Delaware

Fall Healthy for Good workshops help Delaware residents build healthier habits 

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Healthy for Good participants holding up completion certificates

This October, the American Heart Association hosted a series of Healthy for Good workshops in Dover and Wilmington, giving local residents practical tools to cook healthier meals, shop smarter and feel more confident making everyday choices that support their well-being.  Over four weeks, participants met once a week at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover and at the Central … Read more

Delaware Libraries are helping communities take control of their blood pressure

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High blood pressure is a silent threat—often with no symptoms until it’s too late. But in Delaware, libraries are helping to change that.  The American Heart Association and Delaware Libraries have teamed up to offer blood pressure cuff loaner programs at libraries across the state. Residents can check out a cuff for free—just like a … Read more

Husband-and-Wife Team Takes the Helm to Save Lives in Southern Delaware 

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Ben and Sarah Collins

Ben Collins and Sarah Neely-Collins Mobilize Southern Delaware’s Corporate Leaders to Build a Community of Lifesavers as Co-Chairs of the American Heart Association Heart Walk  Dover, DE, March 4, 2025 — Ben Collins, senior director of operations for Bayhealth’s Cardiovascular Service Line, and Sarah Neely-Collins, oncology nurse practitioner at Bayhealth, are joining forces not just … Read more

Join the American Heart Association’s Exclusive 1924 Hearts Club

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Become part of a historic moment as we celebrate 100 years of lifesaving progress and innovation. When you join the 1924 Hearts Club with a minimum donation of $1,924, you’ll not only contribute to groundbreaking cardiovascular research and advocacy but also receive a commemorative ¼ zip fleece pullover and a genuine 1924 Silver Dollar, symbolizing … Read more

Four Delaware Leaders Join Nationwide Effort to Ensure Equitable Health for All

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The American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact™ Delaware nominees work to advance health and hope for everyone everywhere through community fundraising and philanthropy. Wilmington, DE, October 17, 2024 – The American Heart Association believes that everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to live a full, healthy life. That’s why four Delaware leaders are joining the Association’s … Read more

Bayhealth’s Chief Nurse Executive leads local movement to improve women’s heart health

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Rosemary Wurster to chair the American Heart Association’s Delaware 2023-24 Go Red for Women® Dover, DE March 2024 – The American Heart Association, the world’s leading non profit organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, announces Rosemary Wurster, chief nurse executive for Bayhealth, will serve as the executive volunteer chair of the 2023-2024 … Read more

ChristianaCare’s medical director takes the lead in fight against heart disease and stroke in Delaware

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The American Heart Association announces Dr. Kirk Garratt as chair of the 2024 Wilmington Heart Walk  Wilmington, DE, March 2024 – The American Heart Association, the world’s leading non-profit organization focused on cardiovascular disease and stroke, is proud to announce Dr. Kirk Garratt, medical director for ChristianaCare’s Center for Heart and Vascular Health, as the … 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 calling 911 is the safest choice you can make, and it could save your life. Bayhealth’s emergency teams are ready to provide timely care to … Read more

Delaware Celebrates Executives

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The American Heart Association Delaware hosted its annual Appreciation Executive Breakfast on February 24th to recognize, acknowledge, and celebrate — our top supporters of the Heart Walk – our sponsors, top walkers, top team captains, donors, and valued volunteers. The 2022 Wilmington Heart Walk was a great success, raising $328,000 in revenue.   Along with our … 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 longer, healthier lives for all, has named Allison Kerwin, senior vice president of Delaware Commercial Real Estate for M&T Bank, as chair of the 2023 … 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 to forward the mission of the American Heart Association in the state of Delaware. With this transformational gift, the Harvey and Hanna Family Healthy Hearts … 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 begin making incremental changes is an increased awareness. Your daily habits, both big and small, will determine what kind of life you will lead years … Read more

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 Delaware’s 17 beautiful state parks. Take it from avid runner and Bayhealth Cardiologist Roberto Scaffidi, MD, “It is so important for us to continue our … Read more

Lower Risk of Heart Disease at Your Local Farmers Market

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Growing up in the Peach State of Georgia, Bayhealth Family Medicine Physician Resident H. Kendall Barton, MD, has always enjoyed the summer season and all the fresh fruits and vegetables that come along with it. As a fan of cooking, Dr. Barton says the healthiest ingredients can be found right in your neighborhood – at … Read more

American Heart Association Announces Chair for its 2022 Southern Delaware Heart Walk

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Bayhealth Cardiologist Roberto Scaffidi, MD, will serve as Chair of the Southern Delaware Heart Walk 2022. The Heart Walk will be held in Rehoboth Beach on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, and will support the American Heart Association, whose mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, in Delaware and … Read more

Is Your Heart Health a Family Matter?

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Our risk of heart disease is something many of us should know—as heart disease is the top cause of death in the U.S. And, as Bayhealth Cardiologist Mussaber Ahmad, DO, explains, personal risk factors aren’t the only ones to consider.

“Family history is also important to determine overall risk, as there is a genetic component associated with coronary artery disease,” said Dr. Ahmad, who became a doctor because both of his grandfathers passed away from coronary artery disease (CAD) – the most common type of heart disease.

To help figure out if genetics or a family history play a role in your overall risk of heart disease, Dr. Ahmad said you can start with the following key factors.

  • A first-degree relative (biological parent or sibling) who has/had heart disease
  • Any relative(s) who has/had any of the following:
    • Angina
    • Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
    • Heart failure
    • High cholesterol
    • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
    • Stroke
    • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
    • Thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm

Beyond this list, Dr. Ahmad said there are other factors that need to be taken into account. They include the age and gender of any first-degree relatives with heart disease and your family’s ethnicity/race.

“If a male first-degree relative has CAD before the age of 55 or a female first-degree relative has CAD before the age of 65, this is considered premature CAD, which puts you at higher risk,” explained Dr. Ahmad. “Another important factor is belonging to a high-risk race or ethnicity such as South Asians. By some estimates, South Asians account for up to 60 percent of the world’s heart disease population, despite making up only 25 percent of the world’s general population. Also, compared to the general population, South Asians have up to a four times greater risk of developing heart disease.”

“A history of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or a history of menopause before age 40 are other risk factors women need to consider,” he added.

Putting together your family history will take some time and effort. Dr. Ahmad suggests you start by finding out if your parents, brother(s), and/or sister(s) have or had any of the medical conditions mentioned above or other risk factors.

Once you have your family history compiled be sure to share it with your doctor. “As physicians, we use family history and your personal risk factors to determine 10-year and lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, and then recommend the appropriate therapy based on your risk. Examples of therapies we may prescribe include statins and aspirin,” said Dr. Ahmad.

While family history plays a role, Dr. Ahmad said your personal risk factors for heart disease are most important. This includes ones such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and age. When it comes to age, your risk of heart disease goes up with each decade of life. That’s why Dr. Ahmad also said screening with blood tests and identifying additional risk factors starting at age 20 is a good idea.

For other health tips, visit Bayhealth’s Community Health and Wellness blog  www.bayhealth.org/community-health-and-wellness

COVID-19: The Impact on Communities of Color

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Updated May 29, 2020 Long before the coronavirus impacted how we live, work, and play, systemic challenges contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, … Read more