May is National Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 4 cause of death and leading cause of disability in the United States. There are warning signs and actions we can all take to prevent a stroke. J.D. Byrider is proud to support the American Heart Association's National Storke Awareness Month.
Warning Signs of a Stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Think you got the warning signs down? Test yourself with the AHA Stroke Warning Signs Quiz.
American Heart Association's legistlation for students to learn CPR as graduation requirement
Bert suffered cardia arrest. Fortunately, when he collapsed, he was in a small stare in Newburyport where an 18-year-old senior in high school, Derek, happend to be shopping for a tux for the prom. Derek has just completed a CPR course, which is a graduation requirement at Newburyport High School. Within 20 seconds, he was performing CPR on Bert. Derek was able to keep the blood and oxygen moving through Bert's heart until the EMTs arrive to shock his heart back. Without CPR in schools, Bert would never be able to celebrate another birthday, and his family would be without their husband and father.
Read other stories like Bert's and the American Heart Association's legislation that will ensure all students learn CPR before they graduate from high school. Visit BeCPRSmart.com and pledge to support!
UPDATE 5/1/2012: Legislation was singed into law requiring that all Minnesota students learn CPR before graduating from high school. Also, Tennessee strengthened its existing school CPR law to meet AHA recommendation of including hands-on skills training and testing in addition to cognitive training.
April 4 is National Walking Day!
Take a stand against heart disease and walk around your workplace for 30 minutes!
On April 4, 2012, the American Heart Associations encourages you to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of your day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity - while giving your coworkers a friendly push to a healthier life.
The American Heart Association's website StartWalkingNow.org provides information about local walking clubs, nearby walking paths and even a personal walking tracker!
Want to get others involved in the movement? Register a free, downloadable National Walking Day Took Kit. You confirmation e-mail will give you access to posters, flyers, e-mail scripts and more to promote National Walking Day in your workplace.
How National Wear Red Day made an impact in 2012
February 3 is National Wear Red Day
Wear your favorite red ensemble in support of women's heart health.
Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. To spread awareness of this aweful truth and bring about change in women's health, wear your favorite red outfit on February 3 to celebrate National Go Red Day.
Visit GoRedForWomen.org to create a fundraising page, find local resources and donate.
Don't have anything red to wear? ShopHeart.org has t-shirts, ties and other Go Red items to add to your attire.
American Heart Association Launches Walking Paths App
Find, track and share Walking Paths near you!
Now you can create, find and track Walking Paths anytime, anywhere with the American Heart Association Walking Paths App for iPhone and Android users.
With the Walking Paths App, you can find other paths near you or create your own Walking Paths with the GPS on your smart phone and share with friends.
If you're already a member of Start! from the American Heart Association, use your credentials to login to your account from the Walking Paths App. You can easily access all your saved info and favorite paths from your smart phone.
Download the Walking Paths App from the iTunes Store for your iPhone or from the Android Market for your Android.
Seasonal affects on your heart - Join the discussion on Facebook
Ask what you want to learn about heart health in adverse weather on Facebook.
Did you know seasonal changes can affect your hearth health? With each new season, it's important to know how excessive temperatures, as well as other seasonal changes, can affect your heart, especially if you have cardiovascular disease.
American Heart Association volunteer, Tracy L. Stevens, M.D. is a Board Certified Cardiologist with Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants and is on the staff at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. On Jan. 12, Dr. Stevens will discuss just how these seasons can affect your heart and how taking some decongestants if you become sick during can even put you at risk for high blood pressure.
What would you like to learn about your heart health in adverse weather, high blood pressure and other conditions that can affect your heart health? Click here to join the chat Jan. 12 or post questions prior.
My Life Check gives you customized health advice
You may think you're in better health than you really are.
In a recent survey by the American Heart Association, nearly 40% of people thought they were in ideal heart health, when in reality, less than 1% of Americans have an ideal profile.
Find out how health you are with the My Life Check from the American Heart Association. The My Life Check gives you an overall health score and creates an action plan to help move you closer to your individual health goals. No matter what you score, any health change can help you live a longer, better life.
Get checked today at MyLifeCheck.org
10 decongestants that could raise your blood pressureSome decongestants can interfere with your prescribed blood pressure medication.
Many over-the-counter cold and flu prescriptions that contain decongestants can interfere with your blood pressure medications. Below is a list of common OTC prescriptions that contain decongestants:
- Ephedrine
- Levmetamfetamine
- Naphazoline
- Oxymetazoline
- Phenylephrine
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Propylhexedrine
- Pseudoephedrine
- Synephrine
- Tetrahydrozoline
Turn the White House Red!Sign a petition to illuminate the White House in honor of National Wear Red DayŽ and American Heart Month.
If 25,000 signatures are collected by January 4, 2012, the White House will consider lighting the building red to spread awareness of heart disease and honor National Wear Red DayŽ and American Heart Month.
Here is how you can make a difference:
- Visit the American Heart Association's special petition page on WhiteHouse.gov.
- Create an Account (we know what a pain!)
- Sign the petition
- Ask your friends, family and coworkers to sign up!
Major League Baseball takes steps towards banning tobaccoBaseball players limit tobacco use in public view.
The Associated Press released an article stating that a new labor deal will limit the use of smokeless tobacco by baseball players, but not ban it during games.
Players have agreed not to carry tobacco packages and tins in their back pockets when fans are permitted in the ballpark, or use tobacco during pregame or postgame interviews, and at team functions.
"Our members understand that this is a dangerous product, there are serious risks associated with using it," union head Michael Weiner told The Associated Press. "Our players felt strongly that those were appropriate measures to take but that banning its use on the field was not appropriate under the circumstances."
Read more about the MLB’s new tobacco restriction. Need help to quit
smoking? Click here to find information and support so you or a loved one can kick the habit!
(Source: Associated Press)
Holiday Eating Guide to Cutback on CaloriesThe American Heart Association guide to a healthy holiday season.
We've all known Thanksgiving as a time to take a step away from healthy choices, loosen the belt and simply pig-out. The American Heart Association's Holiday Healthy Eating Guide is full of tips to cutback on holiday calories without cutting back on holiday fun!
- Mix up your eggnog: Fill your glass with half to three-quarters parts of low-fat or skim milk, and one part eggnog. You'll still get the flavor without all the calories!
- Layoff the dressing: Dressing is intended to be a complement to your meal, not an entree. To keep the calories and excess fat in check, aim for 1/4 cup (or about half a scoop with a serving spoon).
- Go for lighter turkey: Reach for the lighter pieces of meat; they have fewer calories and less fat than the darker ones. Another way to cut calories is to take off the skin.
For more tips like these, CLICK HERE to view your own American Heart Association's Holiday Healthy Eating Guide to keep off those winter pounds. |