American Heart Association

National ambassador Damar Hamlin is asking you to join the #NationofLifesavers. Learn CPR at http://spr.ly/6046PI9h8.

Like many people in rural West Virginia, Sabrina Ford grew up on beans cooked with lard and cornbread loaded with sugar, often with a side of fried potatoes cooked in bacon grease. But years of eating high-fat, fried and sugary foods have resulted in another family tradition: heart disease and other chronic illnesses. As the director of nursing at Rainelle Medical Center, the only clinic serving the town's roughly 1,170 residents, Sabrina worries that if she doesn't change the unhealthy situation, her grandchildren will be next. "I don't want that for them," she said, nor does she want to miss seeing them grow up. "I want to be around for a long time. I want to see them graduate high school." Rural Americans – particularly those in Appalachia – face some of the highest rates of heart disease and chronic illness in the nation. West Virginia ranks at or near the top for rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, along with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. Sabrina and her daughter, Sarah Ward, a diabetes specialist at the medical center, are working to break the stranglehold of chronic illness with Wellness Works, a program that helps others create and maintain a healthier lifestyle. In the region they serve, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels have all decreased. "We use our influence as health care professionals to display how being active, cooking healthy meals, shopping for better choices at the grocery store and growing your own food can be possible, even with the barriers we all face," Sarah said. “I'm dieting, watching what I eat. I've lost 60 pounds,” Sabrina said. “I want to pass it down to my grandchildren that we practice good healthy habits."

Published today, Palliative Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement. http://spr.ly/6042gSk1C 📸Palliative pharmacotherapy across the clinical course of cardiovascular disease.

Palliative care is important in managing cardiovascular disease (CVD), as it reduces physical symptom burden, manages emotional and spiritual distress, supports caregivers, and helps patients make decisions aligned with their goals of care. http://spr.ly/6047gSXsz

With temps heating up, be sure you’re getting enough water! But hydration doesn't just come in a bottle or from the tap. Beat the heat this summer with plenty of water and these hydrating foods.

Where’s everyone walking today? No matter where you roam, remember to wear sunscreen. And drink lots and lots of water. 🌞 #MoveMore #HeartWalk

Sharell Weeams was out dancing with friends like she did every week, laughing and having fun. “The music usually energized me, but that November 2021 night felt different. Halfway through a song, I felt exhausted, then dizzy. Next, everything faded to black.” She had a heart attack on the dance floor, then went into cardiac arrest. “Luckily, three of my dancer friends are nurses. They started CPR and used an AED to shock me back to life. In the emergency room, doctors found four artery blockages. At 42, I needed quadruple bypass surgery.” For years, doctors had advised Sharell to take better care of her heart health. “When I was 25, I was diagnosed with extremely high LDL cholesterol. I didn’t realize the gravity, even when my doctor said that none of her other patients had such high numbers. My LDL was 514 mg/dL, when it should have been below 100 mg/dL.” After recovering from bypass surgery, Sharell went to cardiac rehab to learn heart-healthy habits and make sure her heart was strong. “When you exercise at cardiac rehab, they hook you up to a heart monitor to see if you have any issues. Getting the green light gave me the confidence to go out dancing again. There’s no better form of cardio than dancing with a partner who swings you up and down a slot. Knowing that it’s good for my heart makes it feel even better.” Proudly sponsored by Amgen.

A lot has changed in 100 years, but we’re still dedicated to saving lives from heart diseases and stroke. #AHABoldHearts

Under pressure to meet a big deadline? Movement is one of the best stress busters. Get moving during your workday without having to carve out a big chunk of time. #WellbeingWorksBetter

Kwamane Liddell’s experiences as a nurse and health care lawyer set him on a journey to address health disparities. He shares how the American Heart Association helped him do that through the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator. The six-week Business Accelerator is an intensive training and grant program to help you scale your health impact-focused business. Deadline is TODAY for 2024. http://spr.ly/6041g0rqR