Kansas Advocacy Beat

CPR and AED Awareness Week - Got a Minute?

2011-06-01T09:47:00.003-05:00

Got a minute? Then you can learn how to save someone’s life during CPR/AED Awareness Week which starts today!

CPR saves lives, it's that simple. If someone you loved suddenly collapsed and needed CPR, would you know what to do?

Simply put: The life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you love. Sadly, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed. This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur.

TAKE ACTION: Please encourage your legislators to learn and support Hands Only CPR in your community!

While we hope you never have to use it, it is good to know you could respond in an emergency if necessary. After you click on the Action Alert above, please take a minute to visit www.heart.org/CPR and learn how to perform Hands Only CPR. Once you have learned CPR, give 5 people you care about the power to save lives by sharing the video with them.

It could save the life of someone you love.

Please Join Us! FREE CPR Training Event in Celebration of National CPR & AED Awareness Week

2011-05-19T09:56:00.002-05:00

In celebration of National CPR & AED Awareness Week (June 1-7), the American Heart Association is proud to announce that Kansas Heart Hospital and Cardiovascular Consultants of Kansas, P.A. will present a free community-wide CPR training event designed to save lives. The event will include training stations focusing on basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adults and infants, Hands-Only CPR, the appropriate response to an adult and infant choking victim, and the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

In addition to lifesaving skills, this unique opportunity will provide a fun environment for families, featuring tips on how to create easy and healthy meals and snacks. Children will have an opportunity to meet officers from the Wichita Police Department, practice calling 9-1-1 by using a simulator, and see the inside of a working ambulance and fire truck. Sandwiches from Jimmy John’s will be provided for lunch.

Saturday, June 4, 2011 – 10 a.m. to 12 noon

Cardiovascular Consultants of Kansas, P.A.

9350 E. 35th St. N. – Wichita, KS 67226

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. About 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one. Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after cardiac arrest can double a victim’s chance of survival. If more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved.

To learn more about this event or to access a flyer to distribute please visit www.heart.org/wichitaCPRevent. We hope to see you there!

Kansas Legislative Update

2011-03-30T15:48:00.006-05:00

2011 Legislative Session Overview

The budget shortfalls in the current fiscal year as well as the projected shortfall in the coming fiscal year remain the biggest topics of conversation in Topeka. Strong philosophical differences exist, so bringing these views together to create and approve a final budget has proven tricky.

While budget negotiations continue, the American Heart Association advocacy team is hard at work monitoring legislation, lobbying for policies that positively impact our mission and keeping an eye on legislation that could negatively impact the American Heart Association and those we strive to protect. Below are details on three issues that have captured a lot of our attention this session. While working on these issues we are also continuing to look for opportunities around other priorities including stroke and STEMI systems of care, CPR, AEDs and a host of other topics vital to our life-saving mission. Thanks to the support of You’re the Cure advocates like yourself, we have been able to make progress on many fronts this session!

Kansas House Votes to Strengthen Statewide Smoking Law

After 3 hours of debate the Kansas House of Representatives voted 97-26 to eliminate the exemption in the current law that allows smoking on casino floors. Multiple amendments that would have otherwise weakened or gutted the existing law were rejected sending a clear message that the current law has strong support. One very limited exemption was approved and while the AHA doesn’t support this exemption we are still pleased the bill was approved in the House.

The bill will now go to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. Limited time remains in the legislative session for considering the bill and lawmakers must still develop and approve a budget before adjourning. Ultimately the strong vote of support for this bill shows that lawmakers understand how popular the new law is with Kansans of all political ideologies. Recent polling shows that 77% of Kansans support the new clean indoor air law. A special thanks to all You’re the Cure advocates who responded to our action alerts on this topic. Keep an eye out for an upcoming Action Alert that will give you the opportunity to thank the House Representatives that voted to protect the law.

Senate Approves Money for Coordinated School Health

Governor Brownback recommended elimination of this vital program and the House concurred but thanks to the Senate Ways and Means Committee $145,000 was approved to keep the Kansas Coordinated School Health program alive. This amount is a significant cut from funding levels of previous years, but securing any funding in a tough economic climate should be viewed as a victory.

The Coordinated School Health program originated as a way to combine resources of the Kansas Department of Education and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to promote physical fitness and health education in our schools. Today the program assists grantee schools in achieving high levels of success in meeting the State’s wellness guidelines as outlined in the School Wellness Policy Model Guidelines. Last year 64 schools in 39 Kansas Counties shared more than $234,000 in grant funds.

Senator Laura Kelly (Topeka) has been a long-time supporter of the program and was largely responsible for securing the funding. Kelly recently told the Kansas Health Institute, “Anything we can do that focuses not only kids’ attention but families’ and schools’ attention on healthy lifestyles – increasing physical activity, better nutrition – we should do. The Coordinated School Health program is one way to use that school community to at least get out the values, skills and knowledge that we used to do with physical education and health curriculum.”

You’re The Cure advocates responded to the call and helped bring this victory about through contact with their legislators. The budget must now be reconciled with the House version of the budget before it goes to Governor Brownback so a lot of work remains to keep this line item alive.

Sales Tax Exemption

As the State continues to wrestle with its budget numerous proposals have surfaced regarding tax policy. These discussions have looked at everything from tax rates, to general tax policy including how sales tax exemptions are granted. Currently the American Heart Association has a tax exemption from the State of Kansas that allows us to put more of our donor dollars into research and education instead of the State’s general fund. From our calculations the value of what we offer to the State far exceeds what the State loses in revenue.

For legislators looking at tax policy, however, they are increasingly concerned that current tax policies are not uniform. In Kansas not all not-for-profits have a tax exemption and not all services at taxed equitably, for example. During theses larger discussions the American Heart Association’s advocacy team has been actively monitoring these deliberations to keep track of what impact those discussion would have on our exemption. To date, no action has been taken that impacts the AHA but we continue to monitor legislation as events can turn quickly in the closing days and weeks of session.

Help Us Build Our Advocate Network!

We are always needing more advocates like yourself to help us reach out to legislators. It is so important that they are hearing personal stories from their constituents! Please consider telling a friend to join our You're the Cure Network!

77% of Kansas Voters Support Keeping State’s SmokeFree Law

2011-02-10T10:35:00.002-06:00

Even 54% of smokers favor law protecting people from secondhand smoke

Topeka, KS (February 9, 2011) – A new poll released yesterday by a coalition of public health groups finds 77 percent of Kansas voters support the state’s recently passed smokefree law. The poll shows broad support for the law including large majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independent voters across Kansas.

“Clearly Kansans are showing strong support for clean indoor air,” said Kevin Walker, Regional Vice President of Advocacy for the American Heart Association. “We know that support has grown since the law was enacted and that should send a clear message to lawmakers considering efforts to weaken the law.”

The survey also found among Kansas voters:

59 percent are less-likely to vote for candidates who want to repeal the law
84 percent view exposure to secondhand smoke as a health hazard
54 percent of people who smoke like the state’s smokefree law

The survey of 500 likely Kansas voters was released by a coalition of public health groups. The polling firm Public Opinion Strategies conducted the survey January 11-12, 2011. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.38 percentage points.

In February 2010, Kansas became the 28th state to pass a smokefree law that protects workers and the public from the serious health hazards of secondhand smoke in public places and hospitality venues. The law went into effect on July 1, 2010.

The need for protection from secondhand smoke in all workplaces and public places has never been clearer. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 69 carcinogens. The evidence is also clear that smokefree laws protect health without harming business. As the U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona concluded in 2006, “Evidence from peer-reviewed studies shows that smokefree policies and regulations do not have an adverse impact on the hospitality industry.”

The coalition of public health groups releasing and funding the poll includes the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Sunflower Foundation, Oral Health Kansas, Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition, Clean Air Kansas and Wichita Medical Research Education Foundation.

Sunflower Showdown Tragic Story of Loss and Heart Disease

2011-01-31T11:07:00.007-06:00

Like many other Kansans this weekend, I tuned in to watch the much anticipated Sunflower Showdown this past Saturday. My focus was quickly taken away from the game and on to the tragic story of Thomas Robinson - a KU basketball player who in the last month lost his grandma and grandpa within weeks of each other. If that wasn't hard enough, just last week his mother unexpectedly died of a heart attack at age 43.

I wish I could say that I was shocked to hear that his mother was only 43 years old, but unfortunately I wasn't.

Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in American women, claiming about 422,000 lives each year. This means women just like you - mothers, sisters, friends — are dying at the rate of one per minute. African-Americans have higher death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke than whites. The prevalence of hypertension in blacks in the United States is among the highest in the world, and it's increasing.

In fact, in the time it takes to read this, another woman will die from heart disease. It simply does not have to be that way. At the American Heart Association, we work every day to fund research and fight this killer so more women can be saved. But we need your help. This National Wear Red Day, join our mission to ensure we never have to deny research that could save a woman’s life.

Become a volunteer advocate and deliver a lifesaving message to public officials. Enroll today in You’re the Cure, a nationwide network of volunteer advocates dedicated to finding a cure for heart disease and stroke at www.yourethecure.org.

On February 4, 2011, Make It Your Mission to Save Lives. Together we can make a difference. Celebrate National Wear Red Day.

Two New Studies Shows Smoke Free Policies Benefit Employees, Patrons and Businesses

2011-01-23T16:50:00.011-06:00

Research Examines Economic Impact of 2008 Kansas City, MO Smoke Free Ordinance

A recent study funded by HCF determines that there was no negative effect on sales or employment following the adoption of the 2008 smoking ban. The research was conducted by John A. Tauras, Ph.D. and Frank J. Chaloupka, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois-Chicago who have authored similar studies on smoking bans throughout the county.

Data from the study was provided by the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Revenue. Specifically, the researchers used monthly taxable sales in restaurants and bars for cities throughout Kansas and Missouri with populations of 25,000 or more for the period of July 2000 through March 2010. The data showed no difference before and after the implementation of the Kansas City, MO comprehensive smoke-free policy.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Air Quality Testing Confirms Need for Secondhand Smoke Protections

A new sampling of air quality in metropolitan area bars and restaurants showed mixed results in the rates of indoor air particle pollution from smoking. Air quality levels improved dramatically in Kansas City, Kansas since the enactment of the Kansas statewide public smoking law, while dangerous levels of indoor air quality was reported in two Missouri suburban communities with weak or nonexistent public smoking policies.

Indoor air quality was sampled in 22 bars and restaurants in Kansas City, KS, Blue Springs and Raytown, MO in 2010. The study analysis was conducted by nationally recognized air quality researcher Mark Travers, PhD, MS of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The results of Kansas City, KS testing also were combined with air quality testing in bars and restaurants in six other Kansas communities. The statewide report confirms that customers and employees in Kansas City, KS and all areas of Kansas are protected now from the dangers of second hand smoke in public places.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Executive summaries from both studies can be found on HCF’s website – www.healthcare4kc.org.

No, It's an Absolute Fact

2011-01-12T22:40:00.005-06:00

You can save lives by passing it along to 5 women you love. Betty White is starting with 3 that she can tolerate. Check out this video clip to find out what we're talking about:

Heart disease is still the number one killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year. This means women - mothers, sisters, friends - are dying at the rate of one per minute because they don’t know what you know: heart disease kills. The National Institutes of Health continues to invest just 4 percent of its budget on heart disease research and 1 percent on stroke research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spends only 16 cents per person each year in the U.S. each year on heart and stroke prevention. Help us increase funding for heart disease and stroke by becoming an advocate at www.yourethecure.org

Your city could be named the Kansas Heart Month Champions!

2011-01-07T15:50:00.003-06:00

Greetings Kansans!

For the second year, the American Heart Association is hosting a special contest among Kansas communities this February!

Your city could be named the Kansas Heart Month Champions AND help spread lifesaving information to the beloved members of your community! It’s simple: encourage everyone you know to Go Red this February!

How do we Go Red?:

Tell us your story – Tell us how heart disease or stroke has affected you and your family at www.YoureTheCure.org. We will see how many people from your city speak up about the No. 1 killer of Americans this February!
Educate yourself – Take the My Life Check at www.mylifecheck.org – an online assessment outlining the seven goals for ideal cardiovascular health that helps you find out how your heart is doing, and provides simple action steps to live a long, and healthy life. Assessment results are confidential. We see only the number of people from your city who take the assessment in February!
Go Red – Wear red on National Wear Red Day – Friday, Feb. 4th. Going Red” is as easy as putting on a red dress, red scarf, red tie or red dress pin – just WEAR RED! You can also download a FREE Wear Red Day Toolkit at www.GoRedForWomen.org. Email your photos (make sure you include your city name!) at laura.gorr@heart.org!
What else can we do? Bring your network into our network:
-Tell your local media how your community is “Going Red” this February
-Write a letter-to-the editor encouraging others to Make It Their Mission
-Provide information about preventing heart disease to your community
-Tell the American Heart Association how you’re Going Red this February – Become a fan at www.Facebook.com/AmericanHeartAssociationKansasCity -Give 5 women you care about the power to save their lives at www.GoRedForWomen.org.

The city that takes the most action during February’s American Heart Month will be named Kansas Heart Month Champions and receive a special plaque to be displayed in your city hall! Contest will begin January 15th and go through February 28th.

Why should you participate?
Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. This means mothers, sisters and friends are dying at the rate of one per minute because they don’t know that heart disease kills.

It’s that time again…time to make those New Year resolutions

2010-12-21T15:50:00.002-06:00

*Guest blogger Kevin Harker, Executive Vice President, Midwest Affiliate

It’s that time again…time to make those New Year resolutions. I admit there’s something rejuvenating about taking down the old calendar and hanging up a new one. It’s like a fresh start, the perfect time to consider the potential that exists with a brand-new, blank slate. How do we improve ourselves – as parents, as spouses, as sons and daughters, as employees, as business leaders, as Americans?

At first, it may seem a daunting task to improve yourself in all those areas. It did to me. But then I started to think about what I could realistically do to get better in just one way and I had an amazing revelation. By changing just one thing, by making just one commitment to myself and sticking with it, I will get one step closer to my potential. I don’t have to be perfect, just…better.

That is the same philosophy employed by the American Heart Association when we announced our 2020 goal last January: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. The association identified three categories of cardiovascular health – poor, intermediate and ideal – and then set out to help Americans make strides to move from one category to the next. How? Our science and research volunteers identified seven factors, called Life’s Simple 7, as the key elements to living a healthy life: get active, control cholesterol, eat better, manage blood pressure, lose weight, reduce blood sugar and stop smoking.

These measures have one unique thing in common: any person can make these changes, and even modest improvements to your health will make a big difference.

I encourage you to find out where you stand with the simple seven by taking the My Life Check assessment at mylifecheck.heart.org. In just a few minutes, you will know how you’re doing with each one of Life’s Simple Seven, and get your own personal heart score. Your results will include recommended areas of focus and an action plan customized to fit your lifestyle and health outlook.

As our past national president, Clyde Yancy, MD, said, “The last step is a promise: a resolution to make healthy positive changes step-by-step, for a long, healthy future.” And isn’t now the perfect time of year for that?

All the best for a joyous holiday season and a healthy 2011!

AHA Statement on Surgeon General's tobacco report

2010-12-13T11:40:00.001-06:00

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown says U.S. Surgeon General Report Stresses Importance of Cessation Strategies to Reduce Tobacco’s Deadly Toll

The U.S. Surgeon General’s report, “How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease,” sheds new light on the damaging effects of tobacco use on the health of all Americans. This comprehensive scientific report shows that even brief exposure to tobacco smoke can trigger acute cardiac events and potential sudden death. The evidence clearly states that tobacco products are lethal weapons capable of shortening the lifespan of smokers and nonsmokers alike. However, tobacco companies will stop at nothing to addict a new generation of smokers. They are ramping up efforts to fight regulations that restrict marketing campaigns and the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products and designing new cigarettes to make them more addictive. This report provides more ammunition to fight their deceptive and deadly campaign.

We strongly believe the findings will support implementation of new federal tobacco regulations, including the development of graphic warning labels for cigarette packages. We also urge state officials to fund smoking prevention and cessation programs at CDC recommended levels, enact strong smoke-free policies and boost tobacco excise taxes. Policymakers must not allow complacency to rule in the fight against tobacco. Bold, aggressive measures are needed to save lives, reduce the burden of disease and improve quality of life.

For more information, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/tobaccosmoke/index.html.

