America’s Health Rankings

Recently, the Partnership for Prevention, of which American Heart Association is an active member, and United Health Foundation released its annual report: America’s Health Rankings. The report, which includes a “one pager” on the health status of each state, calls out an alarming increase in the rate of obesity and also provides important information on tobacco use, high blood pressure prevalence, etc. Follow this link to view the report on Wisconsin.

Key findings of the report include:

• Obesity has increased 137 percent from 11.6 percent of the adult population in the 1990 Edition to 27.5 percent in the 2011 Edition; meaning today, more than one in four Americans are considered obese. Obesity continues to be one of the fastest growing health issues in our nation and America is spending billions in direct health care costs associated with poor diet and physical inactivity.


• Smoking has been one of the biggest health battles for decades. In the past year, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 17.9 percent to 17.3 percent of the adult population, the lowest in 22 years (from a high of 29.5 percent in the 1990 Edition). But tobacco use is still estimated to be responsible for one out of five deaths annually (approximately 443,000 deaths per year).


• Children living in poverty are challenged by lack of access to health care, limited availability of healthy foods, constrained choices for physical activity, limited access to appropriate educational opportunities and stressful living conditions. The number of children in poverty has increased for the last five years. A steady increase has occurred, from 17.4 percent of children reported in the 2007 Edition to 21.5 percent of children in the 2011 Edition.


• Lack of health insurance coverage increased from 16.0 percent in the 2010 Edition to 16.2 percent in the 2011 Edition, and has increased more than two full percentage points since the 2001 Edition (13.9 percent to 16.2 percent).


• Diabetes diagnosis is significantly higher than it was five years ago. According to the report, 8.7 percent of American adults have been told by a physician that they have diabetes. A recent report from the CDC estimates that the number of Americans with diabetes will range from 1 in 5 to 1 in 3 by 2050. This means a large number of people are either at risk for diabetes or are unaware they have the disease and are not being medically managed.

Turn the White House Red!

25,000 signatures. That's what we need in the next 30 days (ends Jan. 4, 2012) for the White House to consider our petition to illuminate the building in red to honor National Wear Red Day® and American Heart Month.

The truth is we need you, our supporters, to show the White House how important it is to remember women who died from heart disease, celebrate women who have survived, and educate everyone on our No. 1 killer of women.

Every signature makes a difference, so sign up and share with colleagues, friends and family today! There are a few steps, but with your help we can get there!

1. Visit our special petition page.
2. Create an account (we know, what a pain!)
3. Watch for a verification email.
4. Sign the petition.
5. Share with family, friends, and colleagues to encourage their support too!

Make a Difference Now.

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps Reintroduces The HEART For Women Act

November 30, 2011

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., today reintroduced vital legislation aimed at improving the cardiovascular health of millions of women nationwide.

The HEART for Women Act would require the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary to submit an annual report to Congress on the quality of and access to care for women with cardiovascular disease. It would also ensure that new and experimental drug and medical device safety and efficacy data reported to the federal government is classified by gender, race and ethnicity. Additionally, the legislation would expand eligibility for funding to all 50 states for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISEWOMAN screening program for low-income, underinsured and uninsured women.

“While we have made great progress in the fight against heart disease it remains the number one killer of American women, needlessly claiming the lives of far too many of our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters,” Capps said. “Unfortunately not enough people — including health professionals — recognize that heart disease poses such a serious and unique threat to women, and far too many women pay a terrible price for that lack of knowledge. My legislation addresses this critical health issue by ensuring more women have access to screening for heart disease, filling the critical knowledge gaps by ensuring that healthcare professionals are informed about the risks of cardiovascular disease in women, and supporting increased data collection to identify new treatments for women.”

American Heart Association President Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., said the measure would make a major impact. “With nearly 422,000 women’s lives lost each year from heart disease and stroke, we applaud U.S. Representative Lois Capps for introducing legislation that will help improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the number one killer of women. The HEART for Women Act seeks to eliminate cardiovascular inequities and reduce death rates from this largely preventable disease,” Tomaselli said.

