L e a r n a n d L i v e t h r o u g h r e s e a r c h , e d u c at i o n , awa r e n e s s a n d c o m m u n i t y o u t r e a c h voLume 27 sPring 2009

heartstylenational center

7272 greenville ave.dallas, tX 75231-4596

americanheart.org 1-800-AHA-USA155-1054 03/09

©2009, American Heart Association.

all information provided is treated as confidential. tm PFw 04/0909JPcaa

Inside heartstyle

❑ YES! i would like to receive a free copy of Planning For Women. (Xda)

❑ Please put me in touch with an american heart association representative. (Xdd)

❑ i am considering a gift to the american heart association through my estate plan. (Xdc)

❑ i have included the american heart association in my estate plan. (XdB)

name ❑ mr. ❑ mrs. ❑ ms. _____________________________________________________________________________

address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

city ________________________________________________________ state ____________________ ZiP ________________

daytime telephone ( ) ____________________________________ date of Birth___________________________

e-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: we urge you to consult with a qualified advisor before making a final decision regarding any planned gift to the american heart association.

Top Research Advancements for 2008

Please send to: american heart association, Planned giving department, 7272 greenville ave, dallas, tX 75231-4596

• myGO Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

• Heart failure patients have more doctors visits, medications than others on Medicare

• Meals For Two • American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

• “Reinventing Health Care” • AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

• Toni Reel: Research Saved Her Life

• Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

the american heart

association has compiled its

annual list of top major advances

in heart disease and stroke

research. some of the 2008

achievements include:

Smoke-free legislation and hospitalizations for acute coronary syndrome

researchers found smoke-free

legislation covering all enclosed

places resulted in hospital

admissions for acute coronary

syndrome decreasing by 17

percent in scotland, compared

with only a 4 percent decrease in

england, where there was no such

legislation.

10-year follow-up of intensive glucose control in type 2 diabetes; Long-term follow-up after tight control of blood pressure in type 2 diabetes

in 2008, follow-up to the uK Prospective diabetes study

found that intensive and sustained glucose and blood

pressure control are important in reducing multiple risks for

people with type 2 diabetes.

A policy-based school intervention to prevent overweight and obesity

a school intervention based on changes in policy, carried

out in grades 4–6 in 10 urban schools, used school self-

assessment, nutrition education, nutrition policy, social

marketing and parent outreach to

successfully reduce the incidence

of overweight children in the

intervention schools compared

with control schools, over a two-

year period.

Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein

the JuPiter (Justification for

the use of statins in Prevention:

an intervention trial evaluating

rosuvastatin) study of 17,802

patients, and its many subgroups,

has spurred discussion about

widening the net for the use of

statins. People who don’t have

high cholesterol, but have high

c-reactive protein, could benefit

from statins. the findings will be

considered as primary prevention

guidelines are revised in 2009.

Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older

results of the hypertension in the very elderly trial

provides evidence that effective antihypertensive treatment

in persons 80 years or older helps reduce the risk of

cardiovascular events.

view the complete list at www.americanheart.org.

the age-adjusted death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke have each dropped about 30 percent from 1999 to

2005, according to data in the american heart association’s heart disease and stroke statistics – 2009 update, published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. the reductions in the coronary heart disease (30.7 percent) and stroke (29.2 percent) death rates mean the american heart association has achieved a major goal set in 1998: to reduce coro-nary heart disease and stroke by 25 percent by 2010. “the american heart association is proud of the progress this

country has made against heart disease and stroke, america’s no. 1 and no. 3 killers,” said timothy gardner, m.d., aha president. “there has been a tremendous effort from many partners in

research, health care, govern-ment, business and communi-ties to achieve these goals.” “however, our work is not done, since the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke have not seen the same decline as the death rates — and several are rising. if this trend continues, death rates could begin to rise again in the years ahead. while we have seen better control of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use, we still have much work to do on these risk factors — and progress continues to lag in obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity.” read more about the latest statistics from the american heart association online at www.americanheart.org.

Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

Coronary Heart Disease

Down30.7%

StrokeDown30.7%

in which heat is used to physically destroy a small section of heart tissue that’s the source of abnormal electrical activity. the research that led to the widespread use of this procedure was partially funded by the american heart association. toni felt immediate relief after the procedure. she even attended a week-long tennis camp a week after the surgery. toni’s experience led her to support the american heart association because she knows the value of research in saving lives. toni speaks and raises funds for the start! heart walk. “i love volunteering for the american heart association for several reasons. First, i want to give back to an organization that truly helped me. second, i get to meet some amazing people — survivors, caregivers, healthcare experts and staff,” she said. toni’s experience with heart disease also prompted her to create an estate plan to ensure her family’s future. during its development, toni decided to provide for the american heart association while taking care of the needs of her family through a revocable trust. revocable trusts and other planned giving options provide benefits for your family and the american heart association

