Orioles & American Heart Association

EVENT COMMITTEE

HEART HEALTH MESSAGE OF THE MONTH

JANUARY - ADVOCACY

80 percent of cardiovascular disease doesn't have to happen. Tell your state and federal representatives that disease prevention is an investment that can help Americans get healthy and keep our economy strong.

• Encourage your local and federal policymakers to take action on legislation that fights the devastating impact of heart disease and stroke. We can work together to achieve the American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goal: improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans and reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke deaths by 20 percent.
• What steps are you taking to improve your heart health? Are you trying to exercise more, eat better or get more sleep? No matter what it is, every little bit helps, so stick with it.

FEBRUARY - HEART MONTH

For 10 years, women have been fighting heart disease individually and together as part of the Go Red for Women movement. More than 627,000 women's lives have been saved, and 330 fewer women are dying per day. But the fight is far from over.

Heart disease is still our No. 1 killer - it affects more women than men and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. But the strength of mothers, sisters, daughters and friends fighting side by side is more powerful than any killer.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet only one in five American women believe heart disease is her greatest health threat. With the right information, education and care, heart disease in women can be treated, prevented, and even ended.

• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factor for developing heart disease.
• Women who Go Red are more likely to make healthy choices:
• Nearly 90 percent have made at least one healthy behavior change.
• More than one-third have lost weight.
• More than 50 percent have increased their exercise.
• Six out of 10 have changed their diets.
• More than 40 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One-third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.

MARCH - NUTRITION MONTH

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are increasing awareness of sodium through the "Salty Six." These commonly consumed foods may be loaded with excess sodium, which can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

• The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association know sodium is an acquired taste. As you take steps to reduce sodium, you'll actually start to appreciate foods for their true flavor. In time, you'll look forward to how food really tastes - not just the salty flavor. Visit www.heart.org/sodium for more information about how taste buds can adapt over time.
• The average American consumes more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day - more than twice the amount recommended by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. For tips on how to lower your sodium intake, visit www.heart.org/sodium.
• The next time you're at the grocery store, make a conscious effort to read the nutrition labels on the foods you're planning on purchasing. The amount of sodium per serving is listed in milligrams, abbreviated "mg." Check the labels against the American Heart Association's recommendation of 1,500 mg a day. While you're shopping, look for the American Heart Association's Heart-Check mark to be sure you're selecting heart-healthy products.

APRIL - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

By exercising for as little as 30 minutes a day you can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association's My Heart. My Life. Initiative can help you and your family get active and eat healthy.

• Studies show that for every hour of walking, you may increase your life expectancy by two hours.
• Mark your calendar for National Start Walking day in April, where employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and to give your co-workers a friendly push toward a healthier life.
• Heart disease is this country's No. 1 killer. But by exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day you can reduce your risk. That's what the American Heart Association's start walking movement is all about: Walk more and live a longer, healthier life.

MAY - STROKE MONTH

Stroke is largely preventable. In fact, it is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability. The American Stroke Association is here to empower you and your loved ones to prevent stroke through knowledge, action and hope.

Stroke is treatable. The American Stroke Association is here to help you to recognize the warning signs, so you can respond fast in a stroke emergency. When you recognize a stroke and act fast by calling 9-1-1, you have a greater chance of survival and recovery. Remember the acronym F.A.S.T. to help you recognize symptoms and what to do:

• F - Face weakness
• A - Arm weakness
• S - Speech difficulties
• T - Time to call 9-1-1

Stroke is beatable. Stroke survivors and their families are not alone in the recovery. The American Stroke Association is here to help with resources to help.

JUNE - CPR WEEK/HANDS-ONLY CPR

Anyone can learn to save a life. And everyone should.

• Know disco? You can save a life if you do. If you see a teen or adult collapse, call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song "Stayin' Alive."
• Got a minute? That's all you need to learn how to save someone's life with Hands-Only CPR. Celebrate National CPR Awareness Week by watching our Hands-Only CPR instructional video and sharing it with friends and family.
• Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death - nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the United States. By performing Hands-Only CPR to the beat of the classic disco song "Stayin' Alive," you can double or even triple a victim's chance of survival.

JULY - QUALITY OF CARE

• The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are leaders in healthcare quality improvement - committed to helping you and your family gets the best possible health care. We recognize hospitals that consistently meet high standards in following science-based treatment guidelines. Visit heart.org/myhealthcare to see if your hospital is on our list.
• Studies show that hospitals implementing American Heart Association/American Stroke Association quality improvement programs improve patient outcomes; reduce average length of in-patient stays and decrease re-admissions. Learn more at heart.org/myhealthcare.
• The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are recognizing hospitals that meet high standards of quality health care through accreditation and certification. Learn how your hospital can be recognized at heart.org/myhospital.
• Partner with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to know your health status. It's the first step to helping you and your doctor make the best decisions for your health and your care. For simple lifestyle changes to be your healthiest, visit heart.org/mylifecheck.

