American Heart Association

A Mother’s Unexpected Pregnancy Journey

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Mother with daughter

Rhode Islander, Katie Bergantine, JD, shares her personal journey managing maternal heart health Guest Blog Written by Katie Bergantine, JD, of Coventry, Rhode Island with afterword from the American Heart … Read more

Penn Medicine, the American Heart Association, and Community Organizations are Teaming Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure in West and Southwest Philadelphia

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Group photo of AHA, Penn Medicine and community and clinical partners holding certificates and a ceremonial jersey

Initiative Kickoff at Second Baptist Church Food Pantry Penn Medicine and the Greater Philadelphia American Heart Association (AHA) launched a collaborative effort aimed at taking down the toll of high … Read more

FM Senior Litigation Counsel Announced to Co-Chair Southern New England’s 2025 Go Red for Women® Movement

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Alexsa Marino joins the American Heart Association’s initiative to improve women’s heart health Providence, Rhode Island, October 23rd, 2024 – The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted … Read more

Larry Sadwin honored at the 2024 Southern New England Heart Ball

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The American Heart Association to recognized mission champion Larry Sadwin at annual event with the Yvonne Heredia Lifetime Achievement Award Providence, Rhode Island, October 18, 2024: —Rhode Islander, Larry Sadwin, … Read more

American Heart Association, Southern New England announces 2024-2025 board of directors

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Dr. Edward McGookin, President of Coastal Medical Physicians, Inc., was named president of Southern New England’s board. The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, announced … Read more

Chaired by Bentley Systems Leaders, the American Heart Association will hold its STEM Goes Red Event this fall, Encouraging Young Women to Engage in STEM Careers.

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2024 Philadelphia STEM Goes Red

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Bentley’s Angela Curry, Ellen Lewis and Gina Mazzulla Lead the 2024 Philadelphia STEM Goes Red Initiative The American Heart Association (AHA) proudly announces its STEM Goes Red … Read more

Lehigh Valley & Berks female changemakers lead effort to fight No. 1 killer

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The American Heart Association’s® Woman of Impact™ nominees champion heart health for Go Red for Women’s® fundraising and philanthropy initiative. March is women’s history month and what better way to … Read more

Bank of America Health Equity Initiative in Philadelphia Leverages the Voices of Community Members to Build More Resilient and Healthier Neighborhoods

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Philadelphia, PA, October, 17, 2023 – Today, the Philadelphia Collaboration for Equitable Health, a healthy equity initiative powered by Bank of America, in collaboration with the American Heart Association (The … Read more

Guest Blog -Why are women misrepresented in the medical field?

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Guest Blog By: Anastasia Milliman

  1. Only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their biggest health threat.
  2. 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
  3.  Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented by education and lifestyle changes.
  4. Healthy changes have resulted in 330 fewer women dying from heart disease per day.

Why is it that women are so constantly misrepresented in the medical field? 

Anastasia and her gold award

This was the question I asked myself while working to create my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. As I researched, I found the fact that cardiovascular is disease the number 1 killer of women each year to be a prevailing issue. As I continued, I found that healthcare data is based majorly on the male anatomy and that is a large factor in why women are so often overlooked while receiving care. Even though women of all ages are at risk, and women are at higher risk than men, they are turned away from receiving care because their symptoms don’t match.

The biases in society contribute to this wholly as well, for example, women are less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers fear accusations of sexual misconduct or inappropriate touching. Minorities are also disproportionately affected, often leading to greater mortality rates and a lack of adequate care. 

Facts such as these drove my passion for my project. It was impactful to hear about the disparities women have been facing throughout history and this allowed my desire to go into the medical field to continue. I knew that I wanted to educate my community on how important women’s cardiovascular health is. I teamed up with a nonprofit organization that works to provide free primary care for Bergen County’s uninsured working citizens. This allowed me to coordinate with a cardiologist and my local ambulance corps to develop a comprehensive presentation given to the public about women’s healthcare and how they could personally make an impact by being knowledgeable. In addition to this, I created a book display to continue the education of my community that was presented for the entire month of May at my local library. 