toni reel is a mother, heart disease survivor and american heart

association volunteer. she’s doing her part to make sure future generations benefit from the american heart association’s lifesaving work, just as she did. toni was diagnosed with an abnormal, fast heart rhythm when she was only a year old. at age three, she was diagnosed with wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome (wPw). wPw can affect how the heart beats. in a normal heart, electrical signals use only one path to move through the heart and make it beat. the timing of the electrical signal is important for the heart to beat properly. People with wPw have an extra conduction pathway, so the electrical signal may arrive at the heart’s lower, pumping chambers too soon, causing rhythm abnormalities. toni began taking heart medications as a child. although she was able to enjoy normal childhood activities like running, playing soccer and cheerleading, she was in the hospital at least once a month for a week at a time either for an attack or to modify her medications. in 1991, at age 18, toni learned of a new procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. it’s a commonly used treatment

— and you don’t have to be wealthy to participate in the benefits. through a trust you can provide income for your family, and in some cases save on federal estate taxes and estate administration costs. the american heart association has developed programs and tools to help women take charge of their heart health. But taking care of your financial well-being is also important, so we’ve created a brochure, Planning for Women, that addresses financial issues from a woman’s point of view. to receive your free brochure, please return the attached form to the american heart association. you can also visit www.americanheart.org/plannedgiving, call 1-888-227-5242 or e-mail plannedgiving@heart.org. contact the planned giving representative listed on the back page of the newsletter for more information about trusts and other planned gifts that benefit you, your family and the american heart association.

toni reel: Research Saved Her Life

Toni with daughter Phoebe (left) and son Peyton

adults with severe heart failure see

almost three times as many medicare providers each year compared to a typical beneficiary, according to research presented at the american heart association’s scientific sessions 2008. severe heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and is unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. heart failure often occurs as a result of many years of high blood pressure or injury to the heart from heart attack. an analysis conducted by researchers at the university of colorado and scios, inc., a biopharmaceutical company, showed that:

• Adults with severe heart failure saw an average of 23 different providers compared to the typical Medicare beneficiary, who saw about 7.9 different providers annually.

• Adults with mild heart failure saw an average of 15.9 providers annually, while those with moderate heart failure saw an average of 18.6 providers.

• Those with all stages of heart failure had an average of 61 prescriptions written in a year; the typical beneficiary, 29.

adults with heart failure see physicians from different specialties, according to the analysis. about 26 percent of office visits for heart failure were to internal medicine specialists and about 20 percent were to family practice physicians.

visits to cardiologists for those with mild, moderate and severe heart failure increased as heart failure worsened and were 16 percent, 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively. “these findings highlight the complexity of treating heart failure patients who often have serious co-morbidities,” said robert Page, Pharm.d., lead author of the study and associate professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine and a clinical specialist in the division of cardiology at the university of colorado school of Pharmacy and medicine in aurora. “these findings stress the importance of developing comprehensive and coordinated care.” co-morbidity is the simultaneous presence of two or more morbid conditions or diseases. in heart failure, it includes diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (coPd) and renal disease. with 61 prescriptions being filled each year, the potential for medication errors, adverse drug events and drug-to-drug interactions increases, Page said. in 2005, medicare beneficiaries with heart failure accounted for 37 percent of all medicare

spending and nearly 50 percent of all hospital inpatient costs, according to the analysis. “From a public health point of view, we need to have better coordinated care for our patients with cardiovascular disease, not just among physicians, but also among other healthcare professionals,” Page said.

on sept. 24, the american heart association, in partnership with the university of mississippi, convened a panel of

top business, government and health leaders to examine the nation’s healthcare system. the program, “reinventing health care,” was held in conjunction with activities leading up to the first presidential debate at the university of mississippi. the discussion engaged the panelists in an in-depth exploration of various aspects of the healthcare reform debate and how the issues impact the lives of all americans. to date, the program has aired on PBs stations across the country, with more than 500 broadcasts representing 51 million television households. during the week of the presidential inauguration, the program had nearly 300 scheduled broadcasts on PBs stations from maine to california. “the association strongly believes that this discussion can provide a framework that will address the challenges facing those who don’t have access to quality health care,” said daniel w. Jones, m.d., immediate past president of the american heart association and vice chancellor for health affairs of

the university of mississippi medical center. “with millions of uninsured and underinsured americans in a system that has not adequately served the best interests of patients, we cannot wait any longer for change.” the program, produced by Fred Friendly seminars of columbia university, focuses on health policy reform in hypothetical scenarios involving patients, businesses and consumers. Panelists included dr. Jones; Bill novelli, chief executive officer of the american association of retired Persons; reed tucker, executive vice president of the unitedhealth group; david walker, ceo of the Peter g. Peterson Foundation and former u.s. comptroller general; and regina herzlinger, professor of business administration in the harvard Business school. the american heart association’s 2008 statement of Principles on health care reform outlines critical issues that must be addressed to ensure high-quality, affordable health care for all americans. to pledge your support for affordable, accessible, quality health care, visit www.heartsforhealthcare.org.

