association volunteer shares ‘heart’ to make a difference ...note: we urge you to consult with a...

causes on Capitol Hill and during legislative sessions in West Virginia. Bud and Xylphia walk every day, make sound nutrition choices, take their medicine and see their doctors regularly. They also model their lives after their favorite Bible parable. “The parable is about vineyard workers and how the man that came in first and the one that came in last received the same compensation,” Bud says. “The parable teaches that it’s not the amount that is most important, but

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❑ YES! I would like to receive a free Will/Estate Planning Kit. (XCA)

❑ Please put me in touch with an American Heart Association representative. (XCD)

❑ I am considering a gift to the American Heart Association through my estate plan. (XCC)

❑ I have included the American Heart Association in my estate plan. (XCB)

Name ❑ Mr. ❑ Mrs. ❑ Ms. _____________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________ State ____________________ ZIP ________________

Daytime Telephone ( ) ____________________________________ Date of Birth___________________________

E-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: We urge you to consult with a qualified advisor before making a final decision regarding any planned gift to the American Heart Association.

Association Volunteer Shares ‘Heart’ To Make A Difference

Clinton “Bud” Beaver has a powerful, personal

reason for giving from the heart in Hurricane, W.V. Twenty years ago, at age 49, he was playing basketball with a friend after work. When the game was over, he felt a pain in his arm. After it spread to his shoulders, he went to the emergency room — and that’s where Bud learned he had heart disease. Since then he has had open-heart surgery and several stent procedures. Today, Bud is quick to tell you that he has been blessed, and he’s grateful to the American Heart Association for contributing to lifesaving research and education. Bud, a teacher and principal for 18 years, and Xylphia, his wife of 48 years, enjoy being involved with important causes. They express their gratitude by volunteering for the American Heart Association and giving back through a special trust established with the Planned Giving division. Bud also lobbies for American Heart Association

by giving what you can, everyone wins.” Bud is the youngest of seven children, and two of his brothers died of cardiovascular disease. His mother developed heart disease in her early 50s but lived to be 80 — because of advances in medical research, Bud says. Now 69, Bud says he is fortunate that cardiovascular research is offering new solutions. “That is why I give back,” he says. The American Heart Association’s newest brochure

— Matters of Heart, A Will and Estate Planning Kit — explains how you can pass your ideals to loved ones to make a difference for others. To receive this free brochure or for more information on how to prepare a will that shares your values, please return the attached form to the American Heart Association or call your planned giving representative listed on the back page of the newsletter. You can also visit us at www.americanheart.org/plannedgiving or e-mail us at [email protected].

Please send to: American Heart Association, Planned Giving Department, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75231-4596

Xylphia and Clinton “Bud” Beaver

L E A r N A N D L I V E T H r o u G H r E S E A r C H , E D u C AT I o N , AWA r E N E S S A N D C o M M u N I T Y o u T r E A C H VoLuME 26 FALL 2008

heartstyle

Inside heartstyle

High blood pressure patients advised to use home monitors

• Go Red For Women: Survey reveals most, least heart-friendly cities for women

• New AHA Web initiatives help consumers manage their health

• National, local leaders honored for increasing stroke awareness among African Americans

• Survey: Americans aren’t confident in using lifesaving skills for cardiac emergencies

• Better Fats Sisters... Encourage Americans to eat heart healthy

• Association Volunteer Shares ‘Heart’ To Make A Difference

• Good dental hygiene may help prevent heart infection

I f you have hypertension, you should routinely monitor

your blood pressure at home to help manage the

disease, according to a new joint scientific statement from

the American Heart Association, the American Society

of Hypertension and the

Preventive Cardiovascular

Nurses’ Association.

“Blood pressure

measurement and tracking

could be improved with

home monitoring by the

patients themselves, in much

the way people with diabetes

monitor their blood sugar

levels with home glucose

monitors,” said Thomas G.

Pickering, M.D., D.Phil.,

chair of the statement

writing group.

research shows that the

traditional way of measuring

blood pressure in adults

can be misleading. Studies

indicate that between 10

percent and 20 percent of

people diagnosed with high blood pressure in the doctor’s

office have the “white coat effect.” This means their

pressures are normal under other conditions, but rise in the

medical setting.

Because blood pressure is

highly variable during the day,

taking one reading at a doctor’s

office every few months doesn’t

give a complete picture of a

person’s condition. Home

monitors can take multiple

measurements during each

session and can be used at

different times of day.

Many monitors also store

and average blood pressure

readings over time. This

provides crucial data for

patients to take to their

physicians so they can work

as a team to diagnose and

treat the condition.

For more information, visit

www.americanheart.org/

bptools.

