Oregon

Stroke is a medical emergency and time lost is brain lost.  Yet, a recent study published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation, showed less than one-third of stroke patients arrive at the hospital via ambulance. This can mean delayed treatment and a more difficult recovery.

When you recognize the symptoms of a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. When stroke patients are transported to the hospital via ambulance, emergency responders can call ahead to ensure the hospital is prepared to receive and quickly treat the patient. Prompt treatment is critical to ensuring positive patient outcomes.

Remember the acronym F.A.S.T. to help you recognize symptoms and what to do:

                F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

                A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb?

                S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand?

                T - Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Do you have a story of stroke survival? Did you recognize the symptoms? Share your stroke story here.

Learn more about the American Heart Association’s advocacy efforts to improve stroke care in every state.

Guest Blogger: Christine Wooley, AHA Advocate Leader

Early April this year provided an especially meaningful experience for me. As a longtime AHA volunteer, I had the pleasure of joining over three hundred fellow volunteers from all over the United States to lobby in Washington, D.C. It was a true honor and one of the greatest experiences of my life.

We stayed at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in the Woodley Park district. The Shoreham is a spectacular hotel that has hosted inaugural balls for every president from FDR to Bill Clinton.

At our advocacy meetings we learned the importance of Advocacy and how it helps the American Heart Association achieve their mission, as well as the important role volunteers play in the advocacy efforts. We also discussed our talking points for Lobby Day, NIH funding and Million Hearts Initiative.

Another highlight was participation in the Rally for Medical Research. At the rally, AHA and many other organizations rallied together in a demonstration near Union Station to show the value of medical research. We heard harrowing stories from survivors of heart attack, cancer, HIV, stroke, and how their lives would have been affected without the support of medical research. 

Meeting fellow volunteers and AHA staff from all over the United States was one of the most memorable parts to this journey. Learning about why each one of us has personal connections to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association was extremely moving and life changing.

On Lobby Day we got to share with Representatives and Senators our personal stories of why we volunteer for the American Heart Association, and the importance of NIH funding and the Million Hearts Initiative. As an Oregonian, seeing my local politicians outside their turf and in Washington, D.C. was very exciting.  

The Cherry Blossom Festival was in full swing while we were there and the Tidal Basin was full of beautiful shades of pink from the trees. After lobbying we walked along the Basin to take in the beauty. We then joined our group of AHA volunteers and staff at the Capitol for a photo shoot. It was a perfect end to an incredible American Heart Association Lobby on the Hill.❤

The sequester has taken effect and the battle over the budget continues in Congress. Yet You’re the Cure advocates are preparing to go to Washington, DC to fight for critical heart and stroke funding. Our Western States Affiliate delegation, made up of survivors, caregivers, researchers, and physicians, represents seven of our ten states.

This tremendous group will urge legislators to restore funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that was recently cut by the sequester. While a 5% cut may not sound like a lot, the impact on the NIH was in fact truly significant: a 5% cut to the NIH budget equates to $1.6 billion. This cut reduced the number of grants given, cut more than 20,000 jobs nationwide and reduced economic activity by $3 billion. To repair this economic damage and to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in medical research, advocates will urge Congress to fund the NIH at $32 billion for 2014. Research remains our best hope to find more effective ways to prevent, treat and cure heart disease and stroke.

Advocates will also encourage Congress to allocate $35 million of prevention fund dollars to the Million Hearts Initiative. This will create a nationwide high blood pressure educational campaign. One in three Americans have high blood pressure but many either don’t know it or don’t have it under control. Someone with high blood pressure is four times more likely to die of a stroke and three times more likely to die of heart disease. The Million Hearts Initiative will helps Americans get this dangerous risk factor under control.

You can be a part of this important advocacy event. Send your “heart” to Washington and urge legislators to fund these lifesaving heart and stroke programs. 

Guest Blogger: Christine Wooley

After decades of deceiving the public about the dangers of tobacco use, the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (TMSA) was signed in 1998. This landmark legislation required tobacco companies to pay states millions of dollars to compensate states for tobacco-related healthcare costs and to advance the public health; Oregon alone received $120 million. However these funds have never been used for public health purposes, instead directed to fill budget gaps year after year.

This year we have a tremendous opportunity to redirect a portion of the TMSA funds ($120 million for the 2013-2015 biennium) to their original purpose. The American Heart Association and other healthcare advocacy organizations have proposed allocating these funds to community care organizations at the heart of Oregon’s healthcare transformation, children’s health and wellness programs and Oregon’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program which helps smokers quit and keeps youth from starting.