AUGUST - HEART WALK/PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Did you know that cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of Americans? Someone dies from a cardiovascular disease about every 40 seconds! Heart disease also kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. And congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects. Visit www.heartwalk.org to learn how you can help.

• When you join Heart Walk, you join more than a million people in 300-plus cities across the United States in taking a stand against heart disease and helping save lives. Find your local Heart Walk at www.heartwalk.org.
• Studies show that for every hour of walking, you may increase your life expectancy by two hours. The American Heart Association's My Heart. My Life. initiative can help you and your family become more physically active and eat a healthier diet.
• Some experts predict today's generation of children will not live as long as their parents, marking the first drop in life expectancy for an entire generation. Embracing a healthier lifestyle is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves and those we love. Visit www.myheartmylife.org to learn more about getting healthy.

SEPTEMBER - PATIENT EDUCATION

What if you could manage and prevent the worsening effects of peripheral artery disease (PAD)? With proper care, it's possible to alleviate leg and hip cramping, and pain and tiredness while walking or climbing stairs. The American Heart Association has information to help you learn more at www.heart.org/pad.

• High cholesterol levels can run in families. Learn more about the importance of checking and managing your cholesterol, even for children. www.heart.org/cholesterol
• About 2.7 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF). AFib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Learn more about AFib at www.heart.org/afib.
• What can be more important than the health of you and your loved ones? Let the American Heart Association's tools and resources help you connect to better heart health at www.heart.org/conditions.
• Making the effort to have a healthier heart is easier than you might think. The American Heart Association can offer advice and inspiration to help you improve your cardiovascular health. Find out how at heart.org/conditions.

OCTOBER - DIVERSITY AND DISPARITIES

• The best defense to prevent, treat and even cure heart disease is education. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women and Macy's offer the Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund. Through the national scholarship, Go Red for Women is dedicated to championing greater inclusion of multicultural women in the healthcare industry to increase culturally-sensitive, patient-centered care.
• Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 killer of Hispanic women. Hispanic women also are likely to develop cardiovascular disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic white women. They are also less likely to confront barriers to diagnosis and care, receive lower quality treatment and experience worse health outcomes than their Caucasian counterparts.
• African-American women are disproportionately affected by heart disease and its risk factors. Like other ethnic groups, African-American women also confront barriers to diagnosis, disparities in care and poorer health outcomes than their Caucasian counterparts.
• Research shows minorities and rural residents are less likely to call for emergency medical services (EMS) at the signs of a stroke. When someone recognizes a stroke and acts fast by calling 9-1-1, the patient has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and improving the outcome. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Together to End Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Covidien, uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to teach people to recognize a stroke and seek treatment. F.A.S.T. stands for: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 9-1-1.
• Rates of high blood pressure in U.S. African-American adults are among the highest in the world - 42.6 percent for men and 47 percent of women - putting them at increased risk for stroke and heart disease. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's community-based high blood pressure programs use volunteer mentors and Heart360, a digital personal health tracking tool, to encourage self-monitoring and other healthy lifestyle habits to help individuals in multicultural communities learn to control their blood pressure levels.
• Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. While it affects all women, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic white women. Yet only one in three Hispanic women are aware that it is their No. 1 killer.

NOVEMBER - RESEARCH

• The American Heart Association funds a variety of research projects to fight heart disease and stroke, ranging from mapping the human genome to evaluating exercise trends. Learn more about the American Heart Association's research programs.
• The American Heart Association has funded major medical breakthroughs over the years, including the first artificial heart valve, implantable pacemakers, and techniques and standards for CPR. Learn about these and other research milestones.
• Supporting research for heart disease and stroke is a top priority for the American Heart Association. In addition to funding research, we publish 12 academic journals that help educate medical professionals through the latest peer-reviewed research and scientific developments.
• Research shows that most Americans can improve their heart health by making a few changes.

DECEMBER - YEAR-END GIVING/PLANNED GIVING

• A charitable gift annuity through the American Heart Association helps save lives while increasing your retirement income and slicing your tax bill.
• Include the American Heart Association in your will or estate plan and leave a legacy that will fund research and education, benefiting others long after you're gone.
• Did you know that a significant portion of your donation to the American Heart Association stays in your community? In addition to funding national programs, we fund local research efforts, community cooking programs, Walking Clubs and Teaching Gardens. Visit heart.org/donate to support our mission in your area.

Your donation helps the American Heart Association provide heart-health information and CPR training year-round. Remember to make your tax deductible gift by Dec. 31. Contact angela.wheeler@heart.org for more information, or to give today.

• Help the American Heart Association continue to educate future generations about achieving ideal cardiovascular health with a planned gift through your will or estate plan.

Are you interested in learning about tips on nutrition, fitness and heart health? Support AHA's initiatives, learn to live a healthier lifestyle and "LIKE" us by visiting www.facebook.com/Marylandaha.

MATTERS OF YOUR HEART