Massachusetts

Cigarettes, cigars, and the new flavored tobacco that’s recently become the rage among kids, are all addictive products.  We were happy with the Legislature’s recent move to increase taxes on tobacco.  Raising prices on these dangerous tobacco products is an extremely smart public policy and will improve public health.  But as prices go up, it’s only fair that the state provide support for smokers who then try to quit.

Massachusetts will collect over One Billion Dollars in tobacco excise taxes and settlement payment from the industry next year.  It’s a truly astounding amount of money.  But only a small fraction of that money, less than ½ of one percent, is dedicated to help people quit smoking and prevent kids from getting hooked on tobacco.

We will be working with the legislators as they finalize the state budget, and advocating for increased funding for DPH’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program.  It’s a successful, evidence-based approach to protecting kids, saving lives, and driving down our health care costs.  And given the amount of money generated from tobacco, it’s also the right thing to do!

About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds. Last year, many of the Americans who suffered a stroke did not get the right lifesaving treatment in time. For Stroke Month, we wanted to pass along information that can help save lives and improve recovery. You just need to think F.A.S.T. These simple letters can help you recognize the signs of a stroke and get help right away.

FACE DROOPING — Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

ARM WEAKNESS — Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH DIFFICULTY — Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

TIME TO CALL 9-1-1 — If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

BEYOND F.A.S.T. — OTHER SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD KNOW — Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg, sudden confusion or trouble understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause

Learn more about Stroke Warning Signs by visiting: http://strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp

We are looking for passionate advocates for our upcoming Heart on the Hill Event. Do you have a CPR, AED or Critical Congenital Heart personal story? Are you a medical professional who is an expert on these issues? Are you a heart survivor?  We would love to have you participate in our Heart on the Hill event at the Massachusetts State House on June 5, 2013. This event will help spread the lifesaving message about the importance of CPR training, access to AEDs and Pulse Ox Screening for Newborns! We are looking for people like you who will share your story with your legislators about how sudden cardiac arrest or congenital heart defects has affected your life either as a survivor, caregiver or passionate advocate.

The day will begin at 10:00 AM with an Advocacy 101 to help prepare you for your legislative meetings. We will provide a boxed lunch and then you will have the opportunity to meet with your legislators to share your story and express the importance of the screening newborns for critical congenital heart defects, CPR Training and access to AEDs. Speaking points will be provided as well as a staff person to go on the visits. The day will end by 4:00 PM.

For anyone interested in attending please register by clicking the below link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZJ6H79W

If you have questions or please call Allyson Perron at 781-373-4522 or email at allyson.perron@heart.org. Once we hear from you, we will confirm all the details for your participation

Last week the House debated the State Budget; this is the second step in a long budget process. We knew it was going to be a tough budget year so we were not successful in everything but we were able to make some key investments in public health and access to care that we believe will make a difference for the heart health of the residents of the Commonwealth. We were able to secure language around changing how we package the kid friendly cigars; making it more expensive for our kids to buy these flavored candy-like products. We were also able to secure funding for Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Program and for an Office of Health Equity. Unfortunately we were not able to get an increase for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program which is very disappointing since we just were just successful in increasing the tobacco tax and now more than ever we need to help people stop smoking and educate kids why they should not start smoking. We will continue to fight for this increased funding in the Senate.

The budget process can be long, and in two weeks we will be working with the Senate on their version, and we are hopeful we will see a stronger commitment to prevention in their budget.  I appreciate your ongoing advocacy and stay tuned for updates and opportunities to lend your voice to the debate!

Every single day, all over the country, lives are saved and improved because of you, because you are a committed, talented and passionate volunteer. I always say I have the best volunteers and I couldn’t mean it more. I could not do my job without you, the volunteers. You take the time to advocate on our behalf whether it is clicking the button, picking up the phone, writing a letter or coming to meet with your legislators. You share your experience with friends and family and get them to advocate. Some of you have even started your kids out advocating young by walking around at Heart Walks and getting postcards filled out. So during National Volunteer Week, I wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU!

We have made great progress in Massachusetts, but I look forward to what is next. I hope you will stay committed and passionate because I believe we will make the Commonwealth the place to achieve ideal cardiovascular health and with your dedication I believe we will!

Thank YOU!    

Yesterday, we experienced a horrific tragedy with the attacks on the 117th Boston Marathon. I am confident in the resiliency and strength of Massachusetts and its residents and I know we will overcome this tragedy. As some of you know we have a team of dedicated runners as part of Tedy’s Team, who raise not only funds but awareness for stroke. We have always been close to the finish line to cheer on our runners with Tedy Bruschi and his family; and yesterday was no different so the events have touched very close to home. I am happy to say that all of our runners and staff are physically safe; emotionally I am sure it will take some time.