Heart failure patientshave more doctors’ visits,medications than others

on Medicare

‘reinventing health care’AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

Panelists included (left to right) Denise Rodgers, M.D., associate dean, New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Michael Tanner, senior fellow, Cato Institute; Daniel W. Jones, M.D, Vice Chancellor, University of Mississippi; Reed Tuckson, EVP, UnitedHealth Group; and Bill Novelli, CEO, AARP.

the alliance for a healthier generation — a joint initiative of

the american heart association and the william J. clinton Foundation — has launched a “by kids, for kids” web site that empowers kids to make healthy behavior changes and become leaders and advocates for healthy eating and physical activity. myGO Healthy Challenge is a free online crash course in healthy living for tweens ages 8–12. it assesses the health of tweens and helps them set realistic health goals while having fun. tweens learn nutrition basics, how to get their whole family involved in their healthy activities and how to keep track of their successes. at the end of the course, they receive a certificate of achievement.

to keep kids from spending too much time in front of the computer, the site has a built-in timer that encourages them to sign off after 30 minutes and pursue other activities. the site has had 10,925 unique visi-tors since its launch on nov. 20. the information taught on myGo Healthy Challenge is based on the american heart association’s recommendations for a heart-healthy lifestyle. tools and games align with the national health education standards for grades 6–8, according to the american association for health education.

For more information about myGO Healthy Challenge, visit www.empowerme2b.org.

myGo Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

the american heart association and the american diabetes association have jointly released Diabetes

& Heart Healthy Meals for Two: Over 170 Delicious Recipes that Help You (Both) Eat Well and Eat Right. a healthy diet

is essential for people living with diabetes, and the new book can help make home cooking easy, affordable and delicious. But you don’t have to have diabetes to enjoy the recipes in this book.

the latest collaboration — from two of the most trusted

health associations in america — focuses on recipes that make only two servings. Because so many adults with diabetes are older, two-serving meals are perfect for those without children in the house or for people living alone who want to minimize leftovers. the cookbook contains more than 170 delicious recipes that take an average of 10 minutes to prepare. they include:

• Turkey Tortilla Soup

• Grilled Shrimp with Mint Salsa Verde

• Crisp Chicken with Raspberry Dipping Sauce

• Cajun-Creole Smothered Steaks

• Poached Pears with Pomegranate Sauce

Diabetes & Heart Healthy Meals for Two recipes include information on calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein and diabetic exchanges or choices. the recipes also meet the nutrition guidelines of the american diabetes association and the dietary recommendations of the american heart association. the cookbook can be purchased for $18.95 at booksellers everywhere or at www.americanheart.org/cookbooks.

meals For twoAmerican Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

adults with severe heart failure see

almost three times as many medicare providers each year compared to a typical beneficiary, according to research presented at the american heart association’s scientific sessions 2008. severe heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and is unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. heart failure often occurs as a result of many years of high blood pressure or injury to the heart from heart attack. an analysis conducted by researchers at the university of colorado and scios, inc., a biopharmaceutical company, showed that:

• Adults with severe heart failure saw an average of 23 different providers compared to the typical Medicare beneficiary, who saw about 7.9 different providers annually.

• Adults with mild heart failure saw an average of 15.9 providers annually, while those with moderate heart failure saw an average of 18.6 providers.

• Those with all stages of heart failure had an average of 61 prescriptions written in a year; the typical beneficiary, 29.

adults with heart failure see physicians from different specialties, according to the analysis. about 26 percent of office visits for heart failure were to internal medicine specialists and about 20 percent were to family practice physicians.

visits to cardiologists for those with mild, moderate and severe heart failure increased as heart failure worsened and were 16 percent, 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively. “these findings highlight the complexity of treating heart failure patients who often have serious co-morbidities,” said robert Page, Pharm.d., lead author of the study and associate professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine and a clinical specialist in the division of cardiology at the university of colorado school of Pharmacy and medicine in aurora. “these findings stress the importance of developing comprehensive and coordinated care.” co-morbidity is the simultaneous presence of two or more morbid conditions or diseases. in heart failure, it includes diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (coPd) and renal disease. with 61 prescriptions being filled each year, the potential for medication errors, adverse drug events and drug-to-drug interactions increases, Page said. in 2005, medicare beneficiaries with heart failure accounted for 37 percent of all medicare

spending and nearly 50 percent of all hospital inpatient costs, according to the analysis. “From a public health point of view, we need to have better coordinated care for our patients with cardiovascular disease, not just among physicians, but also among other healthcare professionals,” Page said.

