With Halloween around the corner, parents may be wondering how to make Halloween fun while minimizing un-healthy, high-sugar snacks.  Try some of the tips below for a healthier Halloween this year.

• Remember to have a healthy meal BEFORE you go trick-or-treating. This reduces the temptation to “snack” while walking.  
• Make this a fun family physical activity event. Set a goal of how many houses you will walk to and then stick to it!  
• Think about a healthier version of treats to give out at your house: Mini boxes of raisins, 100% juice juice-boxes, snack sized pretzels, pre-packaged trail mixes, pre-packaged dried fruits, crayons, stickers, silly bands, tooth brushes, bubbles, plastic spiders, or coupons to local frozen yogurt stores. Avoid using toys that could be a choking hazard to little ones. 
• Smart safety tips to keep in mind: bring a flash light while walking, only go to houses with the porch light on, inspect candy before allowing children to eat it, and be on your way home before the street lights come on.  
• Remember to stay in groups when trick-or-treating. Don’t allow your child to walk up to a house alone and always keep a watchful eye on where they are headed next. Use sidewalks when available, and use crosswalks when crossing busier streets. 
• Find the right sized collection bag for your child. Steer clear of the pillow case method. 
• Want to avoid candy and masses of kids? Dress your family up in their costumes and go see a movie, go to the toy store and have your child pick out their favorite toy, see if local malls have trick-or-treat within the stores, local police and fire stations may offer this alternative as well.  
• Avoid the urge to buy on-sale candy in the grocery stores after Halloween.

The important work you do for the American Heart Association can now be captured on your LinkedIn profile! The “Volunteer Experience and Causes” section allows you to highlight the time, energy, and passion you contribute as an advocate-volunteer.
Simply login to your account, select Edit Profile, choose Add Sections, scroll to Edit Volunteer Experience and Causes, and add the American Heart Association.

Over the last several months, You’re the Cure advocates have sent nearly 30,000 messages to Congress in support of the Safe Routes to School program, which helps communities build safe, accessible sidewalks and crosswalks that make it possible for more kids to be physically active by walking or biking to school.

Thanks to your show of support, funding for Safe Routes to School was preserved… for now. In September, Congress passed an extension that continues to fund Safe Routes to School and other transportation programs at current funding levels until March 31, 2012.

But our work is far from over. The extension gives Congress six months to keep working on passing a long-term transportation reauthorization bill- and it is clear that walking and biking program funding will continue to be at risk.

 So, stay tuned! We’ll keep you posted as the transportation bill moves and let you know about ways you can help protect Safe Routes to School.

Valued volunteers are made up of several wonderful ingredients–things like a cup of service, a tablespoon of perseverance and a dash of enthusiasm. Yet, an ideal volunteer doesn’t follow just one recipe. Unique abilities, personalities and interests flavor each volunteer’s contribution. Without our valued volunteers we couldn’t meet our mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
As a thank you for all you do, it’s our pleasure to share a delicious resource to enhance your heart healthy lifestyle–the Simple Cooking with Heart website– featuring dietary guidelines, video demonstrations, healthy cooking tips and several heart healthy recipes. Thanks again with all our heart!

Four types of noncommunicable diseases - cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases - make the largest contribution to mortality in the majority of countries.

• These four NCDs are largely preventable by means of interventions that tackle four risk factors for NCDs: tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
• Each year, 9 million people die from NCDs before the age of 60, and 90 percent of those deaths occur in developing countries.
• Premature deaths among women due to NCDs range from as high as 58 percent in low-income countries to as low as 6 percent in high-income countries, leading to growing inequalities between countries and populations.

Read more on the U. N. news site.

PAD is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries, most commonly in the arteries of the pelvis and legs. 

PAD is similar to coronary artery disease (CAD) and carotid artery disease. All three of these conditions are caused by narrowed and blocked arteries in various critical regions of the body. Hardened arteries (or atherosclerosis) in the coronary artery region, restricts the blood supply to the heart muscle. Carotid artery disease refers to atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the brain.

Quick Facts about PAD:
The most common symptoms of PAD are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Typically, this pain goes away with rest and returns when you walk again.

Added Risks for PAD:

If you smoke, you have an especially high risk for PAD.


If you have diabetes, you have an especially high risk for PAD.


People with high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at risk for PAD.