AHA Releases New CPR Guidelines

2010-10-18T15:31:00.002-05:00

American Heart Association Guidelines:
A new order for CPR, spelled C-A-B

Oct. 18, 2010 — The American Heart Association is re-arranging the ABCs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in its 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Recommending that chest compressions be the first step for lay and professional rescuers to revive victims of sudden cardiac arrest, the association said the A-B-Cs (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) of CPR should now be changed to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing).
“For more than 40 years, CPR training has emphasized the ABCs of CPR, which instructed people to open a victim’s airway by tilting their head back, pinching the nose and breathing into the victim’s mouth, and only then giving chest compressions,” said Michael Sayre, M.D., co-author of the guidelines and chairman of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Committee. “This approach was causing significant delays in starting chest compressions, which are essential for keeping oxygen-rich blood circulating through the body. Changing the sequence from A-B-C to C-A-B for adults and children allows all rescuers to begin chest compressions right away.”

In previous guidelines, the association recommended looking, listening and feeling for normal breathing before starting CPR. Now, compressions should be started immediately on anyone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

All victims in cardiac arrest need chest compressions. In the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, victims will have oxygen remaining in their lungs and bloodstream, so starting CPR with chest compressions can pump that blood to the victim’s brain and heart sooner. Research shows that rescuers who started CPR with opening the airway took 30 critical seconds longer to begin chest compressions than rescuers who began CPR with chest compressions.

The change in the CPR sequence applies to adults, children and infants, but excludes newborns.
Other recommendations, based mainly on research published since the last AHA resuscitation guidelines in 2005:

· During CPR, rescuers should give chest compressions a little faster, at a rate of at least 100 times a minute.
· Rescuers should push deeper on the chest, compressing at least two inches in adults and children and 1.5 inches in infants.
· Between each compression, rescuers should avoid leaning on the chest to allow it to return to its starting position.
· Rescuers should avoid stopping chest compressions and avoid excessive ventilation.
· All 9-1-1 centers should assertively provide instructions over the telephone to get chest compressions started when cardiac arrest is suspected.

“Sudden cardiac arrest claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year in the United States, and the American Heart Association’s guidelines have been used to train millions of people in lifesaving techniques,” said Ralph Sacco, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Despite our success, the research behind the guidelines is telling us that more people need to do CPR to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest, and that the quality of CPR matters, whether it’s given by a professional or non-professional rescuer.”

Since 2008, the American Heart Association has recommended that untrained bystanders use Hands-Only CPR — CPR without breaths — for an adult victim who suddenly collapses. The steps to Hands-Only CPR are simple: call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest until professional help or an AED arrives.

Key guidelines recommendations for healthcare professionals:
· Effective teamwork techniques should be learned and practiced regularly.
· Professional rescuers should use quantitative waveform capnography — the monitoring and measuring of carbon dioxide output — to confirm intubation and monitor CPR quality.
· Therapeutic hypothermia, or cooling, should be part of an overall interdisciplinary system of care after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.
· Atropine is no longer recommended for routine use in managing and treating pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or asystole.

Pediatric advanced life support (PALS) guidelines provide new information about resuscitating infants and children with certain congenital heart diseases and pulmonary hypertension, and emphasize organizing care around two-minute periods of uninterrupted CPR.
The CPR and ECC guidelines are science-based recommendations for treating cardiovascular emergencies — particularly sudden cardiac arrest in adults, children, infants and newborns. The American Heart Association established the first resuscitation guidelines in 1966.
The year 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Kouwenhoven, Jude, and Knickerbocker’s landmark study documenting cardiac arrest survival after chest compressions.
A complete list of authors is on the manuscript.

2010-10-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

A well done article addressing two important health issues...

ANDY COMER: NFL's pink campaign is inspiring — but don't forget about heart disease

October 07, 2010 12:17 AM

Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots sported a pink towel tucked into his pants in Monday night’s slaughter game against the Miami Dolphins, but he wasn’t getting in touch with his feminine side (his hairdo is kind of girly, though).

Brady, along with just about every other player in the National Football League, wore pink during this week’s batch of games — pink sweatbands, chinstraps or shoes — and will continue to do so throughout October to bring awareness to breast cancer, according to the NFL’s website. The league’s pink-themed campaign, “A Crucial Catch,” is an annual event that benefits the American Cancer Society as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At the end of the month, the players’ pink accessories are auctioned and the proceeds, along with donations from around the league, benefit the fight against cancer.

I love the idea of NFL players, who are often portrayed as hulking, macho brutes, wearing pink, the most feminine color of all in an effort to fight breast cancer. Other entities, such as Mike’s Hard Lemonade (pink drinks), the Sunday comics in USA Today(pink highlights like Hagar the Horrible’s beard, says the paper’s website), Major League Baseball (pink bats on Mother’s Day), or even the “Save the ta-tas” T-shirts and Livestrong-like bracelets are doing their part to encourage women — especially those over age 40 — to be screened. I know of several women who have been affected by breast cancer, and chances are you do, too, dear reader. Promoting something that could potentially save the lives of our mothers, daughters, wives and sisters (men can get breast cancer, too, by the way) is never, ever a bad thing.

But don’t forget about heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly twice as many American women die each year from heart disease, strokes or other cardiovascular maladies than from all forms of cancer — including breast cancer — combined. The AHA’s website says, for example, that women make up about 60 percent of all deaths from strokes each year, and that about 55,000 more women than men have strokes annually — yet there seems to be an alarmingly small amount of attention paid to women’s heart disease awareness compared with breast cancer cognizance campaigns. Perhaps spreading the word about “ta-tas” is, for lack of a better word, sexier than talking about tickers; the fact that breast cancer affects things we can see and touch — breasts — versus heart disease, which ravages an organ we can’t see, probably has something to do with the smaller fanfare women’s cardiovascular health receives as well. Whatever the case may be, the numbers don’t lie: The AHA says that heart disease is the leading cause of death among U.S. women, my own grandmother — whom I never got to meet — being one of them.

By no means am I trying to downplay or make light of the importance of being screened for breast cancer. Thousands of U.S. women die from it each year, and even though breast cancer may not be the leading cause of death among females, it definitely deserves attention. If we really want to do right by American women, however, we ought to put just as much emphasis on heart disease — if not more so — as we do cancer.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, uses a red dress logo, much in the same way pink is marketed, as part of its “The Heart Truth” campaign aimed at promoting women’s cardiovascular health. I’m not saying we should force pro football players to wear red dresses on the field, but the NFL could do worse than stitching a small red dress onto players’ jerseys once a year. The league could even sport the tiny red dresses during its biggest game of all, the Super Bowl, which usually occurs in the first week of every February — about the same time as NHLBI’s National Wear Red Day. The guys are currently all wearing a mandatory pink ribbon sewn behind the NFL shield on their uniforms; a small red dress would be no different.

As a San Francisco 49ers fan, however, I can't say that the team would play any worse than they already are even if they were all wearing dresses. They might as well — it’s not like they’ll be playing in February.

Andy Comer is the slot editor and a columnist for The Monitor. Contact him with feedback or future column ideas at acomer@themonitor.com.

AHA Releases New Information on Smokeless Tobacco Use

2010-09-14T14:51:00.003-05:00

Highlights of the New Study

The American Heart Association advises against smokeless tobacco products for smoking cessation – they are not a “safe” alternative to smoking.

Long-term use of smokeless tobacco products increases the odds of suffering a fatal heart attack or fatal stroke, according to analysis of several studies.

DALLAS, Sept. 13, 2010 — Smokeless tobacco products should not be used as an alternative to cigarettes or for smoking cessation due to the risk of addiction and return to smoking, according to an American Heart Association policy statement.

Smokeless tobacco products such as dry and moist snuff as well as chewing tobacco may also increase the risk of fatal heart attack, fatal stroke and certain cancers, according to the statement published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
“No tobacco product is safe to consume,” said Mariann Piano, Ph.D., lead writer of the statement and a professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The statement also addresses a controversy over whether smokeless tobacco product use is a “safer” alternative to smoking. The idea that smokeless tobacco products are preferable to cigarettes is based in part on the Swedish experience where there was a significant decrease in smoking among Swedish men between 1976 and 2002 which corresponded to an increase in the use of smokeless tobacco.

However, the opposite was true in a recent United States study which found no reduction in smoking rates among people using smokeless tobacco products. For people trying to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine gum or a nicotine-releasing patch placed on the skin) is a safer alternative compared to using smokeless tobacco products. Clinical studies have found no increased risk of heart attack or stroke with either type of nicotine replacement therapy.

