure to secondhand smoke, but can also act as a preventive measure for adolescents.

According to a May 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, teens living in cities with restrictions on smoking in public places were 40 percent less likely to pick up the habit.

By preventing teenagers from beginning to smoke, we can also prevent them from obtaining life-threatening illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control stated that if current smoking patterns persist, more than 5 million of today's teens will die prematurely because of smoking-related diseases.

As a senior in high school, I have seen the ramifications of tobacco use on my peers. I support House Bill 2 strongly because I don't want to continue watching my friends fall to this habit. I hope my senator will strive to protect them as well.

Colleen Daly, Asheville

HB 2 to be Heard in Senate Health Committee This Week

2009-04-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

We are working hard to restore HB 2 to its' original form and hope that when it is heard in the Senate Health Committee this week, it will be stronger. Help us ensure that we protect all workers from secondhand smoke exposure by sending a message now to your Senator asking him or her to support a strong HB 2. Visit www.smokefreenc.org to send your email right now!

Passage of HB2

2009-04-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

HB2 passed in a vote of 72 to 45. While this should be a time to rejoice, the news is bittersweet. Several amendments were introduced which significantly weaken the bill and don't protect workers in North Carolina. You can find more information at http://www.rtpnet.org/alliance/pdfs/2009/Alliance_SmokeFreeWorkplaceRelease_4.2.09.pdf.

As this bill moves to the Senate, we will continue to keep you updated.

Word on the Street

2009-04-01T14:13:00.001-07:00

Word on the street is that the House will be voting on HB 2 today. I'm listening into the House Floor from my dorm room in Chapel Hill. Right now they have been in a recess for a long time while they vote on the Board of Governors for UNC. You can access the audio at this link.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/

Where are you listening in from?

Update 5:24 PM- The bill has been introduced and it is being debated on the floor!

Update 5:28 PM Rep Hugh Holliman is introducing the bill. He is arguing that this bill is about protecting the health of citizens in North Carolina.
"We will have people argue this health issue is a property rights issue, a business issue, an individual rights issue. It is none of those. It is a health issue."

Update 5:32 PM Both Rep Glazier and Rep Weiss have spoken in favor of the bill. They are both sponsors of the bill, so we haven't heard from any opposition yet.

Update 5:44 PM Rep. Barnhart is telling the story of his father in law who passed away from lung cancer. He never smoked but worked in an office where smoking was allowed.
"We’re fighting for the personal freedom to live. The personal freedom to breathe. The personal freedom to make a living for your family without sacrificing everything else... I can’t do anything to bring my sweetheart's daddy back. But what I can do is work hard to prevent anyone else from living through it."

Update 6:10 PM Cary Allred is arguing against the bill. He has proposed an amendment that would not allow any workplace to allow smoking and hire people under the age of 18.

Update 6:52 PM I haven't been able to pay as much attention as I would like. When I checked a couple minutes ago Rep Pearl Burris-Floyd was speaking in support of HB2.

Update 7:08 PM Debate is still going on. No floor vote yet.

FDA Regulation of Tobacco

2009-03-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

So this is what I put in my blank space...what will you put in yours?

The FDA is clearly the best administration to regulate tobacco. It has the ability to enforce stricter packaging restrictions that will make comsumers more aware of the dangerous chemicals present in tobacco products. But one of the most important parts of this piece of legislation is that it will hold the tobacco industries accountable for marketing to children. When 90% of current smokers began smoking before they turned 18, it is clear that tobacco use must be reduced among this young demographic to ensure their safety. It is time for the FDA to regulate tobacco products...not the tobacco companies.

Find out at...
http://heartprescription.org/

Get Out the Vote.

2009-03-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all...Colleen Again. I just wanted to encourage you to get your friends to call or send an email to your representatives in the General Assembly. It's great that we take the initiative to do so ourselves...but think about if each of us asked one more person to do the same. We would be able to have a much greater impact. Please consider sending a facebook message or email or just talk to the people you know will support this legislation and get out the vote...so to speak.

Use this link to email your legislators
http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/letter.aspx?AlertID=12468

and this one to encourage your friends to do the same
http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/tellafriend.aspx

Important Vote Expected Tuesday

2009-03-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone,

Have you visited www.smokefreenc.org and sent your message to your lawmakers in support of HB2? We have updated the site and now is the time to send those messages!

We expect that House Bill 2 will be voted on in the House Judiciary 1 Committee on Tuesday March 24. Want to come and watch the vote? The Committee meets at 10:00 am in Room 1228 of the Legislative Building. Join us if you can.

Want to know what else you can do? Make a phone call to your legislator and tell him/her to support HB 2 - now is the time for a big push to make sure this legislation gets through the House of Representatives - your phone call can make the difference.

Tell your Representative to vote yes for HB 2 with no amendments to weaken the bill - everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free indoor air!

Thanks for your support!

HB 2 to Be Heard in J-1 Today!

2009-03-17T04:18:00.001-07:00

HB 2 will be heard in the House Judiciary One Committee this morning! The bill will be debated at 10 AM. If you have the time, send an e-mail to members of the committee. Tell them you support HB2 and want to see all workers protected from secondhand smoke.