Learn More . . .

Did you know that apples may keep strokes away?   So may pears, bananas and cauliflower – or any fruit or vegetable with “white” flesh.

Simple Science @Heart is science, told simply.  Below are some new ideas that bring knowledge, treatments and cures for heart disease and stroke.  To see more on each topic, visit Simple Science @Heart. 

• An apple a day may keep strokes away
• Just one healthy behavior cuts risk for heart failure, researchers say
• From 'high risk' to high blood pressure - blacks get there faster than whites
• Deep sleep is important for men's heart health
• Light energy a bright new idea that could fuel pacemakers
• Got a couple hours? That’s enough time to save your heart
• Don’t sleep much? You may be at risk for type 2 diabetes
• Shorter pause in CPR could save more lives
• Women may always be young(er) at heart

“Most of the cholesterol-raising saturated fat Americans eat comes from meat and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk cheese,” said Alice Lichtenstein, D.Sc., a professor of nutrition at the USDA Human Nutrition Center at Tufts University in Boston and a member of the American Heart Association’s Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism.

“If you decrease your daily intake of animal fat, you’re going to decrease your intake of saturated fat,” she said.

So what’s for dinner when you take meat off the menu? You have more options than you might think. A burger makeover could feature a grilled portobello mushroom in place of a beef patty. Or fill a pot of chili with white beans and vegetables instead of ground chuck.

Many meatless meals are as simple as moving vegetables and fruits from a side dish to a starring role. You should also seek out high-fiber whole grains, beans and legumes, unsalted nuts and low-fat and fat-free dairy foods. These tend to be high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and other important phytonutrients, said Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., a nutrition professor at the University of Vermont and vice chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee.

An easy way to get started is to eat one meatless meal a week, Johnson said. Sticking with it can quickly make you start feeling lighter and your wallet fatter: People who eat less meat tend to consume fewer calories, and foods such as beans are one of the most cost-effective sources of protein available. Meat typically costs more per pound than other protein sources.

You don’t have to go cold turkey on meat to reap the heart-healthy rewards. Whether you’re a fan of red meat, poultry or fish, choose lean and extra lean cuts and limit portion size to avoid excess saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends the average person eat no more than six ounces of cooked lean meat, skinless chicken and seafood per day, 4-5 servings per week.

International Walk to School Day is taking place on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. This year’s theme is “Hike it, Bike it, I like it!” More than 1,000 schools are currently registered. For more resources, such as promotional tools, event ideas and more, visit www.walktoschool.org.

Can you keep it healthy at the tailgate party or football-watching bash? Yes!

Football season is back! And the return of America’s most popular sport means the return of many beloved traditions – including lots of fried and fatty meats washed down with calorie-laden drinks. But just because it’s football season doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds and put your heart at risk. In fact, you can do a lot to keep your tailgating and other parties heart healthy – without giving up the fun or the flavor.

Check out these helpful tips.

WHAT IS MILLION HEARTS?

Million Hearts is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.

Learn more, get involved, and share your commitment to help prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years.

Team Up During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month To Improve Physical Activity in Schools

Did you know that being physically active is good for students’ health and academic performance? Studies have shown that school-based physical activity can help improve academic performance, such as grades, test scores and better concentration and attention in the classroom.

Youth ages 6 -17 need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Most of the 60 minutes should be moderate or vigorous intensity, such as playing basketball, jumping rope, dancing, playing tag, walking, and running.

Parents, teachers, school principals and other school staff can team up to improve physical activity in schools in a variety of ways:

• Join a school health council, if one exists. If none exist, begin by working with the superintendent or principal to create a health council at the school or district level.
• Assess your school’s physical activity policies and practices through the School Health Index, an assessment and planning tool. Schools also can use this tool to improve physical activity policies and practices.
• Increase the amount of time students spend in physical education or increase the quality of the physical education class. See Strategies to Improve Quality Physical Education.
• Provide recess every day for at least 20 minutes for elementary school students.
• Incorporate physical activity breaks into the classroom.
• Participate in Walk to School Day and support ongoing walk and bike to school programs.
• Include more moderate to vigorous physical activity in afterschool programs.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is excited to announce a new partnership with Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play and The Big Help project.  On Worldwide Day of Play, September 24, Nickelodeon turns off all programming for three hours and encourages kids and their families to turn off their TV, get up and go play.