In the coming days, more details will emerge. Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and all those who were affected by these horrible acts. We cannot thank the first responders as well as the volunteers, runners, and spectators who rushed to aid the victims at the scene enough and who showed their capacity to sacrifice their own needs to help others.

We are sad that we experienced unbelievable horror and great sadness on a day when we come together to celebrate victory and witness the most prestigious race, the Boston Marathon. Now is our time to come together, to show our strength as a Commonwealth, to show our resilience and to work together.

In a recent report, Massachusetts was one of the least likely states in the nation to be obese in 2012. Colorado is the only state where less than 20% of adults are obese and are right ahead of Massachusetts. West Virginia - also for a third year in a row -- is the state with the highest obesity rate, at 33.5%. Click here to read the full report http://www.gallup.com/poll/160061/obesity-rate-stable-2012.aspx

These data, collected as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, are based on respondents' self-reports of their height and weight, which are used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) scores. Americans who have a BMI of 30 or higher are classified as obese. Gallup and Healthways have been tracking Americans' weight situation daily since January 2008.

Obesity is now one of Americans' top health concerns -- surpassing smoking and alcohol -- with nearly four in 10 Americans saying it is an extremely serious problem to society. With obesity rates up in nearly all age groups since 2008, it is a problem that requires the nation's attention. The economic impact to the U.S. carries a heavy cost -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that obesity alone costs about $147 billion annually.

We need to do more! We need to invest in prevention programs -- ranging from obesity to smoking cessation -- to prevent disease and illness among Americans. Measures like this and other actions leaders and individuals can take in the years ahead may ultimately serve to curb the nation's obesity problem.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracks wellbeing in the U.S. and provides best-in-class solutions for a healthier world. To learn more, please visit well-beingindex.com.

Last night, Monday, March 25^th the American Heart Association teamed up with the Boston Bruins to host the 7th Annual Heart Health Awareness Night. We were able to bring messaging about heart health and the importance of learning CPR to all the fans. We even taught Blades, the Bruins mascot how easy Hands Only CPR was! We were also happy to be able to provide some fun fan experiences to our advocates  who have personally impacted by heart and stroke.

We have been lucky to partner with the Boston Bruins for seven years and can’t thank them enough for their support! They have helped us raise awareness and education to thousands of fans over the years.

Yesterday was Kick Butts Day and we had over 200 youth come to the State House to talk to their legislators about the tactics the industry uses to hook them on tobacco. Their solution? Make these tobacco products more expensive. We agree! We want to see an increase of a $1.25 on the tobacco tax and make sure that the other tobacco products are taxed at the same rate as cigarettes.

The tobacco industry uses three tactics in its efforts to hook kids, price, packing and availability. The tobacco industry is selling products in colorful and fun packaging that attracts young people. We know that price matters! By increasing the tobacco tax by a $1.25 we can save more than 34,000 young people from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco.

Join us and stand with the youth to oppose the tobacco industry's targeting of young people and support an increase for the tobacco tax.

More than 400 students at Coolidge Middle School received a surprise visit from Boston Celtic center Chris Wilcox on Thursday as part of the school’s 5^th Annual Hoops for Heart championship game celebration. The students were amongst thousands of participants across the state playing basketball for the American Heart Association - but also for their own hearts this winter.

Wilcox, who has battled his own journey with heart disease and recently recovered from open-heart surgery this past year, thanked the students for their participation in Hoops for Heart, a national educational fund-raising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association, and encouraged the students to stay physically active and make heart healthy decisions.  Wilcox shared some of the improvements he has made in his own life such as changing eating habits, as well as how he inspired his parents to adopt more heart healthy behaviors. 

Chris is a current player for the Boston Celtics, and is in his 10^th year in the NBA and was part of the 2002 University of Maryland National Championship Team.  Last year during a routine physical, team doctors discovered that Chris had an enlarged aorta, which is a life threatening condition.  On March 29, 2012, Wilcox had open heart surgery at The Cleveland Clinic to repair the aorta and after being cleared to play again by doctors, resigned with the Boston Celtics on July 24^th, only four months post-surgery and two months ahead of schedule.  

We know that childhood obesity is one of our nation’s leading health threats. In addition to raising life-saving funds, Hoops for Heart also promotes physical activity, helping kids to live stronger, more active lives. For the students involved it was great to for the students and school to get a visit from Chris!