Being educated and having an awareness of these issues opens doors for you to take control of your health and to help minimize the gap in health services and the quality of care that women receive. I worked to do this within my community, but now I am looking to reach a larger audience, taking control of your health is one way to minimize this gap.

For more information about how to continue education on how to take charge of your health, and how to make healthy lifestyle changes visit the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women websites. Go Red for Women | The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of The American Heart Association | American Stroke Association. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.

The American Heart Association’s blog is not intended to provide medical advice or treatment. Only your healthcare provider can provide that. The American Heart Association recommends that you consult your healthcare provider regarding your personal health matters. If you think you are having a heart attack, stroke or another emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Angela Curry, Chief Compliance Officer at Bentley Systems, to lead 2023-2024 Philadelphia STEM GOES RED Initiative

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Community leader inspires young women in Philadelphia public schools to uncover their potential through STEM Goes Red movement with support from local communities, employers, and schools.

 The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, announces Angela Curry, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Bentley Systems, as the volunteer chair of the 2023-2024 Philadelphia area STEM Goes Red movement. STEM Goes Red is working to engage more women in STEM through the Association’s strong legacy of science, education, and discovery to help propel young women into rewarding STEM careers.

STEM Goes Red brings interesting careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life for young women. By giving students access to leading employers and experts, they have the chance for an insider look at what they do. STEM Goes Red attendees gain firsthand experience, connect with inspiring professionals, and learn about careers across STEM fields. Students can walk away feeling like a whole new world of STEM has been revealed — a world in which they can truly love what they do and make a tremendous impact.

“As the Chair of STEM Goes Red and a proud parent of students attending Philadelphia public schools, I am passionate and invested in our school district and in our next generation of STEM leaders,” said Curry. “STEM Goes Red is an exceptional initiative that provides mentorship and exposure to STEM careers so that girls can talk to women in STEM and see their future selves in companies like Bentley. Students have direct and meaningful interactions with inspiring women in STEM fields, and what they come out with is a dream and a blueprint for real pathways to careers in STEM.”

“We are thrilled to have Angela’s experience, conviction, and passion to lead our Philadelphia STEM Goes Red campaign to new heights. Together, we know that we will have a positive impact on the lives of young women in our Philadelphia community. Our collective goal is for these young women to become our next cardiologists, researchers, and scientists who can help end heart disease,” said Jennifer Litchman-Green, Executive Director, American Heart Association, Philadelphia.

This year’s STEM Goes Red movement will culminate with a hands-on event for female students with an interest in STEM in grades 9th – 12th in early November, sponsored by Bentley Systems.

For more information about Go Red for Women contact: Allison Snavely @ allison.snavely@heart.org

Dr. Richard L. Snyder of Independence Blue Cross is a champion for training a Nation of Lifesavers through CPR and AED awareness

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June 1-7 each year is National CPR Awareness Week, spotlighting how lives can be saved if more Americans know CPR.  Dr. Richard L. Snyder, Executive Vice President of Facilitated Health … Read more

Guest Blog Post: Bayhealth Interventional Cardiologist Roberto Scaffidi shares “Your health is too precious to take risks, learn the signs of a heart attack and stroke”

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Your health is too precious to take risks–particularly when you’re having a medical emergency. Warning signs of a heart attack or stroke should never be ignored. Getting immediate care by … Read more

Penn Medicine Cardiologist is Honored with American Heart Association Top Award: 2023 Edward S. Cooper, MD Award

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The American Heart Association, the largest voluntary health organization fighting cardiovascular diseases, announces Paul J. Mather, MD, as the 2023 recipient of the Edward. S. Cooper, MD Award. The award … Read more

American Heart Association Announces Chair for 2023 Delaware Heart Ball

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Allison Kerwin, Senior Vice President of Delaware Commercial Real Estate for M&T Bank, will serve in leadership role. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on ensuring … Read more