As an Oregonian and a granddaughter that lost her grandmother to a smoking related death, as a friend that recently lost a dear friend to lung cancer, and a woman that tried smoking and fortunately stopped, I know that with tobacco prevention programs we can save lives. I feel that we must capitalize on this opportunity to direct these funds to their original purpose. We must help all Oregonians live a healthy life, especially our kids.

CONTACTS:
Stephanie Tama-Sweet, 503-828-8448, Stephanie.TamaSweet@heart.org
Christel Allen, 503-851-7473, christel@nwpublicaffairs.com

Co-Chairs acknowledge TMSA Coalition health priorities

In releasing their “Turning Point" budget yesterday, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways & Means Committee acknowledged the importance of the tobacco prevention program and children’s physical education by including both on their "priority add-back" list.  It is now up to the Co-Chairs and members of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services to make these investments a reality for Oregon children and families.
 
We recognize the extraordinarily difficult job the co-chairs had in prioritizing funding and preserving services for children and vulnerable Oregonians.  We commend Co-Chair Devlin and Co-Chair Buckley for their commitment to services for children, particularly investment in K-12 Education, early childhood services and health care for Oregon’s children. 
 
What remains unclear, however, is the Legislative Assembly's commitment to following through on a promise made over 15 years ago.  In 1998, under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, Oregon and 45 other states negotiated with major tobacco companies to recover states' tobacco-related health care costs incurred for decades. Since then Oregon has received more than $1 billion in Tobacco MSA payments and has spent the bulk of that revenue on retiring debt or on non-tobacco-related services.  With the debt retirement now having occurred, Oregon has the opportunity to align public policy with Tobacco MSA goals to prevent and reduce tobacco use, especially among children, and lessen the financial toll of tobacco on our state.
 
We, members of the TMSA Campaign, urge lawmakers to use the $120 million newly available Tobacco MSA funds to lead the way to a healthier Oregon with three investments: dedicate an additional $12 million to the state's tobacco prevention and education efforts; invest $35 million in child health and obesity prevention through increased access to physical education and the expansion of school-based health centers; and, build on Oregon's unique role as a leader in health reform, by investing in proven prevention strategies within coordinated care organizations and local community health initiatives. Specifics on the Tobacco MSA Campaign proposal are attached for your review.
 
TMSA Campaign Members
American Cancer Society Cancer
Action Network
American Heart Association &
American Stroke Association
American Lung Association in Oregon
Campaign for Tobacco--‐Free Kids
Coalition of Local Health Officials
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Northwest Health Foundation
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Nurses Association
Oregon Primary Care Association
Oregon Public Health Association
Oregon Public Health Institute
Oregon School Based Health Care Network
Physical Education for All Kids (PEAK)
Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon, Inc.
(TOFCO, Inc.)
Upstream Public Health

About the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement

In 1998, 46 states (including Oregon) and the “Big Four” tobacco companies entered into a legal settlement estimated at $221 billion over the first 25 years, to compensate states for past and future smoking-caused expenditures. The intent was clear: Prevent and reduce tobacco use, especially among children, and lessen the financial toll of tobacco on states. 

# # #

The Master Settlement Agreement. National Association of Attorneys General. 1998.

Guest Blogger: Christine Wooley

As a five year volunteer for the American Heart Association, being an advocate leader is a true honor. Talking with legislators on Lobby day this year about Critical Congenital Heart Defect Screening for Newborns, Tobacco Prevention and Control Funding, Stroke Systems of Care, and CPR in schools, was truly amazing! 

We had a great turnout of volunteers and outstanding speakers for this very special day. Professional baseball umpire James Joyce, shared his emotional journey of how he saved a woman’s life with CPR, while working at a baseball game last summer. I think there was not a dry eye in the room after he finished telling his extremely moving story.

Valley Catholic Middle School students talked to us about how they are saving lives through teaching CPR, and then showed us hands-on CPR. After the instruction, students gave us CPR necklaces and stickers for completing their course.

We even had royalty at Lobby day this year! As Mrs. Oregon International 2013, I got to spend the day with fellow title holders, Mrs. Oregon Plus-America and Mrs. Oregon America. All three of us are passionate about the American Heart Association and the topics at hand, so it was wonderful to advocate together.

Hearing the remarkable stories of survival and strength on Lobby Day is inspiring. Getting to share causes that are close to our hearts with legislators is life changing. It is experiences like this that confirm the immense importance of advocating for the American Heart Association.

Oregon Lobby Day and the CPR in Schools Hearing will take place this Thursday, February 28.  The American Heart Association is advocating that all Americans should be trained in how to save the life of a loved one or stranger.  Schools are an excellent place to start because they are a gateway to an entire generation that will be able to respond when they witness someone in their community or home experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

A public hearing on SB 275, a bill that will require all high school students be trained in CPR, is scheduled for the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee during the AHA Lobby Day on Thursday, February 28.  Legislators will hear from students trained in CPR, medical professionals, cardiac arrest survivors and others speaking in support of the bill.  Major League Baseball umpire and Beaverton resident, James Joyce, will also share his powerful story of saving the life a woman prior to a game last summer.  Joyce had learned CPR when he was in high school.