“Women have a greater risk of heart disease than men. It is imperative to provide access to proper cardiovascular disease care for all women through passage of the HEART for Women Act. The HEART for Women Act is vital to the health of all women and is must-pass legislation,” said Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., president and chief executive officer of the Society for Women’s Health Research.

“We need to know how drugs, treatments and devices affect women living with heart disease if we are going to decrease morbidity and mortality caused by heart disease, the number one killer of women. This bill will shine a light on how well the FDA reports research results stratified by sex, race and ethnicity,” said Lisa M. Tate, chief executive officer of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

Every minute, someone’s wife, mother, daughter or sister dies from heart disease, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. More than one in three women has some form of cardiovascular disease, including nearly half of all African-American women and 34 percent of white women. More than 90 percent of primary care physicians do not know that more women die each year from these diseases than men, according to an American Heart Association survey.
The HEART for Women Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this year by Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and has received strong bipartisan support. In addition to the American Heart Association, Society for Women’s Health Research and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, the bill is also supported by more than 40 other organizations. For more information, visit yourethecure.org .

# # #

Contact: Kanika M. Lewis
Communications Manager, Media Advocacy

http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/u-s-rep-lois-capps-reintroduces-219935.aspx

December 2011 Legislative Update

Your involvement in our advocacy network has made a significant difference in fighting for heart health in Wisconsin this year. From educating legislators on the importance of protecting Wisconsin’s Clean Indoor Air Law, to fighting for funding of heart health programs like Farm to School, to fighting to protect physical education in Wisconsin, we’ve shared many wins in a challenging political environment. Our advocacy efforts make a greater impact with legislators because the message comes from the heart -- from people whose families have been touched by heart disease or stroke, or have a personal stake in this fight to save lives. Thank you for your dedication to this fight! We look forward to working with you again in the new year and wish you and your family a happy holiday!

We hope you enjoy this update and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions. Together we can build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Anne, Melissa and Nicole ___________________________________________________

Legislation

We, along with the WI Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the WI Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO), both 911 professional organizations, have requested a Legislative Council Study Committee be created to review 911 best practices. Typically Legislative Council receives 80-90 requests for study committees and approves 10-15. Please stay tuned regarding how you can help make sure our request is approved.

We continue to work with Mended Little Hearts to ensure all newborns have access to pulse oximetry screening prior to hospital discharge. Pulse oximetry screening helps detect critical, life-threatening congenital heart defects which otherwise may go undetected. We are planning a lobby day on February 9 to help educate legislators about pulse oximetry screening and the need for all newborns to be tested. Please watch your email for more details.

The worksite wellness legislation (SB 164/AB 220), authored by Senator Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Murtha (R-Baldwin), has not moved in the past month. It is still in the Joint Finance Committee, and concerns have been raised regarding the cost of the legislation. If you are interested in contacting your legislators in support of the legislation, please use this link to download talking points. Once you have talked with your legislators office, please let us know by e-mailing Anne.Simaytis@heart.org so we can see how many offices have heard from us!

Legislation to prohibit the purchase of any tobacco product on behalf of a minor (AB 93), authored by Rep. Bies (R-Sister Bay), passed the full Assembly in October and currently awaits a public hearing in the Senate Public Health Committee.

The PE waiver legislation (SB 95), authored by Senator Olsen (R-Ripon) and Rep. Kestell (R- Elkhart Lake), passed the Senate and the Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.