Members of J-1

Chairman Rep. Ross (D-Wake) SPONSOR Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Goodwin (D-Richmond) SPONSOR Melanie.Goodwin@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Stam (R-Wake) Paul.Stam@ncleg.net
Vice Chairman Rep. Stiller (R-Brunswick) Bonner.Stiller@ncleg.net
Members Rep. M. Alexander (D-Mecklenburg) SPONSOR Martha.Alexander@ncleg.net

Rep. Blust (R-Guilford) John.Blust@ncleg.net

Rep. Bryant (R-Nash) Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net

Rep. Hall (D-Durham) SPONSOR Larry.Hall@ncleg.net

Rep. Harrison (D-Guilford) SPONSOR Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net

Rep. Insko (D-Orange) SPONSOR Verla.Insko@ncleg.net

Rep. Martin (D-Wake) SPONSOR Grier.Martin@ncleg.net

Rep. Mobley (D-Hertford) Annie.Mobley@ncleg.net

Rep. Neumann (R-Gaston) SPONSOR Wil.Neumann@ncleg.net

Rep. Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry) Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net

Rep. West (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon) Roger.West@ncleg.net

Got Rights?

2009-03-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all! It's Colleen. I have been talking with many people regarding this piece of legislation and have noticed that many people who oppose it are concerned about how smokers' rights are being handled and whether the government should have any power over the issue at all. So I just wanted to contribute my two cents regarding this issue.

The fact of the matter is that under this piece of legislation Everyone's rights are maintained equally under the law. The government holds the right to protect the general well being of the public with law that limits specific actions. For example, the government can regulate speed limits, conditions under which food can be cooked, and ban actions that harm others such as fighting. It is clear that like speeding, old mayonnaise, and fighting second hand smoke can severely harm your health. Smokers still maintain the right to smoke in the privacy of their homes or unopened cars without harming people who did not choose to do so.

The government also has the right to protect people in the workplace. Very strict conditions have been placed in the past on working environments. Workers cannot be subjected to dangerous chemicals or substances without safety devices. Unfortunately, such a device does not exist for secondhand smoke. It has been proven by studies conducted by the Project ASSIST coalition and other research agencies that ventilators and sectioned smoking sections do not eliminate the dangerous exposure to secondhand smoke. As the Surgeon General stated in 2006, there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. We need to remain consistent in our policies of protection workers by eliminating second-hand smoke in the workplace. As the economy worsens and jobs are lost, the options for job locations are diminishing. Workers simply can't decide not to work in a smoky environment anymore.

Everyone has the same rights. It is time for them to be protected. Allowing the consequences of someone else's choice to negatively affect the health of everyone is a blatant violation of our rights. Just as protesting is prohibited outside a school because it inhibits a child's ability and infringes on their right to learn, smoking must be prohibited in public places because it inhibits our ability and infringes on our right to live a long and healthy life.

Pictures From Lobby Day

2009-03-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from the Heart Association's Lobby Day at the Capitol.

More Support this Year

2009-02-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a great article on the support HB2 has!

http://jackbetts.blogspot.com/2009/02/where-theres-smoke-theres-votes.html

Reason #7

2009-02-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

Over the next seven days, we'll look at seven reasons to support HB2 and S205 (which is the Senate companion bill).

Reason Number Seven to Support HB 2
When people live and work in smoke-free enviornments, healthcare costs decline.

A recent study in Pueblo, Colorado found the rate of heart attacks declined 41% after a smoke-free law went into effect. Not only did fewer people have heart attacks, but it also had a rippling effect on the decline of public and private health care costs. When people live in smoke-free enviornments, less people have illnesses as a result of secondhand smoke, and more people quit smoking all together. As a result, individuals and the state spend less on healthcare.
Tobacco use costs North Carolina taxpayers $2.46 billion in direct healthcare costs ($769 million in Medicaid expenses alone), and $3.3 billion in lost productivity annually.

News and Observer Calls for Smoke-free

2009-02-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Everyone - check out this editorial in the Raleigh News and Observer today: http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/1414107.html

This is a great editorial and the News and Observer joins the other major newspapers in our state calling on our state lawmakers to make all indoor worksites and public places smoke-free!

We have news that House Bill 2 will be heard in the House Health Committee at Noon on Thursday February 26th - now is the time to let the House Health Committee members that we want to protect all workers in NC from secondhand smoke. Tell them to keep HB 2 strong and to vote yes. To contact the House Health Committee, visit http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House%20Standing_26

We can do this - but we need everyone to speak up for smoke-free indoor air!

Introduction

2009-02-19T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for reading the blog. We have some pretty exciting things that are going to happen here over the next couple of months. This blog is going to be updated and moderated by Heart Association volunteers from across North Carolina. For now, get excited about the Heart Association's Lobby Day on March 3! Starting next Tuesday, I'm going to have a post every day, counting down the 7 reasons that HB2 is good for North Carolina. Keep on reading!

2009 is the Year for Smoke-free NC

2009-02-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

This is the year North Carolina can make history - help us protect all our workers from exposure to deadly secondhand smoke. You can be a part of the cure - visit www.smokefreenc.org and send an e-mail to your lawmakers - tell them that all workers in our state deserve the right to breathe smoke-free indoor air while they are at work.

Do you know that just five minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke is the same as if you had smoked a cigarette? Think about it - what if you are exposed all day long while you are at work?

If we all use our voices and speak up for smoke-free we will join the 28 other states and D.C. that have protected their workers.

You are also invited to join the American Heart Association on March 3rd for the 2009 You're the Cure AHA State Lobby Day. To learn more contact Betsy Vetter, betsy.vetter@heart.org.

This is the year - let's make 2009 HB 2 protects us all from secondhand smoke!