Throughout the rest of the year, Safe Routes to School will be a featured health and wellness activity of Nickelodeon’s Big Help Project.  Explore all that Nickelodeon offers to encourage kids to make a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Over 295,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year and only 8% of them survive. This remarkable statistic highlights the need for Good Samaritans to respond in an emergency when trained professionals are not immediately available.  What you may not know is that Pennsylvania's bystanders currently are not fully protected under the Good Samaritan Law.

Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, this needed response is stymied because of an outdated Good Samaritan law that fails to protect from personal liability bystanders and off-duty professional first responders. Currently, bystanders - including off-duty first responders - who perform CPR or aid someone in an emergency and businesses who wish to place automatic external defibrillators (AED) on their premises are at risk of being sued.

Pennsylvania citizens, businesses and off-duty first responders shouldn’t have to think twice about personal liability when they are trying to do the right thing in an emergency, especially when a stranger’s hands and the presence of an AED often means the difference between life and death. Help protect our Good Samaritans.

Send your message now in support of Senate Bill 351.

In a new CNN documentary, Sanjay Gupta investigates whether diet and the latest diagnostic tests are enough to prevent every heart attack. In this medical journey of discovery, Dr. Gupta talks to former President Clinton, cutting-edge doctors, AHA CEO Nancy Brown and additional guests. Gupta also puts his own heart under the microscope as he offers practical advice and hard science to show how heart disease and heart attacks could be prevented.  

Watch The Last Heart Attack.

President Obama and Congress proclaimed September 2010 the first-ever Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, calling national attention and action to this epidemic. Ohio Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge co-sponsored the House resolution. Congresswoman Fudge says dedicating at least one month per year to the crisis will help maximize the impact of programs, activities and campaigns -- all aligned with the sole purpose of eradicating childhood obesity.

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. 

This year, advocates have provided a toolkit with information, weblinks and tools to promote and celebrate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to lower it if it is high.  It may surprise you to know that cholesterol itself isn't bad.  In fact, cholesterol is just one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy.  Some of the cholesterol we need is produced naturally (and can be affected by your family health history), while some of it comes from the food we eat.  Please take a moment to check out the following tools and resources such as online tools, downloadable documents, books and DVDs, cholesterol personal stories, low-cholesterol recipes, and educational brochures.
 

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? 

It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth – that heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who eat right?

Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart. Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. But you can boost your heart smarts by separating fact from fiction. Let’s set the record straight on some common myths.

“I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.” High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. The way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems.

“I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.” Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn you risk of heart attack today!

Learn More

Back to School Time is the Perfect Time to Make Healthier Decisions for Our Kids!

It's hard to believe that obesity has become one of the most serious threats to the health of our children. In addition to its health toll, obesity is also now estimated to account for a staggering 12% of our nation's healthcare costs!
 
In addition to poor nutrition choices, this rise in childhood obesity is due, in large part, to significant decreases in physical activity. For various reasons, many children don't have the opportunity to be active outside of school and, unfortunately, a national study shows that 92% of elementary schools no longer offer daily PE classes throughout the year.

The good news? We know the health benefits of physical activity and good nutrition, and we know that healthier children also perform better academically.

Urge the Board of Education to invest in the future of our children by supporting policies that encourage better nutrition and increased physical activity. To be successful, it will take all of us--parents, schools, communities, and elected officials--working together to improve the health of our children.

Help get our kids off to a healthy start in the new school year! Send your message now!

The Walmart Foundation and the American Heart Association have launched a program that encourages Americans to cook low-cost, heart-healthy meals at home. "Simple Cooking with Heart" is teaching Americans how to cook more at home by giving them tools, basic skills and techniques to get started and inspired - and have fun. Program components include online how-to videos, tips, recipes and free downloadable "Host Kits" that encourage people to host in-home cooking parties with family, friends and neighbors.

"We know that meals prepared at home tend to be more nutritious than restaurant meals, but many American families lack the fundamental skills to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals," said Rachel K. Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., an AHA spokesperson and the Bickford Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont. "We must equip American families with basic culinary skills along with nutrition knowledge so they can know how to cook and eat at home."

To download a Simple Cooking with Heart Host Kit or for more program information, visit the Simple Cooking with Heart website.