Maryland

Dozens of Maryland lawmakers took the American Heart Association’s challenge to learn how to save a life Thursday. Association staff and volunteers greeted legislators on their way to the State House in Annapolis, demonstrating the lifesaving skill of CPR and asking lawmakers to take 60 seconds to practice it themselves. “Cardiac arrest is the leading … Read more

By Dr. Henry Sun As an interventional and general cardiologist, I encounter patients who are curious about the effects of their diet on heart health year-round. But with February marking American Heart Month and the season of love, I felt inspired to discuss two items deeply ingrained in our culture and often at the top … Read more

Former Baltimore Ravens and Terps Wide Receiver Torrey Smith will join physicians and parents to testify before state lawmakers on Feb. 28 regarding legislation that would ensure Maryland public schools are ready to handle cardiac emergencies. The legislation requires every public school in Maryland to create a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP). “A school having … Read more

Advocates from across Maryland will come together with the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition on Thursday, Feb. 15, in Annapolis to ask lawmakers to have heart and support House Bill 696 and Senate Bill 579, which would provide equitable access to NO COST breakfast and lunch for ALL students in Maryland public schools. These … Read more

To kick off February as American Heart Month, eight community leaders and one teen in the Baltimore and Greater Maryland area are joining the American Heart Association to fight their number one health threat — cardiovascular disease (CVD) — through the Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact initiatives. These two campaigns support the American … Read more

By Angela Ginn-Meadow Under all the sparkle and anticipation, New Year’s can be a heavy holiday. The pressure to meet societal expectations of radical transformation can turn excited energy into stress before we even take our first steps into the new year. But I have seen firsthand how small changes make significant impacts. In 2024, … Read more

Sonia Suber, the VP Information Systems & Technology at Sodexo, will serve as the executive volunteer chair of the 2024 Greater Maryland Go Red for Women® movement, a comprehensive platform designed more than two decades ago to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women … Read more

Thousands of participants took steps to boost their physical and mental health through healthy habits and celebrated heart disease and stroke survivors while raising lifesaving funds for the American Heart Association at the Greater Maryland Heart Walk. The event, held Oct. 21 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, raised more than $1.5 million for … Read more

The American Heart Association, supported by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), is launching a business accelerator that is, for the first time, focused on farmers. EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ – Maryland Black Farmers is an effort to identify and support Black farmers in Maryland, create business solutions to social and economic challenges impacting communities that … Read more

Dr. Seth Martin and Larry L. Johnson have been elected the president and chairman, respectfully, of the American Heart Association Baltimore & Greater Maryland Division Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years. Dr. William Ashley will serve as Immediate Past President for the 2023-2024 term. The 2023-2024 term began on July 1, … Read more

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Baltimore and Greater Maryland. Craig Carmichael, the president of Northwest Hospital and a senior vice president of LifeBridge Health, is working hand-in-hand with the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, to change that. Carmichael will serve as chair for the 2023 … Read more

When kids are hungry at school, they struggle to learn. Lawmakers in Annapolis have an opportunity to make sure all public school students in Maryland are fed for success by passing Senate Bill 557 and House Bill 628. The legislation would ensure ALL school children in Maryland are once again offered free breakfast and lunch, … Read more

According the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, depression is a common experience for stroke survivors. A scientific statement from the Association indicates that about one-third of stroke survivors experience depression – compared to 5%–13% of adults without stroke. If left untreated, it can affect quality of life and make post-stroke … Read more

As a child growing up in the West Indies, Dr. Barbara Hutchinson was fascinated by the dynamics of her family’s health – and how it might affect her own. “My father’s side of the family seemed to have had heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, whereas my mother’s side of the family was relatively … Read more

Ten prominent local women will help advance heart health and raise lifesaving funds to fight their No. 1 health threat with the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, as members of its Baltimore & Greater Maryland 2023 Woman of Impact class. Each year a select group of individuals across … Read more

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to world of healthier lives for all, announces Elizabeth Wise, President/CEO of University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, as the community volunteer chair of the 2022-2023 Greater Maryland Go Red for Women movement. Go Red for Women is a worldwide initiative of the American Heart … Read more

The holidays are fast approaching and that means shopping, parties and gatherings with family and friends will fill the calendar in the upcoming weeks. This time of year is typically wrought with events planned around food. With that, there is a greater chance of eating unhealthily and drinking sugary beverages often with alcohol. According to … Read more

Over time, high blood glucose can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart over time. It’s just one of the ways diabetes and cardiovascular health go hand-in-hand. November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a mismatch of the body’s ability to handle the glucose and calories from food that we take in. … Read more

The American Heart Association presented awards to four individuals associated with the Johns Hopkins University and its medical system at the Association’s 2022 Scientific Sessions. Scientific Sessions is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. The meeting was held in-person in Chicago and virtually … Read more