National Center7272 Greenville Ave.

Dallas, TX 75231-4596

americanheart.org 1-800-AHA-USA155-1052 9/08

Good dental hygiene and health may be

crucial in preventing infective endocarditis (IE) — a rare but life-threatening infection of the heart’s lining or a heart valve that can occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream— according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

In a study of dental patients, researchers looked at bacteria released into the bloodstream during three different dental activities: tooth brushing, a single tooth extraction with a preventive antibiotic and a single tooth extraction with a placebo. The researchers sought to determine if daily dental activities posed as much risk for IE as major dental procedures for which preventive antibiotics might be prescribed.

The American Heart Association’s 2007 revised guidelines recommend preventive antibiotics before dental procedures only for patients who are at the highest risk.

researchers found bacteria in the blood more often with the two extraction groups than with the brushing group. However, the incidence of bacteremia from brushing was closer to that in an extraction than expected.

“This suggests that bacteria get into the bloodstream hundreds of times a year, not only from tooth brushing, but also from other routine daily activities like chewing food,” said Peter Lockhart, D.D.S.,

lead author of the study. “But if you stop oral hygiene measures, the amount of disease in your mouth goes up considerably and progressively and you’ll have far worse oral disease. For people who are not at risk for infections such as IE, the short-term bacteremia is nothing to worry about.”

For more information, visit www.americanheart.org.

Good dental hygiene may help prevent heart infection

Name ❑ Mr. ❑ Mrs. ❑ Ms. _____________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________ State ____________________ ZIP ________________

E-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

heartstyle

Inside heartstyle

“Blood pressure

writing group.

medical setting.

bptools.

Dallas, TX 75231-4596

Influential leaders from across the country gathered for the na-tional Power Awards weekend May 2–4 in Georgia to celebrate

Power To End Stroke, the American Stroke Association’s cause campaign to unite African Americans to help make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within their community.

The weekend started with a black-tie, red carpet awards gala at the ritz Carlton in Buckhead, near Atlanta. The American Stroke Association honored Power To End Stroke Ambassadors from across the country for educating African Americans about stroke.Among the national awardees were:

The ceremony was aired internationally on the Word Network and featured performances by gospel greats BeBe Winans, Ernest Pugh, Marcus Cole, Kim Burrell and the Nevels Sisters.

The weekend also included an inspirational luncheon and a benefit concert hosted by American Legacy Magazine that featured singers Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore.

The weekend ended with a Power Sunday service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Bernice King delivered powerful mes-sages encouraging people to commit to reducing their stroke risks. King is the sister of Yolanda King, the first national Ambassador of Power To End Stroke. Their mother, Coretta Scott King, suffered a stroke before her death from cancer.

Power To End Stroke is nationally sponsored by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

Learn more at www.strokeassociation.org/power or call 1-888-4STROKE.

Better Fats Sisters... Encourage Americans to eat heart healthy

National, local leaders honored for increasing stroke awareness among African Americans

• Az Yet, platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated R & B singing group

• Constance “Connie” Johnson, Oklahoma state senator

• Dr. Emil Matarese, neurologist and American Stroke Association volunteer

• Lewis Gibbs, president, The Word Network

• Lyle and Deborah Duke, senior pastor and co-pastor of Harvest Life Changers Church, International in Virginia

• Marvin L. Winans, pastor of Perfecting Church in Detroit, Mich.

• Tina Lester, R.N., M.S.N., editor-in-chief of Healthy Horizons

• Tom Joyner, radio personality and host of the Tom Joyner Morning Show

• Tommy Dortch, 2008 Power Awards chairman and chairman emeritus, 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

Most Americans aren’t confident they can perform lifesaving skills like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPr)

or use an automated external defibrillator (AED), according to a recent American Heart Association survey.

In a poll of more than 1,100 people on their awareness and perceptions of CPr and AEDs, the association found that:

• 89 percent of respondents were willing and able to do something to help if they witnessed a medical emergency.

• Just 21 percent were confident they could perform CPR, and only 15 percent believed they could use an AED in an emergency.

• More than half of those surveyed didn’t recognize an AED in a typical setting.

Survey: Americans aren’t confident in using lifesaving skills for cardiac emergencies

Survey respondents cited lack of confidence, concern about legal consequences and fear of hurting a victim as reasons they would not take action in a cardiac emergency.

“There’s no reason for people to be afraid to act,” said Lance Becker, M.D., national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and professor of emergency medicine at the university of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “We want people to feel confident that any action they take is better than doing nothing at all. Choosing to perform CPr or use an AED could be a lifesaving decision.”