As smoke-free air laws become common in the U.S., smokeless tobacco products have been marketed as a situational substitute (“pleasure for whenever”) for cigarette smoking when smoking is prohibited. “Smokeless tobacco products are harmful and addictive – that does not translate to a better alternative,” Piano said.

Smokeless tobacco also is being used more by teenage boys, according to the statement. The Food and Drug Administration issued a final regulation related to the Tobacco Control Act that became effective June 22 that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone younger than 18 years.

“Scientists and policy makers need to assess the effect of “reduced risk” messages related to smokeless tobacco use on public perception, especially among smokers who might be trying to quit,” said Piano.

Co-authors are Neal L. Benowitz, M.D.; Garret A. FitzGerald, M.D.; Susan Corbridge, Ph.D., A.P.N., ACNP; Janie Heath, Ph.D.; Ellen Hahn, Ph.D.; Terry F. Pechacek, Ph.D.; George Howard, D.P.H. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

Live Better With Life's Simple 7

2010-09-01T14:58:00.010-05:00

No matter what day it is, it’s never too late for all of us to make better choices for health and we invite you to start a new life resolution. All you need is a goal, a plan and the desire to live better.

In just a few minutes, the American Heart Association's My Life Check will provide your personal heart score and a custom plan with the seven simple steps you need to live better.

Visit: http://www.blogger.com/www.heart.org/MyLifeCheck to begin your path to a healthier YOU!

What's for Lunch? School Lunches Not Good Enough

2010-08-16T11:45:00.009-05:00

What's wrong with this picture?

Children need nutritionally sound meals to nourish their growing bodies and minds. They also need healthy meals to help reverse the alarming trend we now see: more kids that are obese, have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases that used to be primarly found in adults.

A Healthy Lunch?
Sadly, most children and adolescents are getting very poor nutrition. Less than 1/4 of kids get the recommended number of fruits and vegetables per day and further, kids are eating way too much salt, fat and sugar - many kids consuming 23 servings per week - or 184 teaspoons sugar - of sugary beverages (the AHA recommendation is less than six teaspons per day).

The CEO of the American Heart Association, Nancy Brown, has a great piece here that talks in more detail about why it is critical that we do something, and soon, to improve the foods we feed our children. Lest you think it impossible, many countries already see the importance of feeding schoolchildren healthy and nutritious food. For an interesting look at what school children are eating beyond our borders, check here.

How you can help change this.

Right now the Child Nutrition Act is before the House, having already passed the Senate. This Act provides the federal authorization for funding schools nutrition programs. With nearly all states cutting funding for public schools, this federal funding is critical to ensuring that schools have sufficient funds to purchase nutritious food - which sadly, is often more costly than high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar foods. This Act also places a priority on healthy foods not just any food.

Join us in telling your legislator that this Act is important and needs to pass! Go here: http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/letter.aspx?AlertID=16216 and send an email to your legislator asking him or her to vote "yes" on this bill.

All Care is Not Equal

2010-07-20T22:10:00.006-05:00

When it comes to receiving quality health care for a stroke or heart condition, unfortunately, all care is not equal. There are many factors that contribute to ensuring the best patient outcome. The first starts with you knowing your risk factors, reducing them if you need to, and knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Knowing your health status is the first step to help you and your doctor make decisions that positively impact your health and the quality of your health care. To learn your risk or simple lifestyle changes to be your healthiest, visit www.heart.org/mylifecheck.

The second key to quality health care is well educated medical professionals. When it comes to research and guidelines for patient care, the American Heart Association truly sets the standard for quality care. We not only publish new research, verify and promote new guidelines, provide free professional education and conferences, we make it easy for physicians and nurses to locate all of these resources at www.my.americanheart.org

The third key to quality care is to ensure that all patients are receiving the best care, every time. We set the standard for guidelines for treating heart disease and strokes, and to ensure they are routinely applied to patients we have developed an award winning hospital program - Get With The Guidelines. Hospitals and clinics using the program have improved patient outcomes, shorter inpatient stays and fewer re-admissions. Is your hospital a Get With the Guidelines hospital? To learn more about our hospital quality programs, visit our Focus on Quality page, and ask your doctor if his or her hospital participates in Get With the Guidelines.

Knowledge is the first line of defense against the diseases of the heart and stroke. To learn more, visit www.heart.org anytime.

How Does Health Care Reform Affect You?

2010-07-02T08:50:00.002-05:00

Wondering what the new health care reform laws mean for you?

Are you or a loved one uninsured and been denied insurance because of a pre-existing medical condition?

Are you a heart disease or stroke survivor finding it challenging to navigate your health care insurance options?

A new website just launched to help provide consumers with the information they need to better understand their health care coverage options. Visit healthcare.gov to learn what the new health care reform law means for you and get information about a more affordable health care coverage option for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions.

"F" as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future

2010-06-30T16:44:00.006-05:00

This week, Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a report, "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010." The report findings include, "Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, and declined only in the District of Columbia (D.C.)" According to this report, "more than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent." Now, only one state has an adult obesity rate lower than 20 percent: Colorado (19.1%). To view the interactive map to see the results for both adult and childhood obesity, visit http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/.

How is Kansas Doing?

Kansas currently ranks 16th out of 51 (with 51 being the lowest rate of obesity, and 1 being the highest) for adult obesity with 28.2% of the state population being obese, and 16.2% of the state's children. You can see specific information our state, including what Kansas is already doing to reverse this trend, here: http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/release.php?stateid=KS.

The American Heart Association is working at the federal and state level, as well as in the community, to ensure that healthy policies are in place to allow for individuals to take charge of their health and ensure that this obesity trend does not continue. Do you know your heart health? If not, why not visit our website to learn about the Simple 7 ways you can be heart-healthy? Take our easy LifeCheck Assessment and even make an Action Plan for how to improve your health! http://mylifecheck.heart.org/

What are your thoughts on this report?

Advance the HEART for Women Act through the Facebook Action Center!

2010-06-28T17:07:00.001-05:00

With heart disease and stroke taking the lives of more women each year than any other diseases, it is critical that Congress makes women’s heart health a priority. You have a special opportunity to help advance the HEART for Women Act! The Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will soon vote on the bill - and your Senator needs to hear from you!

Go to the Facebook Action Center to take action today! Or, you can also take action at www.heartforwomen.org.

Smoke Free Materials Now Available!

2010-06-15T12:42:00.002-05:00

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) now has indoor clean air promotional materials available for distribution. The materials will assist with implementation actions for the July 1 start of the smokefree law in Kansas. Materials offered include table tents, business brochures, signs and business toolkits for businesses and are available to state agencies, health departments, regional prevention centers, local prevention efforts and health coalitions.

The business toolkits contain a Clean Air Act business brochure, Quitline brochure, fact sheet and signs. Check out the website at www.kssmokefree.org to see samples of the materials available.

If you are able to help with the distribution of any of these materials in your community, please get in touch with Ginger Park, the Media and Policy Coordinator with KDHE’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program. And if you are planning or aware of any special events happening in your area to announce or celebrate the start of the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act on July 1, by all means - let us know!

Tell Congress We Need Funding to Save Lives

2010-06-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

A cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival more than doubles with immediate CPR and early defibrillation using an AED. However, far too many communities don’t have the resources to afford AEDs.

Right now, Congress is deciding on funding for key programs such as the Rural and Community AED program, which provides grants to states to purchase AEDs for public places. Last year, only 10 states were able to receive funding.

Send a quick note to your legislators today urging them to increase funding to ensure more people have access to these life-saving devices.
http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=15728

Ask Congress for Funds to Save Women's Lives

2010-06-03T09:40:00.001-05:00

More than 432,000 women die each year from CVD, but so many of those deaths could be prevented. Ask Members of Congress to fund WISEWOMAN, a program that helps women prevent heart disease and stroke. Take Action Today. Link= http://bit.ly/bX5AKh

AHA, Nintendo Encourage Americans to Get Active

2010-05-17T10:11:00.001-05:00

Today, the AHA announced a first-ever strategic relationship with the popular gaming giant, Nintendo of America — aimed at helping people create healthy lifestyles through physically active play. Our goal is to eliminate common barriers to physical activity with a call-to-action that challenges people to “Get Informed,” “Get Empowered” and “Get Active.” With active gaming products like Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort, people can find fun and accessible ways to become more physically active.

To find out more about this exciting relationship, visit www.activeplaynow.com.

Death and Taxes: How One Can Reduce the Other

2010-04-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

During “tax week” when we often hear people joke that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. However, it’s also true it that taxes can prevent deaths, at least according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report on excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products!

