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Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 930,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $348 million in fiscal year 2002-03 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.

As the signature fund-raising event for the American Heart Association, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment. This year over 1,000,000 walkers will participate in more than 600 events across the country, raising funds to save lives from this country’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke. Join your employer or family and friends in a Heart Walk near you.

The picture at right was taken at St. Charles, MO on May 7, 2005 at Frontier Park. There was one the same day in St. Louis at Cricket Field in Forest Park.

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, kills almost one million people in the United States each year -- that's one death every 34 seconds. What can we do to stop this epidemic? The American Heart Association has developed tactics and programs that will help prevent disability and death from these diseases. However, we need financial support to reach your community's hospitals, universities, schools, doctors offices, emergency medical systems, health departments, places of worship, grocery stores, media and workplaces. With your help we provide the education and resources to significantly reduce the number of deaths.

Each year, the American Heart Association relies on people just like you to help us reduce disability and death due to heart disease and stroke. There are many ways for you to volunteer your help: Science, Community Programs, Development or Fund Raising, Communications or Public Relations and Public Affairs.

Monitoring Your Health:

Diabetes and Heart Disease

If you have a chronic condition, it is important to know the best way to manage your health. Make sure you know the right things to do at the right time based on your needs and health history. The tools and information provided are based on the most current medical research and nationally-accepted guidelines for treating chronic conditions. These guidelines help to develop a personalized care plan designed just for you. For example, make sure you are taking the right medications if you have heart disease and that your tests are current. Researchers have discovered that only about half of people with conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes receive the basic care recommended for their conditions. That is one reason your health educator may ask you about your latest result for tests like cholesterol or A1C. Achieve the best health you possibly can. The better informed you are, the better we accomplish goals.

Diabetes

Many people believe the myth that complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and amputation are a normal, unavoidable part of having diabetes. But it is not true. Taking control of your blood glucose can decrease the risk of complications by as much as 70%.

There are some simple things you can do to stay healthy with diabetes. Keeping your blood glucose under control protects your eyes, kidneys, feet, and even your heart. How do you know if you are under control? Ask your doctor for the results of your last A1C test. The A1C is the three month average blood glucose that tells you and your doctor if your diabetes is under control. Other tests, like the eye exam and a urine test for small amounts of protein (microalbumin exam), let you know if diabetes is affecting your eyes and kidneys. Another important test is the monofilament foot exam. The doctor performs the test by touching the bottom of your feet with a small wire similar to a piece of fishing line. The doctor is testing for loss of feeling. Loss of feeling in your feet can result in foot injuries. For example, you may be unaware that you have a pebble in your shoe, which is creating a sore, or are getting a blister from a new pair of shoes. It is important to check your feet daily. More hospitalizations for diabetes occur because of skin wounds and ulcers of the legs and feet than for any other reason. The best way to prevent this is to take your shoes and socks off at every office visit and ask the doctor to examine your feet. Understanding the keys to better health with diabetes helps you stay in control of your health.

Fitness Philosophy My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 now & we don't know where the hell she is! The only reason I would take up jogging is so I could hear heavy breathing again. I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to show up? I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. I don't exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our body. I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them. The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier. If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. I don't jog...it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

Diabetes Monitoring:

Why it is important, What You Can Do

1. A1C Test: Three month average blood glucose. Goal: less than 7%. Tells you how well your diabetes is controlled. Know your A1C. Have an A1C test at least twice a year.
2. Microalbumin Exam: A urine test that identifies a small protein particle that can be measured in the urine and how well your kidneys are working. Tells you and your doctor if diabetes is affecting your kidneys. Have a urine test for microalbumin at least once a year. Talk to your doctor about how to protect your kidneys if your urine exam is not normal.
3. Dilated Eye Exam: Doctor puts drops in your eyes and looks at the retina, located at the back of your eye. Tells you and your doctor if diabetes is damaging your eyes. Get your eyes examined yearly by an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor for eyes.
4. Monofilament Exam: Doctor touches the bottom of your foot with a small thin wire, like a piece of fishing line, to measure the sensitivity of your feet. The loss of feeling in your feet makes it hard to notice if your foot is being injured. Skin ulcers or wounds of the feet are the most common diabetes related hospital admission. Have a monofilament exam every year. Take your shoes and socks off at each doctor visit and ask the doctor to check your feet.

Coronary Artery Disease (Heart Disease)

• You had a heart attack?
• An artery to your heart is blocked?
• You have angina (chest pain)?
• Your heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen?

If your answer is yes to any of these, you may have a form of heart disease called coronary artery disease or CAD. If you have coronary artery disease, getting regular physical activity and eating meals that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats are two important steps to better health. If you have had a heart attack, taking better care of yourself can lower your risk of having another one. Monitoring your blood pressure and making sure you are taking the right medications are also important. Below are some measures for you to monitor to help prevent your condition from worsening.

Coronary Artery Disease Monitoring

Why it is Important, What You Can Do

1. Blood Pressure: Goal: Less than 130/85 mm/Hg. Good control of your blood pressure decreases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and complications of diabetes. If your blood pressure is higher than 130/85, talk to your doctor about a blood pressure management plan. A low-salt diet, regular exercise, and medication can all help you control your blood pressure.
2. ACE Inhibitor/ARB Medicines [ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs)]: Taking ACE Inhibitors or ARBs after a heart attack has been shown to protect the heart from further damage. If you have had a heart attack, ask your doctor if you should be taking an ACE Inhibitor or ARB.
3. Beta-blocker Medication: Taking betablockers after a heart attack can decrease your risk of having another heart attack. If you have had a heart attack, ask your doctor if a betablocker is right for you.
4. LDL Cholesterol: Measures your bad cholesterol. Goal: less than 100 mg/dl. Your doctor may want it lower than 100. Be sure to discuss the right target with your doctor. A high LDL level increases your chance of developing heart problems. Have your cholesterol tested at least once a year. If your LDL is high, talk to your doctor about a cholesterol lowering plan. A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can help reduce your LDL.
5. HDL Cholesterol: Measures your good cholesterol. Goal: greater than 40 mg/dl. HDL cholesterol helps to protect your heart. When your HDL is below goal, your heart has less protection. A regular exercise plan is the best way to raise HDL. Talk to your doctor before beginning or increasing any exercise program.

Health, Civilization and the State: A History of Public Health from Ancient to Modern Times Health, Civilization and the State examines the social, economic and political issues of public health provision in historical perspective. Focusing on Britain, Continental Europe and the United States, Dorothy Porter provides a comprehensive outline of the development of public health care from the ancient world to the modern state. Covering a broad range of historical issues, the book includes discussion of: pestilence, public order and morality in pre-modern times; the Enlightenment and its effects; health care centralization in Victorian Britain; localization of health care in the United States; population issues and family welfare; the rise of the classic welfare state; and current attitudes towards public health as we approach the twenty-first century.

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