1 Million Dollar Transformational Gift Creates Big Change in Delaware

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The American Heart Association is excited and humbled to announce, Thom Harvey, Chairman & CEO of Harvey Hanna & Associates (HHA) and his wife Robin have donated 1 million dollars … Read more

Don’t Delay: Risks of Waiting to Have Your Heart Checked 

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When it comes to your heart, you can never be too careful. Preventing heart conditions, such as cardiac arrest or heart disease, can begin today. Sometimes all it takes to … Read more

Dr. Richard Snyder of Independence Blue Cross Receives Regional Award from American Heart Association

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On February 8, 2023, local leaders come together to celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Richard Snyder at Penn Medicine’s Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine’s CPR Kiosk. Dr. Snyder received the Leadership Legacy Award from the American Heart Association’s Eastern States Region, an award given to only a select few. Dr. Snyder has volunteered with the Association for many years, including being the Philadelphia region’s board chair. He has always been passionate about CPR, raising awareness and teaching those in the Philadelphia region Hands-Only CPR.

Why It Matters: Each year more than 350,000 people suffer out of hospital cardiac arrest, only 10% of those people survive. Dr. Snyder has played an integral role in helping to improve those odds by helping to create the CPR Ready Coalition in Philadelphia. This coalition was created in 2016 with a goal of increasing the number of people who are trained and willing to perform hands-only CPR. This coalition is comprised of: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CPR/AED Public Awareness and Training Network, The Health Care Improvement Foundation, Independence Blue Cross, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Fire Department, and the School District of Philadelphia.

Dr. Snyder was also instrumental in bringing the first CPR Kiosk to the Philadelphia Region, at Penn Medicine’s Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, where people can learn CPR at their own pace, and beready to help someone in crisis.

“Hands-Only CPR is a powerful tool that takes only 60 seconds to learn and can double or even triple a victim’s chances of survival. said Richard Snyder, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer at Independence Blue Cross.

Kevin Mahoney, CEO University of Pennsylvania Health System, was on hand to help present the award to Dr. Snyder, along with the Fire Commissioner of Philadephia, AdamThiel, Gregory Deavons, CEO of Independence Blue Cross  and Jennifer Litchman-Green, Executive Director of the American Heart Association of Philadelphia, all of whom shared the same sentiment, that Dr. Snyder always puts the patients and the community at large first.

 

Damar Hamlin’s Inspiring Recovery: CPR Saves Lives 

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While playing in the Buffalo Bills – Cincinnati Bengals game on Monday Night Football on January 2, Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a hit and was administered CPR on the field before being transferred to an area hospital.

Hamlin reportedly experienced a cardiac arrest – when the heart stops abruptly with little or no warning. Early recognition of cardiac arrest improves the person’s chance of survival and is key to starting the correct care of CPR and the appropriate use of defibrillation to restart the heart. The on-site medical team evaluated the situation and appeared to quickly remove his safety pads, begin CPR and apply the automated external defibrillator (AED).  

CPR can help keep the heart pumping and blood flowing to vital organs until an electrical shock from a defibrillator is available to restore the heart to a normal heart rhythm. Then the patient can be safely moved for further medical treatment, supportive care, testing to determine what the cause of the arrest may have been and recovery, including both physical and mental health resources for the person and their family.

Possible causes

Cardiac arrest can have several causes. Since Hamlin collapsed immediately following a tackle on the play, one potential cause could be commotio cordis. Commotio cordis is a rare phenomenon from a sudden blunt impact to the chest causing sudden death in the absence of apparent cardiac damage. The blow to the chest at precisely the wrong time in the cardiac cycle causes an electrical abnormality in the heart resulting in  an irregular heart rhythm that cannot pump blood to the body.  Immediate CPR and a shock to reset the rhythm can help the heartbeat return to normal function.

Another cause of cardiac arrest that additional tests are likely to attempt to detect or rule out is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or a thickened heart muscle – a more common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes specifically. The thickened heart can be due to a genetic condition or can be caused by athletic conditioning that thickens the muscles of the heart and can make it more susceptible to an irregular heart rhythm like ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia.