This report, and other studies, show that one of the most effective tools to keeping cigarettes out of the hands of children and adults is to increase tobacco taxes as they directly affects the cost of a cigarette thus discouraging youths and young adults from picking up the habit, prompting more frequent attempts to quit, and reducing average cigarette consumption among those who continue to smoke.

With many states looking for ways to balance budgets and reduce deficits, increasing tobacco taxes are a great way to both promote public health and give individuals an added incentive to stop smoking. All states should look to raise their tobacco taxes, but we especially encourage the 30 states and territories that currently have a cigarette tax below $1.50 per pack to consider the benefits of a cigarette tax increase of at least $1.00 per pack.

The CDC report is another reminder for state and local legislators that tobacco tax increases bring long-lasting benefits with improved quality of life and a stronger fiscal environment. Legislators should not hesitate to do what’s best for their constituents.

Help Save Lives By Supporting an Increased Tobacco Tax

2010-04-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

Did you know that each Kansas household pays $582 annually to cover healthcare costs of smokers?

By increasing the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products, our Legislature can help reduce smoking, save lives and raise much-needed revenue for the state.

Join our You're the Cure advocacy network to stay up-to-date on this issue and to learn more about how you can get involved.

Contact your Legislators while they are in their home districts now before heading back to Topeka to finalize the state budget at the end of April. Not sure who your legislators are or how to contact them? Click here to find out!

Would you like a sample letter to send to your legislator or some talking points you could use in making a phone call to your legislators? Contact your American Heart Association Grassroots Advocacy Director, Mary Michaels.

Here are some important points about increased tobacco taxes:

Tobacco taxes discourage kids from smoking. For every ten percent increase in tobacco taxes, there is a seven percent reduction in teen use. The rate of teen smoking has not declined in the last few years and the tobacco tax has not been raised. Seventy-three percent of smokers develop the habit before age eighteen.
Tobacco taxes are a stable source of revenue. Even with reduced use, tobacco taxes remain a reliable revenue source, even more so than income taxes. Each state that has raised the tax by a significant amount has experienced increased revenue over time.
Tobacco marketing unfairly target the poor. Tobacco marketing unfairly targets the poor, as evidenced by higher smoking rates among the poor. A benefit of raising the tax is it may reduce use among those least likely to afford this product and the corresponding healthcare costs.
A tobacco tax increase has public support. A recent scientific poll showed that 69% of Kansans support an increase in the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Can we count on your help? Please join You're the Cure to get involved or contact us if you would like more information.

Start! Walking Now for Better Health

2010-04-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

These days, adults are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive. This is a problem when you consider the fact that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease!

But take heart! All you need is a sturdy pair of sneakers and 30 minutes a day - and you can start walking your way to a longer, healthier life! Learn more at http://www.startwalkingnow.org/.

It's Official - statewide smoke free bill signed into law!

2010-03-12T10:34:00.002-06:00

Governor Mark Parkinson speaks to an enthusiastic crowd before signing the Kansas clean indoor air bill into law.

Congratulations, Kansas!

Take the Fight Straight to Capitol Hill

2010-03-10T10:07:00.000-06:00

As we’ve heard in the news, Washington, D.C. is agonizing over ways to put Americans back to work. Today, You’re the Cure advocates from around the country are on Capitol Hill giving Congress a simple suggestion that doesn't just spur economic growth – it saves lives: invest in job-creating medical research, such as the National Institutes of Health's efforts to combat heart disease and stroke. You can join your voice with our volunteers by sending your message to Congress now!

Right now, NIH devotes only 4% of its budget to heart research and a mere 1% on stroke research – and every 38 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies from cardiovascular disease. NIH invests resources in every state and each NIH grant generates on average 7 jobs. A projected 50,000 jobs will be created or saved between 2009 through 2010, according to the NIH. But, more importantly, these investments advance promising science to get us closer to finally finding a cure for heart disease and stroke.

Here’s another way you can help:
1. Call your Members of Congress at 202-224-3121. Tell the operator your ZIP Code to get connected to one of your members of Congress.
2. Tell the person who answers the phone in the Congressional office that you’re calling to urge them to increase funding for NIH heart and stroke research because it creates jobs while saving lives. You can end your call there, but feel free to add any personal connection you have to the issue.
3. Then click here to confirm your call. This is an important step for us to know the impact of our lobby day, so please don't forget!

After you've emailed your letter and/or made your call, you don't have to stop there! Help us keep up our momentum by sharing this on Facebook or Twitter.

Show your support to our advocates in Washington, DC, by adding your voice to theirs!

Kansas Becomes Latest State to Go Smoke Free

2010-02-25T14:34:00.001-06:00

Today, the Kansas House of Representatives voted to expand protections for Kansans from secondhand smoke! With 68 votes (5 more than the magic number of 63 needed), the House passed House Bill 2221, which will now go to the Governor's desk.

Kansas follows the most recent state who signed a clean indoor air law - North Carolina, the No. 1 tobacco producing state in the country.

"American Heart Association volunteers and staff have worked diligently over the last few years to help all Kansas residents recognize the dangers of secondhand smoke and how vital it is for all Kansans to avoid exposure to this life-threatening product," said Kevin Harker, Executive Vice President for the American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate. "We appreciate everyone's hard work and dedication as we celebrate this momentous day."

If you have a Facebook page, please consider posting this message in your status: Congratulations Kansas Legislature for passing a strong clean indoor air law today! Thank you for giving Kansans the gift of clean air!

Thank you for your support! Watch for more information soon about the details and effective date of this new law, as well as an opportunity to say thank you to legislators for today's vote.

Take 2 to Save 2

2010-02-23T09:55:00.001-06:00

Did you know that people who smoke, may be overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease or stroke are at increased risk of being disabled or dying from a stroke? These are key risk factors for stroke.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has launched a new initiative called Take 2 To Save 2 and it’s simple to get involved! Here’s how:

Take two minutes to visit www.powertoendstroke.org/take2 to learn how you can prevent stroke by reducing your risk factors. Then, pass it on by sending others you care about special health messages that just might save their lives.

There are pre-written health message for you to choose from, you can just cut and paste them into your medium of choice. So, whether you email, Facebook, tweet, text, or call your friends and family, there is a message for you.

Three days until one of the biggest votes in Kansas history!!

2010-02-22T16:50:00.002-06:00

This Thursday, February 25, legislators have the chance to take historic action - a chance to take life-saving action.

That is the day they can VOTE YES on HB2221 for a strong clean indoor air law for Kansas.This bill balances public health with business interests. HB2221 can save lives, save money, and offer Kansans protection from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke.

There are some legislators who may still be undecided on their vote. They need to hear from you TODAY. Please use this link to take action now: Urge them to VOTE YES on HB2221. You can also forward this link to your personal/professional contacts and ask for their help as well!

You can also help by making phone calls to the offices of these legislators. Their names, hometowns and Capitol office phone numbers are listed below.

The message to leave is short and simple: “Hi, my name is (NAME), and I am calling to ask Rep. (NAME) to vote yes on House Bill 2221 on Thursday. Kansans want smoke-free air, and I hope I can count on Rep. (Name)’s support.”

If you are able to call any of these offices, please email me with the legislator(s) that you called so we can keep track of the contacts we are making. Together we can make a difference for Kansas – thanks for your help!

Mary Michaels
Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director
KS, NE, SD, ND

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rep. Joe Patton (REP)
District 54, Topeka
785-296-7641

Rep. Robert S. Olson (REP)
District 26, Olathe
785-296-7632

Rep. Bill Feuerborn (DEM)
District 5, Garnett
785-296-7688

Rep. Sean Gatewood (DEM)
District 57, Topeka
785-296-7677

Rep. Robert Grant (DEM)
District 2, Cherokee
785-296-7650

Rep. Jene Vickrey (REP)
District 6, Louisburg
785-296-6014

Rep. Milack Talia (DEM)
District 23, Shawnee
785-296-7646

Rep. Jim Ward (DEM)
District 88, Wichita
785-296-7675

Rep. Dale A. Swenson (REP)
District 97, Wichita
785-296-7885

Rep. Clark Shultz (REP)
District 73, Lindsborg
785-296-7684

Rep. Joe Seiwert (DEM)
District 101, Pretty Prairie
785-296-7699

Rep. Melanie Meier (DEM)
District 40, Leavenworth
785-296-7668

Tell Congress that 16 Cents for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Isn't Enough

2010-02-16T16:08:00.001-06:00

Did you know that the CDC spends just 16 cents per person on heart disease and stroke prevention each year?

