New Mexico

June 1-7 was National CPR/AED Awareness Week and that means a lot of Heart Association volunteers getting the word out about how to save lives through CPR and AEDs.  In Arkansas, You’re the Cure advocate Diana Boulton took it upon herself to educate Congressional offices near her home town.

Diana visited the in-district offices of Senator John Boozman and Senator Mark Pryor to teach their staff members just how easy it is to learn the basics of CPR.   The staff members took part in hands-on CPR training and learned how to give chest compressions to someone suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest.
 
During the training session a short advocacy presentation was given asking for Congressional support for NIH research funding and rural/community AED placements.  The Congressional staff members in each office were also given a brief overview of state activities surrounding CPR/AEDs and other legislative priorities.

Thanks to Diana and all the other volunteers for spreading the word during National CPR/AED Awareness Week!!

In recent years, research has shown that there is a lot of truth to the old saying “you are what you eat”. Unfortunately, too many Americans are still eating foods that are high in saturated and Trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars and salt. Research has also shown that Americans are eating more food away from home where potion sizes are larger and calorie content is higher. All of these factors put us at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. We need you to educate your lawmakers about the importance of a heart-healthy diet, and increasing access to nutritional foods.

Click here to educate your legislators on this important issue.

For many Americans struggling to make ends meet, affordable and healthy foods are out of their reach. The AHA supports policy and regulatory efforts at the federal, state, and local levels to promote greater awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and to provide all Americans with greater access to nutritious foods. Some of these policy recommendations include:

• Work to eliminate food deserts and improve access and affordability of healthy foods.
• Strengthen nutrition standards in schools for meals and competitive foods and in all nutrition assistance or feeding programs.
• Work for strong nutrition programs in agriculture legislation.

Diet can be a powerful weapon in the war against CVD, and even a pattern of small changes can bring big health rewards. Please click the link above and ask your legislators to join you in building a healthier New Mexico free of heart disease and stroke.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes both heart disease and stroke, is our nation’s leading cause of long term disability and death. We need you to educate your legislators on the benefits of CVD prevention efforts.

Click here to educate your legislators on CVD prevention.

Unfortunately, the process related to CVD starts early and can be influenced over time by lifestyle, environment and modifiable risk factors which include smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity among others.

Despite this, we do have some good news to report. In many instances CVD can be prevented if individuals take steps to modify their risk factors. This can be done by eating a heart healthy diet, and making sure you get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.

A great deal of evidence shows that the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and environment are worth the investment. Studies show that reducing hypertension and smoking results in lower incidence of heart attack and stroke. Research also shows that comprehensive coverage of tobacco cessation programs within Medicaid reduce hospitalizations for heart attack and have resulted in return on investment of a little over $3.00 for every one dollar spent on health care.

Additionally, implementation of community based programs designed to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and reduce tobacco use show a return on investment of $5.60 for every dollar spent within 5 years.

We hope that you will continue to keep CVD issues close to your heart by clicking the link above and educating your legislator on the benefits of prevention.

It’s finally summertime!  This is the season for activities in the backyard and cookouts with neighbors. However, would you know what to do if a family member or friend experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)? Eighty percent of SCAs happen outside of the hospital- and unfortunately, the majority of Americans do not know how to help or are uncomfortable doing so. The American Heart Association is trying to change that this summer!

During National CPR Week (June 1^st -7^th) and throughout the entire month of June, we’re shining a spotlight on the importance of learning Hands-Only CPR.  In just two simple steps- calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the victim’s chest- you could help save a life.  Watch our new PSA and don’t forget to share the link with family and friends (www.heart.org/handsonlyCPR).

Additionally, You’re the Cure advocates like you have been working hard in states across the country to advocate for Hands-Only CPR to be taught to all students before they graduate.  In the time it takes to watch a TV sitcom, students can learn the life-saving skill.  10 states now have CPR in Schools laws, adding over 500,000 life-savers to our communities each year.  But we still have 40 states to go!  Pledge your support for teaching all students to be ‘CPR Smart’ at www.BeCPRSmart.org. 

Thanks for your help to make CPR awareness a priority this summer!

PS- Are you trained in CPR?  Post our “CPR Ready” image as your profile pic on Facebook and Twitter this month to let others know you’re ready to save a life.

Throughout the summer months, Members of Congress return to their home states for in-district work periods, or recesses, which present an important opportunity for advocates to talk with their Representative and Senators about pressing heart disease and stroke policy issues.  Here are some tips for getting the most out of the summer recesses…

1)      Make a note of when the recesses are scheduled:

2)      Contact the American Heart Association Advocacy staff in your state to let them know you’re interested in helping during the summer recesses.  They will be able to provide you with information on the hot heart and stroke issues we’re urging Congress to act on and recommend ways to connect with your legislators.      

3)      Visit your legislators’ website to sign-up for their e-newsletter and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.  These are great ways to know about the events your Members of Congress will be attending or hosting during the various recess periods.  From town hall meetings, to summer office hours, to parades they’ll be marching in, there are many opportunities to chat with your lawmakers about their support for key heart and stroke issues. 