“This was traumatic for everyone, especially Hamlin’s family and teammates but also for so many others involved and witnessing the event. More than 70% of cardiac arrests that do not happen in the hospital, occur in a home where access to medical professionals and an AED is not as readily available,” said Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. “Recognizing a cardiac arrest, calling 911 immediately, performing CPR and using an AED as soon as it is available are critical for survival.

Statistically speaking, it is likely that the person will need to be helped by a family member or a friend to survive.”

Having community members trained in CPR and AEDs in public spaces can increase the chances of survival. The rate of bystander CPR in North America is estimated at only 39-44%, and only about 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Improving the rate of bystander CPR is critical to increasing survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

The skill to perform CPR and use a defibrillator are the foundational components of preparing laypeople to respond to cardiac arrest. People also need to feel emotionally prepared to respond and be able to cope with the aftermath of performing CPR.

Resources for learning CPR

Each year in the United States, an estimated 350,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest in the community. Anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest in the community (i.e., not in a hospital) can perform CPR. Roughly 70% of cardiac arrests that do not happen in the hospital, occur in homes and private residences, therefore, a friend or family member is mostly likely to be the person who needs to take action. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double, or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

For adults and adolescent children, Hands-Only CPR is an easy-to-learn skill that requires only two steps: call emergency services and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute.

For more information, visit heart.org

 

Eating for Heart Health

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There are a lot of things we can do to improve our health. Eating a heart healthy diet is one of them. Bayhealth Primary Care Physician, Preeti Gupta, MD, explains, “Maintaining a healthy way of eating can help prevent many ailments, including heart health issues. And I always say, prevention is better than a cure.”

One of the best ways to eat for heart health is with a plant-based diet. It’s a healthy way of eating that won’t have you sacrificing flavor. Better yet, countless studies suggest that eating less meat decreases the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Here are Dr. Gupta’s suggestions to transitioning to a plant-based way of eating.

Plant-based eating
There are three main types of plant-based eating. The strictest is vegan, which eliminates all animal products such as meat, eggs and milk. Next, is vegetarian, which eliminates meat but still allows eggs and dairy products. Both are very heart healthy ways of eating but if they are too much of a leap for you, perhaps you could try the third type of plant-based eating called, “plant-forward” eating.

The plant-forward lifestyle
Eating a plant-forward diet means that you eat vegetables and fruit more often and as your main dish. You can still enjoy meat, eggs and dairy as side items. When you do choose meat, try to stick with lean, skinless poultry and fish, which are excellent sources of protein. Other meats are more likely to be high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which can contribute to poor heart health. You should also avoid processed meats such as deli meats and bacon, which are typically high in sodium.

Load up on veggies
In plant-forward eating, vegetables are the main portion of each meal. Did you know that most vegetables contain protein? Broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, corn, potatoes and peppers are some that provide needed protein. Beans are another source that can add flavor and texture to your meals. Also, have healthy fruit servings throughout the day which will help satisfy the sweet cravings.

Whichever plant-based eating plan you try, remember to choose foods lower in sodium and avoid added sugars, saturated fats, and especially hydrogenated oils, which contain trans-fat. Watch portion sizes and use nonstick cooking sprays rather than added fats when cooking. Don’t forget healthy whole grains such as whole wheat bread and brown rice.

Eliminating certain foods may be easier than you think. Once you begin a plant-based diet, your body will start reaping the benefits almost immediately – and you’ll feel better in general. “Don’t put off living your healthiest life by waiting until Monday to start your nutrition plan,” said Dr. Gupta. “You can do this. Just start now.”

 

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Stay Active this Winter by Visiting DE State Parks

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Some of us may feel the urge to stay inside when the weather starts getting cold, but it is actually a great time to get out and enjoy one of … Read more

Go Red for Women Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Baltimore, MD

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On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the American Heart Association (AHA) of Greater Maryland hosted its annual Go Red for Women luncheon, digitally, for the second year in a row due … Read more