We must do better to fight our Nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers.

Urge your Members of Congress to support increased funding for the CDC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program today!

Heart Disease and Stroke. You're the Cure.

Kansans at the Capitol Ask for Clean Indoor Air

2010-02-11T07:48:00.007-06:00

The sign read: Approximately 380 lives are lost in Kansas each year due to the effects of secondhand smoke.

Lining the steps of the Kansas steps were pairs of shoes to represent those lives....men's shoes, women's shoes and children's shoes.

The Legislature has the opportunity to make Kansas the 29th state with a statewide smoke free law, and advocates from around the state came to Topeka to ask them to make that a reality.

First Lady Stacy Parkinson, who lost her father due to the effects of smoking, is a passionate voice for the cause. She held a press conference during the Smoke Free Lobby Day event on February 10. Both the First Lady and Governor Mark Parkinson have asked the Legislature to pass a strong smoke free law this session.

Off to the Capitol!

2010-02-10T07:14:00.003-06:00

Kansans from across the state gather today on the Capitol grounds to ask their legislators to pass a strong clean indoor air law this session.

If you can't be in Topeka, you can join us as a virtual lobbyist by sending your legislators a message today!

Whether you are at your kitchen table, office desk or local coffee shop, all it takes is a click of your mouse to Be a Virtual Lobbyist Today and Ask for Clean Air.

Research has shown that clean indoor air laws save lives, save money and protect workers from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke in the workplace.Even if you aren't able to come to the Capitol in person to speak to your legislators, they still need to hear from you!

Please take a moment to share your message today - all Kansans deserve to breathe clean air.

See How Wesley Medical is Going Red

2010-02-03T09:39:00.002-06:00

HEART-felt thanks to our friends at Wesley Medical Center for creatively showing the world how they Turn Red for heart disease awareness! Check out their awesome video here: www.turnred.org -- it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart!

And, be sure to check out Wichita Goes Red on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoRedWichita

Do you have your red picked out to wear on Friday, February 5 for National Wear Red Day??

Happy American Heart Month

2010-02-01T09:19:00.001-06:00

It's February 1 - the start of American Heart Month!

It's time to raise awareness of our state's - and nation's - number one killer....heart disease.

No matter what day it is, it’s never too late for all of us to make better choices for health and we invite you to start a new life resolution. All you need is a goal, a plan and the desire to live better. This is why we created My Life Check and the simple seven.

Women - be sure to visit www.goredforwomen.org to learn how cardiovascular disease affects women and to join the movement!

Friday, February 5, is National Wear Red Day. Put on your favorite red shirt....tie....socks... go Red in your own way. And now, there is another way to show your support for women’s heart health – on your phone. Click here to make your phone Go Red!

Thank you for helping us raise awareness......and be sure to raise your voice by sharing lifesaving messages with lawmakers. Join You're the Cure today.

Man Uses American Heart Association iPhone App to Stay Alive in Haiti

2010-01-25T12:27:00.003-06:00

This is a tremendous story of courage and survival. Once you read it, you will see how supporting the American Heart Association truly does save lives!

Trapped father survives with help of phone app
By Josh Levs, CNN

Alone in the darkness beneath layers of rubble, Dan Woolley felt blood streaming from his head and leg. Then he remembered -- he had an app for that.

Woolley, an aid worker, husband, and father of two boys, followed instructions on his cell phone to survive the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

"I had an app that had pre-downloaded all this information about treating wounds. So I looked up excessive bleeding and I looked up compound fracture," Woolley told CNN.

The application on his iPhone is filled with information about first aid and CPR from the American Heart Association. (The app is called Pocket First Aid & CPR.)

"So I knew I wasn't making mistakes," Woolley said. "That gave me confidence to treat my wounds properly."

Trapped in the ruins of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, he used his shirt to bandage his leg, and tied his belt around the wound. To stop the bleeding on his head, he firmly pressed a sock to it. Concerned he might have been experiencing shock, Woolley used the app to look up what to do. It warned him not to sleep. So he set his phone alarm to go off every 20 minutes. Once the battery got down to less than 20 percent of its power, Woolley turned it off. By then, he says, he had trained his body not to sleep for long periods, drifting off only to wake up within minutes.

Woolley said his phone "was like a high-tech version of a Swiss Army knife that enabled me to treat my own injuries, track time, stay awake and stay alive."

After more than 60 hours, Woolley was pulled from the rubble.

Read the rest of the story here.

Make Your Phone Go Red!

2010-01-20T09:04:00.001-06:00

American Heart Month is just around the corner....and National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 5. Not only can YOU wear red to raise awareness of our state's and nation's Number 1 killer - heart disease - your phone can Go Red, too!

To activate, text GoRed to 64274. You will receive a message with instructions for how to download the wallpaper and/or ring tone and up to 10 heart health text messages from the AHA during the promotion (may stop at any time).
This works on: Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint/Nextel, Alltel, Virgin Mobile.

(iPhones do not allow you to download ringtones in this way).

Our Heartfelt Thanks to You this Holiday Season

2009-12-23T08:36:00.004-06:00

As 2009 comes to a close, we share our heartfelt thanks to you for all of your support over the past year. With your help, we are able to encourage policymakers at all levels to make health a priority and help us as we seek to build healthier lives free from cardiovascular disease and stroke.

We are proud of our work with the American Heart Association, but even more proud to stand side by side with you sharing life-saving stories to advance goals such as clean indoor air for the state of Kansas, ensuring systems of care that allow heart and stroke patients to access the best quality healthcare services, promoting CPR and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and advocating for research funding that will benefit adults and children in Kansas affected by heart disease and stroke.

Be watching for messages from us in 2010, and invite someone you know to join You're the Cure!

Best wishes for a happy - healthy - holiday season from your Advocacy Team,
Linda De Coursey and Mary Michaels

As the Director of Advocacy for Kansas, Linda De Coursey serves as the primary representative of the American Heart Association to the state legislature, various public policy coalitions and other partner organizations for the purposes of generating awareness and support for advocacy issues. She starts her fifth legislative session with the American Heart Association in January, 2010. She has over 25 years experience in lobbying at the state level on various issues such as banking, mental health, insurance and now heart health issues. She graduated from Washburn University with a degree in political science. A Kansas native, Linda is married to James De Coursey, and they have three cats and a dog and love boating at Lake Perry.

Mary Michaels is the Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director serving Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. In her role, Mary works with the state advocacy directors in her four states to generate awareness and support for the American Heart Association's policy issues. As a member of the You're the Cure network, you will see messages from Mary on occasion informing you about important issues and encouraging you to take action by communicating with your lawmakers. Mary has 20 years' experience in government (a political science grad just like Linda!), public affairs, marketing and communications. She is a South Dakota native and lives there with her husband, Gary, and their three boys.

Urge Senators to Help Stop Women's #1 Killer

2009-12-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of American women, claiming the lives of more than 450,000 American women each year. Urge your Senators to address this health care crisis as they debate health care reform by supporting the HEART for Women amendment. Take action here today: http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=14731

Make Your Holidays Healthier!

2009-11-18T11:10:00.001-06:00

Enjoy a gift from Start! this holiday season, the Start! Holiday Healthy Eating Guide is available for download at www.StartWalkingNow.org.

This booklet includes tips and recipes to help get through the holidays with your health in mind and is available for free when you register for Start!

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

2009-11-09T12:44:00.000-06:00

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Heart disease and stroke are the number one causes of death and disability among people with type 2 diabetes.

Get more information about the critical connection between type 2 diabetes and your heart. Enroll in The Heart of Diabetes for tips, tools and a free cookbook.

It only takes a few minutes to change your life.

Did you know that next Wednesday, November 4, is Start! Eating Healthy Day?

2009-10-27T12:49:00.001-05:00

It's a time to pay a little extra attention to food choices and make any dietary changes appropriate to form heart-healthy eating habits.

Designed as a workplace-based walking program, Start! encourages companies to urge their employees to walk during the business day. Start! Eating Healthy Day adds another dimension to the initiative.In a nation where being overweight or obese has reached an epidemic level, it's necessary to start somewhere to improve cardiovascular health.

Start! Eating Healthy Day is a good beginning. Here's a Start! Eating Healthy Day Resource Kit for you to download.

Want to take your new healthy eating habits into the holiday season? Check out this special holiday guide!