Have you visited with your Members of Congress during recess periods in the past?  Tell us about it in the comments below!

Proactive. That's Kinnie Douglas. As the Program Coordinator for Community Health Education at Nacohdoches Memorial Hospital in Texas, she knows the importance of public health and advocacy- and has become a champion for advancing You're the Cure priorities.

In addition to responding to calls to action and serving on the TX State Advocacy Committee, Kinnie always reaches out to her AHA Advocacy staff partner when she is going to be in Austin, the state capital, to ask what she can do to help. In fact, in January, she made the rounds in the state legislature to introduce herself to new state representatives and share important information about AHA's priority legislative issues, including CPR in schools, pulse oximetry screening for newborns, and Smoke-Free Texas. She came prepared with stories and data from her hometown to help make the case.

Thank you, Kinnie, for your commitment to You're the Cure

May is National Stroke Month, a time to raise awareness on stroke and what can be done to prevent it. 

Stroke is our nations number four killer and the leading cause of long term disability.  On average someone in the Unites States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Additionally, certain segments of the population in the U.S. have a disproportionately high risk for stroke, in fact, African Americans and Hispanics have almost twice the risk of experiencing a stroke. 

Despite these sobering statistics, the good news is that stroke can be prevented by creating awareness and reducing some of the known changeable risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and lack of physical activity,

The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association advocates in support of the following policy priorities in order to prevent stroke and improve the quality of care received by those who experience stroke:

• Protect investments in prevention
• Support the development and implementation of stroke systems of care
• Increase the National Institutes of Health investment in stroke research

Please join us this month, and every month, in raising awareness around stroke and how we can work to prevent it. 

It was an exciting legislative session for the American Heart Association and our You’re the Cure Volunteers.  We would like to thank you for all of your support this legislative session!

In the 2013 legislative session, with your help, we held a very successful Go Red for Women Lobby Day at the New Mexico State Capitol.    We also made monumental strides in heart and stroke care with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 198 which allows the Department of Health to publically recognize hospitals that have been designated as STEMI receiving and referring centers. 

 Some of the issues we will continue to work on during the interim include:

Public funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention.  We can save a lot more lives (and money) by preventing heart disease and stroke than by treating it.  That is why we will continue to support programs like tobacco and obesity prevention that will reduce common risk factors for CVD.  

Thank you again for all of your continued support!  Please be sure to visit our action center and thank your legislaotrs for all of their hard work this legislative session as well.

Every day, we take thousands of steps to get where we need to go; now it is time to take steps towards improving heart health.  April 3^rd is National Walking Day, a day to challenge ourselves and our state to get heart healthy and fit! 

These days, adults are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive. Statistics show that 50% of men and 33 % of women are at risk for heart disease, and research shows that poor lifestyle is a major contributor.  In fact, physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease.  

But take heart! This is a problem we can fix, by lacing up our sneakers and walking at least 30 minutes a day.  Walking is the easiest form of physical activity and has the lowest dropout rate.

 A regular walking program can improve your cholesterol profile, lower blood pressure and prevent weight gain

We hope you will join us on April 3^rd, and every day, by lacing up for 30 minutes and taking the steps necessary to build a healthier state.

Click this link for more information on National Waling Day and for some tips on how to make walking and other physical activities more fun!

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/PhysicalActivity/National-Walking-Day-2013_UCM_448665_Article.jsp.

The State of New Mexico is gearing up for the 2013 legislative session. With just three months from the start of session, I wanted to introduce myself.  My name is Erin O’Reilly and I am the new Director of Advocacy for Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. 

With just one month under my belt I am looking forward to working with all of you at the Roundhouse on issues that will improve heart disease and stroke in New Mexico.  Some of those issues include the following: 

• Creating statewide STEMI (the technical term for a type of major heart attack) and stroke registries.  The data collected by these registries are an invaluable tool to knowing when and where heart attacks and strokes are occurring as well as knowing the type of care individuals are receiving.

• Promoting STEMI receiving centers.  We want to make sure hospitals that offer the best care to patients of serious heart attacks are publicly recognized for their efforts.  We will ask New Mexico lawmakers to allow these facilities to be designated as official “STEMI Receiving Centers.”

• Public funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention.  We can save a lot more lives (and money) by preventing heart disease and stroke than by treating it.  That is why we will continue to support programs like tobacco and obesity prevention that will reduce common risk factors for CVD.  

I will be sending out a more detailed email about our statewide agenda for the 2013 legislative session.  Can you do the new girl a favor and visit the new You’re the Cure community site at www.yourethecure.org. After you register please click on “The Pulse” link and tell us what you think.  The Pulse will act as our state blog so you can keep up with the latest and greatest from the American Heart Association in New Mexico.

If you have any questions around these issues or your involvement please feel free to contact me at erin.oreilly@heart.org.  I look forward to working in New Mexico to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Sincerely,

Erin O’Reilly

Director of Advocacy