Join us for a special You're the Cure at the Capitol: Pulse Oximetry Advocacy Day on November 13, 2012.

Make plans to join us at the Statehouse in Columbus on November 13th to meet with your legislators to urge their support of pulse oximetry screenings for all Ohio newborns!

We can all do our part to protect future advocates - Register Now!

Pulse oximetry testing will ensure that every newborn baby in Ohio receives a simple, non-invasive blood oxygen test that help to determine if the child has an undiagnosed Critical Congenital Heart Defect (CCHD). Congenital heart defects are a leading birth defect in the United States and the No. 1 killer of infants with birth defects.

Register NOW and let your voice be heard on this important issue.

Ohio's kids can learn a lot at school. History. Math. Smoking?

It's hard to believe, but our kids may be learning about tobacco use where you'd least expect it--on school grounds. While school buildings must be smoke-free inside, surprisingly, tobacco products can still be used on school property in Ohio. We must set a better example for our kids!

Last year, with your encouragement, the Ohio Board of Education passed a resolution for 100% tobacco-free schools. They recognized the importance of preventing tobacco use at an early age. While some schools already had a 100% tobacco free policy and others have since passed (or are considering) a 100% tobacco free policy, Ohio can still do better.

Let's ensure that all Ohio students have the benefit of 100% tobacco free schools! Send your message now in support!

We owe it to our kids to model healthy behaviors where they do most of their learning - at school!

Celebrate by walking and bicycling to school!

Every person in the US can be an important part of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month by taking small steps (think walking and bicycling to school!) that add up to a big difference: eating more balanced meals and snacks, engaging in physical activity more regularly and sharing your personal plan and commitment with family and friends of all ages. We encourage you to use Childhood Obesity Month to get ready for Walk and Bike to School Day  (October 3) and Month (the whole month of October).  Read More.

• About 67 million adults have high blood pressure.

• More than half (36 million) have uncontrolled high blood pressure.

• Nearly 22 million know they have high blood pressure, but still don’t have it under control.

• 16 million take medicines, but still don’t have their high blood pressure under control.

• High blood pressure is a major risk factor of heart disease and stroke, two of the nation’s leading causes of death.

Eating healthy on a budget can seem difficult; but it can be done! Being creative can help you stick to your budget and incorporate nutritious foods into your diet. Try to incorporate some of these healthy foods under $1 into your weekly menu planning.

Apples (raw with skin)
Great for: Snacks, green salads, main dish salads and fruit salads
What's a serving? 1 large apple
Nutrition Info per serving: About 116 calories, 5.4g fiber, 17% Daily Value for vitamin C, 7% Daily Value for potassium

Baby Carrots (raw)
Great for: Snacks, casseroles, stews, veggie platters and side dishes
What's a serving? 8-10 baby carrots (3 oz)
Nutrition Info per serving: About 30 calories, 2.5g fiber, 234% Daily Value for vitamin A

Oranges (fruit 2-7/8” diameter)
Great for: Snacks, green salads and fruit salads
What's a serving? 1 large or extra large orange
Nutrition Info per serving: About 70 calories, 3g fiber, 138% Daily Value for vitamin C, 7% Daily Value for potassium

Pears (raw)
Great for: Snacks, as an appetizer with cheese, green salads and fruit salads
What's a serving? 1 large pear
Nutrition Info per serving: About 133 calories, 7g fiber, 16% Daily Value for vitamin C, 8% Daily Value for potassium

Yogurt (plain, low fat or fat-free)
Great for: Smoothies, yogurt parfait, dips and dressings
What's a serving? A 6-ounce container is usually a serving.
Nutrition Info per serving: (for 6 ounces of fat-free plain yogurt): 95 calories, 10g protein, 34% Daily
Value for calcium, 12% Daily Value for potassium

Broccoli
Great for: steamed as a side dish, tossed in salads, mixed in brown rice or whole wheat pasta dishes
What’s a serving? 1 cup raw, ½ cup cooked
Nutrition Info per serving (1 cup chopped raw broccoli): 31 calories, 0g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 11% Daily Value for vitamin A, 135% Daily Value for vitamin C

It’s back to school time and that means…Pop Quiz!

True or False: Sudden cardiac arrest usually occurs in a hospital setting.

Answer: False. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death and, unfortunately, about 88% of sudden cardiac arrests occur at home. This makes it likely that a loved one who has been trained in CPR will mean the difference between life and death.

Question: For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, chances of survival decrease by ____ percent.

Answer: Chances of survival decrease by 7-10%. That's why it's important that we all learn how easy---and critical---it is to take action.

As our kids settle into the new school year, let's ensure they also learn the skills necessary to become the next generation of life savers--in just one class period!


Your homework assignment?  Take a moment now to let our decision makers know you support CPR training for Delaware's students!

Labor Day usually signifies the end of summer so let's make the most of the long weekend!  Keep it healthy at your picnics and parties.  Grilling is a great option.  There are plenty of fruits and vegetables still available - corn, squash, peaches, and melon. 

And, don't forget to stay physically active!  By exercising as little as 30 minutes a day you can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Have a Happy and Healthy Labor Day!

What's for dinner tonight?  Are you cooking at home?  Be sure to use nutritious ingredients.  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. We can reduce heart disease by promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle.

For suggestions and ideas to plan your weekly meals, check out our 150 new heart-healthy recipes at www.heart.org/healthyrecipes!

Whether you live in a city where smog forecasts are routine or in a less populated place, tiny pollution particles in the air can lead to big problems for your heart.
Pollution can come from traffic, factories, power generation, wildfires or even cooking with a wood stove. One of the most common indoor sources is smoking — a danger to the person lighting up and to those nearby.   LEARN MORE about the effects, risks, and precautions that can help heart patients and others.

Please welcome the newest member of our Facebook community, The American Stroke Association! Like their page and give a shout out to a stroke survivor!

The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association dedicated to prevention, diagnosis and treatment to save lives from stroke — America’s No. 4 killer and a leading cause of serious disability.

Let's work together to end stroke!

Six in 10 adults now get physically active by walking

Sixty-two percent of adults say they walked for at least once for 10 minutes or more in 2010, compared to 56 percent in 2005, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, less than half (48 percent) of all adults get enough physical activity to improve their health, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey. The Vital Signs report notes that increases in walking were seen in nearly all groups surveyed. Walkers were defined as those who walked for at least one session of 10 minutes or more for transportation, fun or exercise. In the West, roughly 68 percent of people walk, more than any other region in the country. People living in the South had the largest increase in the percentage of people who walk, up by nearly eight percentage points from about 49 percent in 2005 to 57 percent in 2010.  READ MORE