“We know that every 25 seconds someone has a heart attack and every 39 seconds someone dies of a heart attack,” said Lanette Day, Executive Director, American Heart Association – Oregon. “Sadly, most people, almost 90 percent, who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location, die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.  But given right away, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance for survival,” said Day.

Volunteers and local leaders will meet with their representatives as part of the AHA’s “You’re the Cure” grassroots network and will share their personal stories to help shape policy that will impact future generations.   Students from Beaverton Valley Catholic School will also be in attendance and will help train attendees in the life-saving skill of CPR.

“Students in Oregon have already been getting trained in CPR and taking their knowledge to their family and friends,” said Stephanie Tama-Sweet, Government Relations Director, American Heart Association – Oregon.  “Teaching students CPR develops real-world skills and responsibility and it takes less than 30 minutes to learn – that’s less time than it takes to watch a TV sitcom – and doing so will bring more than 45,000 trained lifesavers to our community every year.”

Contact your legislators today and urge them to fund tobacco prevention, children's health and wellness initiatives, and health transformation investments to improve Oregon's health.

The monumental Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and the “Big 4” tobacco companies was finalized in 1998. Since then, not one penny of the $1 billion Oregon has received in settlement funds has gone towards tobacco prevention.

For the first time in a decade, we have the opportunity to invest Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement dollars toward the original purpose: compensating Oregon for taxpayer money spent on patients and family members with tobacco-related diseases and reducing tobacco use, with a focus on Oregon’s children.

To fulfill the original intent of the Agreement and create long-term savings in Oregon’s health system, the TMSA Campaign recommends all $120 million settlement funds available in 2013-2015 be allocated to health and wellness efforts.

• $73 million for Oregon’s health transformation: Investing in health transformation and prevention could leverage up to $120 million in matching federal dollars for coordinated care organizations and community partnerships to reduce tobacco use and improve health outcomes. This is a significant investment in improving health, and reducing health care costs, for Oregon.
• $35 million for children’s health and wellness: Focusing efforts on our children’s health and wellness will reduce chronic illness, improve mental and oral health, and integrate healthy behaviors.
• $12 million to reduce smoking in Oregon: According to a recent poll, 85% of Oregon voters favor dedicating at least 10% of Oregon settlement money to tobacco prevention programs. For every $1 spent on tobacco interventions, the State of Oregon realizes a $5 return on investment from reduced tobacco-related costs.

A bipartisan group of women from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate joined the American Heart Association on Valentine’s Day to ‘Go Red’ in support of the 43 million women who are currently living with heart disease.

Women members from the House and Senate gathered for a photo at the U.S. Capitol dressed in red to remind people across the country that heart disease is not just a “man’s disease.”  It is the number one killer of women in the United States and accounts for one out of three female deaths annually. Every minute one woman dies because of heart disease.

February is American Heart Month and it also marks the 10th anniversary of the American Heart Association’s ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign. In the last decade more than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved and awareness that heart disease is women’s number one killer has increased 23 percent.

Oregon Lobby Day is February 28, and it will be here before we know it. It is important that we have a strong turnout of volunteers on that day. Sharing your story of how heart disease and stroke has touched your life will help lawmakers to see firsthand how important it is to support policies like tobacco prevention, heart defect screening, and CPR training.   

Having family connections to heart disease is my reason for advocating for the American Heart Association. It gives me joy to know that I am helping to make a difference through advocating and raising awareness about heart disease and stroke.

As a volunteer advocate leader, one of my jobs is to help recruit friends and family to join me for Oregon Lobby Day. You can help too!

• If you have not signed-up on the “You’re the Cure” network, please do so here. Then can sign up for Lobby Day, read and learn about important topics that will be discussed on Lobby Day; and then share those topics with friends though social media. You can also share your personal story of how heart disease has touched your life and get to know your lawmakers.
• Facebook is an excellent tool for telling people about Lobby Day and introducing friends and family to the “You’re the Cure” network. I recently created an event on FB to tell people about Lobby Day and encourage them to RSVP for Oregon Lobby Day on the “You’re the Cure” site.

Most Americans have been touched in some way by heart disease and stroke. As the number-one and number-four killers, it is important that we work together and advocate for the American Heart Association. Together we will save more lives.

I hope to see you at Oregon Lobby Day on February 28! Please RSVP here.  

- Guest Blogger Christine Wooley