Start! is sponsored nationally by Subway, Healthy Choice and AstraZeneca.

Calorie Counts on Menus Making a Difference

2009-10-27T12:38:00.002-05:00

The New York City Department of Health just released new data showing that people who used calorie information on fast-food restaurant menus ordered on average 106 fewer calories for their lunch.

This story appeared in USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-10-26-calories-on-the-menu_N.htm.

2009-10-19T13:47:00.000-05:00

October is many things. It's the month we honor Christopher Columbus, the month we dress up and ask that age old question, "trick or treat" but it is also Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness month. So what does that mean?

It means we have a chance to raise awareness about a condition that affects approximately 166,000 Americans each year. It is an opportunity to advocate for a simple device and some basic training to make a difference to the 95% of people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest and do not make it to medical treatment in time.

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act would establish a grant program to help schools purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide for training in CPR and AED use. The bill was prompted by the tragic death of a 15-year old high school student who suffered sudden cardiac arrest at school. It recognizes the importance of providing schools with the equipment and training necessary to save the lives of children and adults in the community as part of an overall medical emergency response plan.

For every minute that passes without CPR, the chances of survival from SCA decrease by 7-10%. But the good news is that survival rates more than double when CPR and defibrillation can be quickly applied. By providing access to AEDs and proper training, we have an opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life.

Please act now and urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Josh Miller HEARTS Act. It has already passed through the US House of Representatives and now we need the Senate to support and move this important legislation. We can do it with your help! Let's make this October a life-saver!

New Study: Evidence Shows Heart Attack Rate Decreases with Smoking Bans

2009-10-15T13:42:00.000-05:00

A report released today by the Institute of Medicine provides strong evidence that smoke-free laws reduce the risks of heart attacks and other acute cardiac events. Good news that AHA’s efforts to pass smoke-free laws are making a difference! Read more here!

Best Chance in 100 Years: Take Action!

2009-09-30T17:00:00.002-05:00

This is our best opportunity in a century of trying to actually fix our broken health care system.

Current inadequate health insurance coverage is generating grave consequences for the 80 million Americans who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease and stroke patients who are uninsured or underinsured are having difficulty affording essential treatments. Insurance policies with high premiums and practices that penalize those with pre-existing conditions are creating a challenging and expensive reality for heart disease and stroke survivors. The burden of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases can be particularly problematic for those without health insurance. The uninsured with cardiovascular disease experience higher mortality rates and poorer blood pressure control. People who lack health insurance experience a 24-56% higher risk of death from stroke.

Every voice is so important to ensure access to adequate, affordable health care. We need lawmakers to put patients first. Please take a moment to send a message to your legislators and urge them to pass meaningful reforms this year.

Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson Supports Clean Indoor Air

2009-09-04T14:22:00.005-05:00

You're the Cure Advocates-Help Us Thank The Governor!

Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson

This week, Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson said he will push for a statewide smoke-free workplace law next year and may work to raise the state's tax on cigarettes. Earlier this year, a statewide smoke-free law on indoor smoking passed in the Kansas Senate, but failed to make it through the Kansas House of Representatives. Governor Parkinson said he'll work to gather support from House Members for the proposal when the Legislature convenes in January.

TAKE ACTION: Go to http://www.yourethecure.org/ and sign in the thank the Governor now!

Kansas imposes a 79-cent tax on a pack of cigarettes --- well below the national average of $1.32. Parkinson says raising the tobacco tax would bring in additional revenue and deter some young people from smoking. In fact, studies show that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

According to the American Heart Association, 35,052 nonsmokers die from coronary heart disease (CHD) each year as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The Kansas Health Policy Authority estimates nearly 4,000 Kansans die each year from smoking-related diseases, including 290 blamed on secondhand smoke.

We look forward to the 2010 Legislative Session with great optimism that this will be the year for clean indoor air and a healthier Kansas! Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working with you to make Kansas a smoke-free state!

Congressman Dennis Moore Co-sponsors Fit Kids Act!

2009-07-27T10:02:00.002-05:00

We just received news that Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore has agreed to become a co-sponsor of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (Fit Kids Act-H.R.1585). This bill amends the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure that kids are active during the school day and learn how to be personally responsible for their health through exercise and a healthy diet.

The Department of Health and Human Services forecasts that, by next year, one out of five children and youth in the United States will be obese. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults, putting these young people at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and other diseases later in life. This law can help reverse these statistics!

For more information on the Fit Kids Act, please visit http://www.fitkidsact.org/

American Heart Association Volunteer Pam Berneking on AHA Partnership and Kansas City Goes Red

2009-07-17T10:15:00.005-05:00

FDA Seeks Public Input on Tobacco Regulation

2009-07-01T14:31:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is seeking public input on the implementation of its historic new authority overseeing tobacco products in the United States. In a Federal Register notice, the agency invites the public to provide information and share views on a wide range of topics, from product content to advertising and marketing. All public comments will be posted online.

"We're interested in receiving input from across the country as the FDA begins to implement this important new authority intended to reduce the enormous toll of suffering and death caused by tobacco products in the United States," said Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "We look forward to the public's response."

The Federal Register notice can be viewed at: http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-15549_PI.pdf

For more information about the FDA and tobacco regulation, see: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm168412.htm

SENATE PASSES FDA REGULATION OF TOBACCO!

2009-06-11T15:49:00.001-05:00

Just moments ago, the U.S. Senate passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act with a landslide vote of 79-17. This is a major victory for the American Heart Association and health advocates everywhere! The most deadly product sold in America will no longer be the least regulated!

This legislation represents the strongest action Congress has ever taken to reduce tobacco use. This bill grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products. In April, the House of Representatives passed similiar legislation. We expect President Obama to sign this into law very soon!

Hazardous products such as rat poison, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia have all been found in cigarettes. These toxins are individually regulated by the FDA, but, when contained in cigarettes, they were exempt from oversight. This legislation gives the FDA the power to regulate ingredients in tobacco products, ban fruit or candy-flavored cigarettes, ban use of ”light,” “low-tar” and “mild” labels on cigarette advertisements and require stronger, more specific health warning labels and full disclosure of all ingredients contained in a pack of cigarettes.

Thanks for helping make this bill a reality!

Senate Begins Debate on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

2009-06-02T11:09:00.003-05:00

Last week, the Senate HELP Committee debated and passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act by a vote of 15-8. The United States Senate is scheduled to begin debate on the bill today.

This bill would stop the marketing of tobacco products to children. It also would require tobacco companies to list the poisons in their products and mandate larger and more effective warning labels on tobacco packaging.

Each year 400,000 Americans die from tobacco related illnesses. Big Tobacco spends billions of dollars a year to lure new customers (some of them children) into trying their products, by advertising fruit flavored and candy flavorings. This legislation is key in helping eliminate these deceptive advertising practices.

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to fight for this bill. We have repeatedly seen the impact of your work in moving Members of Congress and the United States Senate to our side. We will continue to update you on the progress of this bill and when action is necessary. Stay tuned to your e-mails for the latest updates.

Smoke-free Efforts Continue in Kansas

2009-05-21T10:17:00.003-05:00

In the final hours of the 2009 legislative session, the Kansas House of Representatives did not consider clean indoor air. Although this outcome is disappointing, we're optimistic about the momentum we've gained in 2009, and look forward to making this bill become a reality in 2010.

Because of our dedicated volunteers, we were able to generate hundreds of e-mails and phone calls to the Kansas Legislature. In addition to this, we were able to conduct over 40 meetings between volunteers and their legislators! These efforts helped us pass the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act through the Kansas Senate for the first time in history! Thank you for making your voices heard!

As you know, our work is far from over. The American Heart Association will continue to assist local municipalities across Kansas in their efforts to pass clean indoor air, while working to persuade the House of Representatives to make clean indoor air a priority in 2010.

We will continue to update you throughout the summer and fall on ways you can help with our smoke-free efforts across Kansas. Be sure to stay tuned for our state newsletter and session overview. Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association.

Kansas Advocates Storm Capitol Hill at the 2009 You're the Cure on the Hill

2009-05-01T13:53:00.006-05:00

Congratulations and thank you to all of you for making our 2009 You’re the Cure on the Hill in Washington, DC a huge success!!! Your passion and stories helped us make a difference in lobbying our Kansas Congressional Members and Staff in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Kansas You're the Cure on the Hill Attendees:
Katie Fast
Kim Morrissey
Amanda Horne
Kevin Harker
Kevin Walker
Linda De Coursey
Jace Smith

We successfully spoke with 4 Congressional districts and both our Kansas U.S. Senate offices while in DC, asking them to support increased funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention programs as well as highlighting the key aspects we’d like to see in meaningful health care reform: accessibility, affordability, and adequate care!