For more information on CPr and AED training, go to www.americanheart.org/cpr.

T he American Heart Association has expanded its Face The Fats Program by introducing two new animated characters Mon and Poly, short for monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat.

As part of the online education program about fats, Mon and Poly debuted in May on several local TV stations, explaining the important role polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat can play in a heart-healthy diet.

Mon and Poly are the good sisters of their Bad Fats Brothers, Sat and Trans, who were introduced at the start of the program in 2007. Sat and Trans represent saturated fat and trans fat, both of which can raise bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your blood.

“unlike Sat and Trans, Mon and Poly are heart helpers because they can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and your risk of heart disease,” said robert H. Eckel, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association, chair of the trans fat task force and professor of medicine at Anschutz Medical Campus at the university of Colorado Denver. “Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that all fats have the same nine calories per gram. That means that even the ‘better fats’ are good only in moderation.”

Monounsaturated fats can be found in vegetable oils, such as olive and canola oil, nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts and sesame seeds. Peanut butter and avocados are also good sources of monounsaturated fats.

Polyunsaturated fats can be found in soybean, corn and other oils, and in many nuts and seeds such as walnuts and sunflower seeds. Fatty fish such as salmon and trout are also good sources of polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6, which are essential fats that your body needs and can’t produce.

For more information on the Fats Family and the Face The Fats program, visit www.americanheart.org/facethefats.

Go red For Women: Survey reveals most, least heart-friendly cities for women

Minneapolis was ranked the most and Nashville was ranked the least heart-healthy cities in America for women, ac-

cording to a recent survey.

BestPlaces was commissioned by the American Heart Association in May to survey the 200 largest metro areas in the United States and determine the nation’s 10 most and least heart-friendly cities for women. The Portland-based organiza-tion ranked cities according to the heart-friendly benefits they offer to residents, residents’ lifestyle choices and heart disease statistics for the area. BestPlaces analyzed 22 factors for each location, including smoking, obesity, cardiac mortality rate and regular exercise among women.

“The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women cam-paign engaged this study to help women better understand how personal health and environmental risk factors influence heart disease,” said Mary Ann Bauman, M.D., an American Heart Association national spokesperson. “Our goal is that individual residents, communities at large and government officials can use this information to help create socio-political change at the

grassroots level as well as educate women on their personal risk for heart disease.”

The study has garnered major media coverage by WebMD.com, FOXnews.com, iVillage.com, CNN Radio Network and Wall Street Journal Radio, among others.

The study spurred action in some low-ranked cities.

After hearing that his city was the fifth least heart-friendly city, Toledo, Ohio, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, a heart disease survivor, issued a call to action, challenging healthcare providers to promote healthier lifestyles for Toledoans.

To learn simple ways you can be heart healthy, visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.

The American Heart Association is helping patients, their families and caregivers manage their health through two

new Web initiatives.

A new patient Web site — www.HeartHub.org — provides tools, resources and information on an array of heart conditions in a simple, interactive format.

Heart Hub includes an easy-to-navigate menu with information on topics from cardiac arrhythmia to peripheral artery disease. With one mouse click, patients can navigate deeper into the content to find information.

The helpful tools section has easy-to-identify icons and gives users quick access to risk assessments, health trackers, treatment options, animations and illustrations.

“With Heart Hub, doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers can quickly and easily lead patients to a credible, abundant source of heart and stroke information,” said Daniel Jones, M.D., immediate past president of the American

Heart Association and dean of the School of Medicine at the university of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

The second Web-related initiative is the American Heart Association’s heart attack risk assessment tool, which is now available on Google Health. To access the tool, go to www.americanheart.org/riskassessment or www.google.com/health. You can manually enter blood pressure and cholesterol levels, weight, age and other risk factors, then export the data to a personal health record on Google Health.

Those who already have a personal health record on Google can import their data directly into the risk assessment tool and evaluate their risk without re-entering the data.

Personal health information entered into the American Heart Association’s Heart Attack risk Assessment tool is collected,

maintained and disclosed in accordance with the American Heart Association Privacy Policy, which is available at www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11404.

New Web initiatives help consumers manage their health

Left to Right: Lewis Gibbs, president, The Word Network, M. Cass Wheeler, CEO, American Heart Association, Myra J, personality, Tom Joyner Morning Show, Bernice King, elder at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

Name ❑ Mr. ❑ Mrs. ❑ Ms. _____________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________ State ____________________ ZIP ________________

E-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

heartstyle

Inside heartstyle

“Blood pressure

writing group.

medical setting.

bptools.

Dallas, TX 75231-4596

association volunteer shares ‘heart’ to make a difference ...note: we urge you to consult with a...

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