We continue to watch for legislation that would weaken the Smoke-free law, but to date nothing has been introduced. We will let you know immediately if anything is circulated.
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Making a Difference Under the Dome

We are planning a Heart on the Hill lobby day for February 9, 2012. New research indicates performing pulse oximetry screenings on newborns is effective at detecting life-threatening heart defects which otherwise can go undetected by current screening methods. Join us in Madison on February 9, 2012, to educate legislators about this screening and ask them to support legislation ensuring all newborns are tested prior to hospital discharge. Follow this link to register NOW! The deadline to RSVP for this free event is January 13. Advanced registration is required.
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Upcoming Events

You’re the Cure Volunteer Leader Program Kicks off in January
Are you passionate about making heart-healthy changes in Wisconsin and across the country? Consider becoming one of our volunteer leaders. Help us recruit and train new advocates, continue to build relationships with your legislators and be our go-to volunteer for your area of the state. Learn more about becoming a volunteer leader in Wisconsin on one of our upcoming informational conference calls. This 30 minute call will explain the YTC Leader program and answer any questions you may have. RSVP is required to attend one of the calls. Call times and registration can be found at this link: YTC Leader RSVP. Contact Anne Simaytis at anne.simaytis@heart.org or 414-227-1410 with questions.

Go Red For Women Girlfriends Challenge Participants Needed!
We are now accepting applications for the annual Go Red For Women Girlfriends 12-Week Challenge in Madison! The challenge, now in its third year, will focus on following three teams of three greater Madison area women on their 12-week journey to becoming heart healthy. Challenge participants will commit to a series of wellness screenings and assessments with help from a team of UW Health specialists and provided with support to make healthy changes in their lives, follow a guided healthy eating plan and use resources and tools from the American Heart Association’s Go Red BetterU program. The challenge will kick off during American Heart Month, February 2012.

To qualify, women must meet the following criteria:
• Be at least 18-years-old
• Live in or near the greater Dane county area
• Have at least one area of their health in which they would like to improve, such as weight, blood pressure, fitness, or smoking
• Be willing to participate in a 12-week program that will include free consultations with medical professionals, dieticians and fitness trainers
• Have access to a computer and the Internet
• Be willing to blog about their experience during the 12 weeks of the program
• Serve as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement

Madison area women interested in applying should visit www.uwhealth.org/gored and return the completed application no later than January 4, 2012. Applicants will be selected by a committee based on a variety of criteria. For additional questions please contact GRFW.Madison@heart.org or call 608-221-8866.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EVP

December 2011

Dear Friend of Heart:

Our Scientific Sessions was held last month in Orlando, Fla. This international conference showcases ground-breaking research and clinical trials with 22,000 medical professionals. The news is then fed to the media where it will reach millions more. A huge undertaking, Scientific Sessions is critical to learning more about the causes of cardiovascular diseases and how to better diagnose, treat and prevent them.

The conference will lead to developments in science that will touch every community across the country and abroad. Such outcomes would not be possible without volunteers and partners who share our vision of what an investment in research, science and education can mean to everyone.

Can you imagine a world free of heart disease and stroke? Erica Chapman can. She is a survivor who works in our West Michigan office. As a congenital valve replacement patient, she had her first surgery at four days old. Now in her 30s, she’s had another operation to update her current aortic valve, and will require further surgery in the next 15-20 years. Erica knows from the research we fund today that the next surgery will probably use mainly non-invasive techniques, for which she is grateful. She is amazed at the vision researchers have for her procedures.

With your help, we can make those visions a reality. Consider making a personal gift or including the American Heart Association in your will or estate plan. You will leave a legacy that will fund research and education, benefiting patients like Erica long after you’re gone. To learn more, visit www.heart.org/plannedgiving

I also want to take a moment to reflect on how the gifts and efforts of so many have improved and saved lives in 2011. We were able to fund research that may someday save the life of someone you know. We educated hundreds of thousands of people about their health and risk factors. And we worked hard to teach millions of Midwesterners critical CPR skills, educate legislators in our 11 states on our policy priorities, and improve hospital patient care processes so that a supportive and effective system will be in place when you or your loved one is in need.

None of this vision would be possible without you and your support. In short, you are helping to save lives. At this season of giving, I want to thank you for your involvement from the bottom of my heart.

Warm regards,

Kevin Harker
Executive Vice President, Midwest Affiliate