Overall, we had 465 participants from all 50 states – which was outstanding! They participated in 354 meetings on the Hill, including 100 meetings in the Senate and 254 in the United States House of Representatives. Almost half of these meetings (45%) were scheduled to be meetings with the actual Member of Congress. We were extremely pleased that we had You’re the Cure advocates who covered 92% of the targeted districts. Overall, we had 220 meetings with Democrats, 131 meetings with Republicans and 2 Independents.

The Asks- present and future:
This year You’re the Cure advocates asked lawmakers to sign the letter to the President urging him to make funding to fight heart disease and stroke a top priority. The deadline for signatories is May 20th. As Gov’t Relations staff does follow-up on this end, we encourage attendees to follow up with the offices directly as well and remind them of the ask they made in the Lobby Day meetings to secure signatories. The letter can also be accessed from on the web:
http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3066307

Healthcare reform is still moving full steam ahead with the possibility of a bill introduction prior to the Memorial Recess Break. Although bills like HEART for Women, FDA, and FIT Kids were not specific asks for all of your meetings, we are already seeing some Members signing on thanks to the visits.

Kansas Legislators Pass Good Samaritan Act in Kansas!

2009-04-26T18:46:00.001-05:00

Last week, Senate Bill 102 was officially signed by our Governor! SB 102 (Good Samaritan Law) is an automated external defibrillator (AED) law that will extend the coverage to all persons who, in good faith, render emergency care or assistance to people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. In other words, this law will grant immunity to the people rendering emergency care. SB 102 was passed unanimously by both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate. This legislation will reduce deaths from sudden cardiac arrest by increasing the likelihood of immediate bystanders performing CPR, and using an AED, within 3 to 5 minutes of an individuals collapse.

AEDs are easy-to-use, portable devices that deliver a potentially lifesaving electric shock to the heart, which can restore a heart's normal rhythm in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate use of an AED, in conjunction with CPR, could save up to 50,000 lives a year.In the past year, 250,000 Americans died of sudden cardiac arrest: nearly one death every two minutes. A quarter of these deaths could have been prevented if an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) had been used within 3 to 5 minutes of sudden cardiac arrest. For every minute without a shock to the heart, the chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent.

This is a major victory for the American Heart Association and health advocates everywhere! Please take a moment to thank your legislators for passing this bill.

Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association!

Urgent Action-Contact Your Kansas Legislatiors Now!

2009-03-24T16:27:00.002-05:00

Take Action For Clean Indoor Air!
Last Tuesday, by an 11-8 vote, the Kansas House Committee on Health and Human Services tabled debate on Senate Bill 25 (The Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act). As you know, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act would have prohibited smoking in most public places, with very few exemptions. We're disappointed in the House Committee's action. We feel Kansans have the right to breathe clean indoor air.

TAKE ACTION! The fight for clean indoor air in Kansas is not over yet! Visit www.yourethecure.org and sign in to take action on this important bill!

Recently, the Kansas Senate negated the action by the House Health & Human Services Committee by reintroducing the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act again for future action. The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee stripped the contents of House Bill 2221 and inserted the contents of Senate Bill 25. It was then voted out of Committee and will be placed on Senate General Orders to await action by the full Senate. While this is a minor setback, we're optimistic that your efforts in contacting your legislators have paved the way to a healthier Kansas, and a smoke-free Kansas is closer than ever before!

Please continue to contact your legislators and tell them to support the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act! We'll continue to keep you informed on the latest and when action is needed.

Clean Indoor Air Act Update

2009-03-23T12:56:00.002-05:00

Last Tuesday, by an 11-8 vote, the Kansas House Committee on Health and Human Services tabled debate on Senate Bill 25 (The Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act). As you know, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act would have prohibited smoking in most public places, with very few exemptions. Recently, the Kansas Senate negated the action by the House Health & Human Services Committee by reintroducing the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act again for future action. The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee stripped the contents of House Bill 2221 and inserted the contents of Senate Bill 25. It was then voted out of Committee and will be placed on Senate General Orders to await action by the full Senate.

While this is a minor setback, we're optimistic that your efforts in contacting your legislators have paved the way to a healthier Kansas, and a smoke-free Kansas is closer than ever before!Because of your help, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act has advanced further in the state legislature than ever before.

Thank you for all of your phone calls, emails and letters to the Kansas Legislature on this matter. We still have much work before this bill can become a law. We'll continue to keep you informed on the latest and when action is needed.

2009 Kansas Lobby Day a Success

2009-02-18T15:37:00.003-06:00

The American Heart Association's 2009 Kansas Lobby Day was a huge success! On February 6, AHA Volunteers from across Kansas met in Topeka to encourage Kansas Legislators to support heart healthy legislation. We're happy to report that close to 40 legislative meetings took place between participants and their lawmakers! View photos of the event by clicking http://americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/12372088743742009%20Lobby%20Day%20Collage%20pub.pdf

The American Heart Association's Advocacy Team would like to express their sincere appreciation for the time and effort volunteers spent in helping make this day a success. With your help we were able to create a "SEA OF RED" made up of American Heart Association staff, volunteers, health partners, legislators and their staff!

Together I know we'll continue to ensure that the fight against heart disease and stroke is a top priority in the state of Kansas. Here's to a great 2009 Legislative Session!

Thanks again and Take Action! http://www.yourethecure.org/

BE the Cure for Heart Disease & Stroke

2009-01-20T16:01:00.001-06:00

You don't have to be a doctor to save lives - just an advocate with the American Heart Association and its division the American Stroke Association. In just a few moments, you can make a huge difference. All you have to do is respond to the issues and action alerts that you feel are important.

We'll make it easy for you to email, fax, phone or even visit your legislators. And we'll keep you informed on the progress you're making as one of the very important voices for the cure.

Visit www.yourethecure.org to take action now!

AHA Kansas Lobby Day-Sign Up Now!

2009-01-20T15:56:00.002-06:00

You're invited to join advocates from across the state in wearing red as we encourage our elected officials to support the fight against the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers-heart disease and stroke.

What: American Heart Association Kansas Lobby Day 2009

When: Thursday, February 5, 2009

Where: The Dillon House

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Dillon House, followed by our legislative briefing to prepare you for your legislative visits. We'll also provide legislative conference calls prior to our event in order to better prepare you for your legislative meetings. These calls are optional, and information will be coming soon to those who plan to attend.

At 10:00 a.m., we'll have a joint press event hosted by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) and the American Heart Association. At the conclusion of our press event, we will proceed to walk to the State Capitol Building to meet with our legislators. When you're not meeting with your legislators, you can watch them in action as they pass the House and Senate resolutions declaring Go Red for Women Wear Red Day! Lunch will be provided at noon at the Dillon House for all participants.

When you're finished meeting with your legislators, you're free to go! Please Note: Prior to our event, please contact your legislators' offices in Topeka to schedule a meeting time with them on February 5. This will only take a few minutes, and it's easy to do!

Kansas Legislators can be reached in Topeka by calling: 1-800-432-3924. If you do not know who your representative(s) or senator(s) are, please visit this link Find Your Legislators and follow the easy directions. This way, your legislator will have notice of your arrival, and will be looking forward to visiting with you. Please be sure to do this prior to our event on the 5th. If an appointment is not possible, please join us anyway and leave information at their offices! We will provide all participants with talking points and leave behinds at the event.

Our 2009 legislative asks are:

1. Support Clean Indoor Air law to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children, and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

2. Support Increased Tobacco Excise Tax and products tax at state level to fund health-related initiatives to improve access to health care.

3. Support Increased Funding to statewide science-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs from current amount of $ 1 million to the programs that prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.

4. Support Good Samaritan amendment to automated external defibrillator (AED) law by extending the coverage to include community lay rescuers who, in good faith and without compensation, render emergency care or assistance.

5. Increase the requirement of daily physical education in Kansas schools to help prevent childhood obesity in the state of Kansas.

To register for Lobby Day, or information on getting involved with our advocacy efforts, please contact Jace Smith, Grassroots Advocacy Director, at 913-652-1993, or Jace.Smith@heart.org *The registration deadline is January 23.