By Ron & Maria Importico, Co-Chairs, Casino Night
Nearly 801,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in 2013. That’s about one of every three deaths in America. That equates to about 2,200 Americans dying each day from these diseases, one every 40 seconds.
However, what’s most encouraging is heart disease and stroke – the No. 1 and No. 5 killers – are primarily preventable diseases for most Americans. Research has shown nearly 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases and stroke are avoidable through healthy lifestyle choices.
Residents in Monmouth and Ocean counties have an opportunity to take charge of their health at the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Casino Night on March 18 at iPlay America’s Event Center in Freehold, NJ. Participants will enjoy gaming, prizes, networking, a live auction, heart-healthy Hors D’oeuvres, music and educational information and resources – all while raising funds for life-saving research.
Since 1949, the association has funded $3.8 billion in research into cardiovascular diseases and stroke, second only to the federal government. This has led to 13 Nobel Prize winners and several important medical breakthroughs, including techniques and standards for CPR, the first artificial heart valve, implantable pacemakers, cholesterol inhibitors, microsurgery and drug-coated stents, just to name a few.
Continued cardiovascular research remains critical to saving lives, but we need to empower ourselves with education and resources to make healthier choices every day. Join the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association as we work to create a culture of health, not only in Monmouth and Ocean counties, but across America.
For tickets and information about the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Casino Night, visit MonmouthOceanCasinoNight.Heart.org.