Child Nutrition Act Passes! AHA - Advocacy You Are the Cure

Proper nutrition and physical activity are two ways to help prevent CVD and Stroke. On December 2nd, the House of Representatives passed the Child Nutrition Act, by a vote of 264 to 157! This action completes Congress’ work on the bill and sends it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

We can all be proud that the final bill contains provisions that will help ensure a healthier school environment for our kids, including removing junk foods from schools, strengthening school wellness policies and increasing funding for more nutritious school lunches.

Find out how your Representative voted, then join us in thanking supportive Representatives for their vote by sending a quick message!

Taking Action to Fight Childhood Obesity

Taking Action to Fight Childhood Obesity
Councilmember Laura Morrison invited Austin leaders who serve on Council Boards and Commissions and other stakeholders to participate in a forum yesterday to consider what the City of Austin can do to fight childhood obesity.
The forum was targeted toward the City's Boards and Commissions members because they are uniquely positioned to initiate actionable recommendations which can affect the health of the Austin community. Forum participants heard from experts in the areas of the urban form & the built environment, nutrition & food access, physical activity and health literacy & culture.

The goal was to challenge the participants to think creatively about solutions and to develop recommendations to improve the health of children in Austin.

CANews December 1, 2010 http://conta.cc/hOkGrZ via #constantcontact

Diabetes Expected to Soar in Texas

A new report released this week by the Texas Health Institute predicts that the number of Texans with diabetes will quadruple by 2040. "Responding to the Epidemic: Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care in Texas" notes that the overall cost of diabetes in Texas exceeds $12.5 billion a year and is the primary cause of office visits for Texas Medicaid patients.

World Stroke Day!

Did you know?
Friday, Oct. 29, is World Stroke Day. The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are joining with the World Stroke Organization, an international health organization, to spread the message about the global threat of stroke. This year’s theme is “One in Six: Act Now!”

One of every six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and the second-leading cause of death in the world. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. Find out what you can do to Act Now by using American Heart Association and American Stroke Association tools and resources listed at the bottom of this page.
Here’s something else you can do on World Stroke Day: At precisely 1:06 p.m., take the My Life Check assessment to learn where you stand with health factors that could lead to stroke. Then share the link with six special people in your life. The assessment tool allows you to determine your level of heart health, identify risk factors and change behavior.

The World Stroke Organization also wants you to Act Now by taking on these six challenges to lower your stroke risk:

Know the risk factors for stroke that you can do something about — high blood pressure, diabetes and high blood cholesterol — and work to keep them in a healthy range.
Be physically active and exercise regularly
Adopt a healthy diet.
Limit alcohol consumption.
Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now.
Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.

Check out this great MSN Video: Blood Pressure & The Brain

Check out this great MSN Video: Blood Pressure & The Brain

Atrial fib and Stroke

Atrial fibrillation is a potentially serious condition.2 The irregular heartbeat associated with AFib can cause blood to pool in the atria, which can result in the formation of clots.2 These blood clots can travel from the heart to the brain, where they can lead to a stroke.2 Strokes associated with AFib can be about twice as likely to be fatal4 or severely disabling as non-AFib-related strokes. Many patients don’t believe they are at risk, AFib is associated with up to 15 percent of all strokes in the U.S.,” said Mellanie True Hills, StopAfib.org founder. “We’ve joined Facing AFib to arm patients and caregivers with important information about AFib and stroke and to empower them to be proactive in their efforts to reduce stroke risk.”


ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN AMERICA

An estimated 2.3 million Americans have AFib6, making it one of the most serious common heart
rhythm disorders

o It is projected that by 2050, 5.6 million U.S. adults will have AFib

Up to 15 percent of all strokes in the U.S. are associated with AFib

Three to five percent of Americans over the age of 65 have AFib

Salt and High Blood Pressure

Sodium: A Good Thing...in Moderation
We may malign the salt shaker, but sodium plays an important role in maintaining the body's fluid balance. It's essential for muscles and nerves to function properly. But most of us consume too much of it. FDA guidelines call for less than 2,400 mg of sodium per day -- about 1 teaspoon of table salt. Surprisingly, most of our salt intake doesn't come from the salt shaker; it's hidden in many of the foods we buy at the grocery store.

MedicineNet.com