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| Voices for Healthy Kids progress report underscores year of relentless commitment |
294 policy wins. 79,148 advocates. 273 million people impacted. These are just a few of the milestones outlined in the Voices for Healthy Kids 2020-21 Progress Report, an insider’s view of how state, local and tribal policy campaigns are improving the health of U.S. children and families. Since its founding by the American Heart Association in 2013, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Voices for Healthy Kids has been championing children in communities most impacted by historical disinvestment and structural racism.
While equity has always been a priority, the past 12 months have inspired a reimagining of purpose, driving the Voices team to dig deeper for better ways to help children thrive amid inequities heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This purpose powers every dollar granted, every technical assistance request fulfilled and every policy passed. I so admire our staff and volunteer advocates for speaking with a trustworthy voice and making an extraordinary impact. Explore the interactive report.
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| San Jose eliminates the sale of most flavored tobacco products |
After a multi-year advocacy effort by the American Heart Association and the San Jose Fights Flavors Coalition, the San Jose City Council unanimously voted to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, flavored electronic cigarettes and most other flavored tobacco products. Flavored hookah, pipe tobacco and premium cigars are exempt.
With a final confirming vote in October, San Jose will be the largest U.S. city to remove menthol cigarettes from the market. The ordinance also prevents smoke shops from opening within 1,000 feet of schools, community centers, parks or libraries.
As the tobacco industry gears up to spend tens of millions of dollars to overturn California’s bipartisan flavored tobacco law (SB 793), San Jose demonstrates the depth of public support for these protections.
I salute the AHA advocates who powered progress in San Jose, including Bay Area board president, Dr. Kenneth Mahaffey, board member and advocacy committee chair, Dr. John Maa, and staff members Blythe Young, Lizzie Velten, Alexa Wohrman, Donna Kato, Andrea Barish, Josh Brown, Eric Batch, Betsy Vetter and Patty Riddle.
With new data showing the ongoing threat of flavored e-cigarettes, the AHA urges the San Jose City Council to quickly enact a comprehensive policy that ends the sale of all flavored tobacco products and stops Big Tobacco from addicting the next generation. Read more
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| Metro Chicago strides past goal at first post-pandemic Heart Walk |
Approximately 8,581 American Heart Association supporters celebrated the return of the Metro Chicago Heart Walk September 24-26, raising $3,501,973 for cardiovascular research during live and digital events. Against a backdrop of crystal-blue skies, nearly 5,000 registrants participated in person at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago and DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton — swapping survivor stories, honoring loved ones and soaking in the first live experience since pandemic lockdown.
It was a record weekend with Walgreens raising $1.3 million, the most of any Heart Walk company in Chicago and the Midwest, and six other companies raising six figures. Loyola Medicine, where event Chair Peggy Norton Rosko is regional chief nursing officer, logged its best fundraising year yet. Meanwhile, Rush University Medical Center grew nearly $100,000 year-over-year in fundraising.
The path to these successes was paved by AHA Chicago’s incredible team, including Kat Birkenbeuel, Lauren Crowley, Jasmine Lewis Richardson, Eric Roach, Candice Schaefer and Julie Troyer. They hurdled every obstacle by rallying company leaders to promote the event as a platform for team building and supporting workplace health and well-being. With an expanded focus on Executives with Heart, they engaged more businesses by implementing vendor campaigns and inviting participation in Life Is Why We Give.
Congratulations, AHA Chicago, for inspiring passionate commitment.
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Left to right: Tanyaporn Pattarabanjird, Dr. Mabruka Alfaidi, Dr. Tessa J. Barrett and Dr. Bhama Ramkhelawon.
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| Women researchers win big at Vascular Discovery 2021
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From characterizing genomes across multiethnic groups to the single-cell level of specific tissues, the evolution of vascular science was on full display at Vascular Discovery 2021, with women claiming top prizes for their novel research.
Meet the winners and read their abstracts.
Emerging Scientist Award for Women
Tanyaporn Pattarabanjird
University of Virginia
Read the abstract.
ATVB Investigator in Training Award
Mabruka Alfaidi, Ph.D.
Louisiana State University
Health Sciences Center
Read the abstract.
Kenneth M. Brinkhous Young Investigator Prize in Thrombosis
Tessa J. Barrett, Ph.D.
New York University School of Medicine
Read the abstract.
Irvine H. Page Junior Faculty
Research Award
Bhama Ramkhelawon, Ph.D.
New York University Medical Center
Read the abstract.
Other research included studies of individual genes that raise the risk for lipids to mechanical forces in the vessel wall to how platelets and immune cells interact to cause thrombosis. Learn more in this video recap with event Chair Lars Maegdefessel, M.D., Ph.D., and Vice Chair Katey Rayner, Ph.D.
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| Yes, you can be vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 in the same visit |
With more people gathering this fall and reports of overburdened hospitals from COVID-19’s delta variant, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association are urging individuals over six months old to get their annual flu shot and for anyone who is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both vaccines can be given in the same visit.
“We know these vaccines work. We know these vaccines are safe. And we know you’re much more likely to regret it if you don’t get them than if you do,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention.
COVID-19 precautions kept the last flu season mild, but health experts warn that the 2021-22 flu season may begin early and could be severe. People with chronic lung disease, cancer, heart disease and diabetes are at a higher risk for complications.
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| There’s no place like home … to track blood pressure |
In preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2021 this week, adults who needed to track their blood pressure regularly to confirm or refute a hypertension diagnosis preferred monitoring their blood pressure at home versus at a clinic, kiosk or with a 24-hour wearable device.
Lead study author, Dr. Beverly Green, and colleagues evaluated adherence to different blood pressure measuring methods among 510 adults in the Blood Pressure Checks for Diagnosing Hypertension (BP-CHECK) trial. The participants had elevated blood pressure but had not been diagnosed with hypertension.
“Home blood pressure monitoring was the most preferred option because it was convenient, easy to do, did not disturb their daily personal or work routine as much, and was perceived as accurate,” said Green, senior investigator and family physician at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and Kaiser Permanente Washington in Seattle.
Green suggests that health care professionals provide home blood pressure monitors and training to their patients. Read the abstract in the AHA journal, Hypertension.
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Trending now: American Heart Association named
a Leading Disability Employer
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| Milestone anniversaries |
Rick McHugh, 40 years
Regional Manager, Technology Services, Central
National Center (Iowa)
Bruce Inverso, 35 years
Senior Vice President, Health Strategies
Southeast (Florida)
Pamela Johnson, 25 years
Vice President, Health Equity & National Partnerships
National Center (Illinois)
Jenni Taitt, 25 years
Digital Content Publisher
National Center (Florida)
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