Over 4,000 Nevadans will be killed this year by heart disease or stroke, a figure that is rising every year. Cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer of adults in the United States, claiming more lives than the next six leading causes of death combined. The American Heart Association (AHA) is the nation’s largest voluntary heath organization devoted to heart disease research, prevention and education. The 10-year national impact goal of the American Heart Association is to reduce death and disability due to heart disease and stroke by 25 percent by the year 2010. This goal will be reached through a mix of research, fundraising and public education.
Since 1949, the American Heart Association has dedicated over $1.8 billion to fund heart and blood vessel research. This year, the Western States Affiliate, comprised of Nevada, California and Utah, is funding over $11.4 million worth of scientific investigation. Previous grant recipients have included researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno. Many important advances such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgeries and surgical techniques to repair heart defects have all been achieved through AHA-funded research.
The AHA raises funds through private donations and foundation grants, as well as by holding several major events throughout the year, with businesses and individuals donating or raising funds. Events include:
The American Heart Walk – a community event that includes corporate and individual teams of walkers raising sponsorship dollars while enjoying a 3.5-mile walk around the UNLV campus. This event attracts over 4,000 participants.
Heart of Gold Gala – a black tie social event, which in past years has drawn over 1,000 attendees and helped to raise over $220,000.
The AHA is also involved with children and local schools. Heart Power kits in the schools help teachers and students learn about the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and physical activity. The Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs provide ways for schoolchildren to learn about heart health and the importance of physical activity, while raising funds for the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The American Heart Association is raising public awareness among adults concerning heart disease, Nevada’s number-one killer, and stroke, the number-four killer, through health fairs, public awareness campaigns, conferences and media advocacy. Its Operation Heartbeat is a community-based initiative to improve survival rates among victims of cardiac emergencies by teaching people lifesaving techniques. The classes teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), which delivers an electric shock that can save victims of sudden cardiac arrest. For each minute that passes without defibrillation and CPR, the chance of survival for a cardiac arrest victim decreases by up to 10 percent.
Programs such as the Peer Visitor Program impact the lives of survivors. This program pairs stroke survivors and caregivers with new stroke victims, providing counsel and comfort as they learn to deal with major change in their lives. Mended Hearts provides a similar service for heart disease survivors.
ACTION STEPS
For more information on heart disease and stroke, or to learn how you can contribute to the fight against heart disease and stroke, see the American Heart Association Web site at americanheart.org, or contact your local chapter:
Southern Nevada
6370 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103
702-367-1366
Northern Nevada
1281 Terminal Way
Reno, NV 89502
775-322-7064