Strokes can happen to anyone at any age. Globally, one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke. Most adults in the U.S. do not know the F.A.S.T. warning signs of a stroke, and that stroke is … Read more

Now is the ideal time to get your flu shot if you haven’t already, according to medical experts, and doing so can not only keep you from getting sick, but also reduce risk for a cardiac event or stroke. “Studies and data show that people are six times more likely to have a heart attack … Read more

Where someone lives should not dictate how long they live. Six Maryland leaders are joining the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact campaign in an effort to combat health inequities in the community. Studies show a nearly 20-year life expectancy gap in zip codes across Baltimore and other parts of Maryland. According to the American … Read more

The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is inviting Maryland to its premier event to boost physical and mental health through healthy habits while supporting the lifesaving mission. On Oct. 8, 2022, starting at 8 a.m., Greater Maryland area Heart Walk participants and teams are … Read more

Editor’s note: This guest post was written by Daniel Hess, a writer and filmmaker from Baltimore who grew up with a congenital heart defect. I was born with aortic valve stenosis, which was detected when I was only 1-year-old during a routine check-in with my pediatrician. My father would often reflect on this moment and … Read more

It’s summer and much of the population takes advantage of being outdoors. For many, that includes exercising, often in the heat and full sun, which can exacerbate existing medical conditions and bring on other issues if precautions aren’t taken. Exercising in the heat can cause dehydration. This means there is less fluid in the body … Read more

Each year, 475,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest, an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. Cardiac arrest claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined, according … Read more

It’s known as the silent killer. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, and there usually are no signs or symptoms. American Heart Association data indicates that only 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure nationwide have it under control and an estimated 700,000 Marylanders have uncontrolled … Read more

As far back as they can trace, every generation of Stacia Cohen’s family has been affected by heart disease and stroke. Among Cohen and her siblings, three of the four had congenital heart disease. Two of Cohen’s siblings died in childhood, suffering from tetralogy of Fallot, a heart defect with four primary problems that ultimately … Read more

The American Heart Association applauds the Maryland General Assembly for their unanimous support of life-saving legislation that will ensure state Medicaid recipients who have been diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure are able to receive an at-home blood pressure monitoring device at no cost. The Maryland Senate passed the legislation today and the House of … Read more

Although heart disease primarily impacts older adults, others like elite athletes and those who hold demanding jobs like emergency responders endure added stress on the heart and may find themselves confronting serious cardiac issues. According to the American Heart Association, a death occurs every 40 seconds in the United States due to heart disease, the … Read more

BALTIMORE — Health kiosks that provide biometric information including blood pressure readings, sponsored through a collaboration of the American Heart Association and LifeBridge Health, have been placed at two locations in the Baltimore area in the past month. The placement of the Higi Smart Health Stations is the latest effort in the multi-year Stronger Hearts … Read more

BALTIMORE – The American Heart Association of Greater Maryland today presented Steve Hess, the retiring deputy fire chief for BWI Airport Fire & Rescue Department, with a Heartsaver Hero Award. In his role at the airport, Hess, who is retiring at the end of March, has been a tireless advocate in advancing the American Heart … Read more

The pathway to having a stronger heart is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Every individual is unique, which is why Melissa Kinstlinger M.S., RDN, LDN, CDCES, quality coordinator of the Diabetes and Nutrition Center, outpatient dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist for Northwest Hospital, offers individualized care to her clients. In honor of American Heart Month … Read more

Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity is key to immediate and long-term health for children. That is why the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, the National Football League (NFL) and Baltimore Ravens have awarded a $1,500 Get Moving Grant to Middlesex Elementary School … Read more

Jennifer Nickoles, the vice president for operations and system integration for The Johns Hopkins Health System, has seen the way heart disease can impact people’s lives, especially women, both personally and professionally. “The heart of a woman must be strong — for her family and friends, coworkers and her community — but most importantly for … Read more

Culminating with Heart Ball in June, campaign seeks to improve health outcomes by focusing on CPR, reducing barriers and inequities to healthcare The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has named Dr. George Bittar as its chair of the Heart of Maryland campaign. Bittar is … Read more

BALTIMORE, NOV. 15, 2021 — Sixteen members of the BWI Airport’s Fire and Rescue Department, four officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and a bystander were recognized Monday by the American Heart Association for their quick action in recent months that saved the lives of three people. “These public safety professionals jumped into action … Read more

To help some of Baltimore’s most economically disadvantaged residents prepare for  careers in the culinary arts, the American Heart Association (AHA), Maryland Food Bank’s (MFB) FoodWorks Program, and Living Classrooms Foundation are joining forces to launch a satellite location of the FoodWorks program in Baltimore . The initiative began this week at the American Heart Association’s … Read more