on sept. 24, the american heart association, in partnership with the university of mississippi, convened a panel of

top business, government and health leaders to examine the nation’s healthcare system. the program, “reinventing health care,” was held in conjunction with activities leading up to the first presidential debate at the university of mississippi. the discussion engaged the panelists in an in-depth exploration of various aspects of the healthcare reform debate and how the issues impact the lives of all americans. to date, the program has aired on PBs stations across the country, with more than 500 broadcasts representing 51 million television households. during the week of the presidential inauguration, the program had nearly 300 scheduled broadcasts on PBs stations from maine to california. “the association strongly believes that this discussion can provide a framework that will address the challenges facing those who don’t have access to quality health care,” said daniel w. Jones, m.d., immediate past president of the american heart association and vice chancellor for health affairs of

the university of mississippi medical center. “with millions of uninsured and underinsured americans in a system that has not adequately served the best interests of patients, we cannot wait any longer for change.” the program, produced by Fred Friendly seminars of columbia university, focuses on health policy reform in hypothetical scenarios involving patients, businesses and consumers. Panelists included dr. Jones; Bill novelli, chief executive officer of the american association of retired Persons; reed tucker, executive vice president of the unitedhealth group; david walker, ceo of the Peter g. Peterson Foundation and former u.s. comptroller general; and regina herzlinger, professor of business administration in the harvard Business school. the american heart association’s 2008 statement of Principles on health care reform outlines critical issues that must be addressed to ensure high-quality, affordable health care for all americans. to pledge your support for affordable, accessible, quality health care, visit www.heartsforhealthcare.org.

Heart failure patientshave more doctors’ visits,medications than others

on Medicare

‘reinventing health care’AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

Panelists included (left to right) Denise Rodgers, M.D., associate dean, New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Michael Tanner, senior fellow, Cato Institute; Daniel W. Jones, M.D, Vice Chancellor, University of Mississippi; Reed Tuckson, EVP, UnitedHealth Group; and Bill Novelli, CEO, AARP.

the alliance for a healthier generation — a joint initiative of

the american heart association and the william J. clinton Foundation — has launched a “by kids, for kids” web site that empowers kids to make healthy behavior changes and become leaders and advocates for healthy eating and physical activity. myGO Healthy Challenge is a free online crash course in healthy living for tweens ages 8–12. it assesses the health of tweens and helps them set realistic health goals while having fun. tweens learn nutrition basics, how to get their whole family involved in their healthy activities and how to keep track of their successes. at the end of the course, they receive a certificate of achievement.

to keep kids from spending too much time in front of the computer, the site has a built-in timer that encourages them to sign off after 30 minutes and pursue other activities. the site has had 10,925 unique visi-tors since its launch on nov. 20. the information taught on myGo Healthy Challenge is based on the american heart association’s recommendations for a heart-healthy lifestyle. tools and games align with the national health education standards for grades 6–8, according to the american association for health education.

For more information about myGO Healthy Challenge, visit www.empowerme2b.org.

myGo Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

the american heart association and the american diabetes association have jointly released Diabetes

& Heart Healthy Meals for Two: Over 170 Delicious Recipes that Help You (Both) Eat Well and Eat Right. a healthy diet

is essential for people living with diabetes, and the new book can help make home cooking easy, affordable and delicious. But you don’t have to have diabetes to enjoy the recipes in this book.

the latest collaboration — from two of the most trusted

health associations in america — focuses on recipes that make only two servings. Because so many adults with diabetes are older, two-serving meals are perfect for those without children in the house or for people living alone who want to minimize leftovers. the cookbook contains more than 170 delicious recipes that take an average of 10 minutes to prepare. they include:

• Turkey Tortilla Soup

• Grilled Shrimp with Mint Salsa Verde

• Crisp Chicken with Raspberry Dipping Sauce

• Cajun-Creole Smothered Steaks

• Poached Pears with Pomegranate Sauce

Diabetes & Heart Healthy Meals for Two recipes include information on calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein and diabetic exchanges or choices. the recipes also meet the nutrition guidelines of the american diabetes association and the dietary recommendations of the american heart association. the cookbook can be purchased for $18.95 at booksellers everywhere or at www.americanheart.org/cookbooks.

meals For twoAmerican Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

adults with severe heart failure see

almost three times as many medicare providers each year compared to a typical beneficiary, according to research presented at the american heart association’s scientific sessions 2008. severe heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and is unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. heart failure often occurs as a result of many years of high blood pressure or injury to the heart from heart attack. an analysis conducted by researchers at the university of colorado and scios, inc., a biopharmaceutical company, showed that:

• Adults with severe heart failure saw an average of 23 different providers compared to the typical Medicare beneficiary, who saw about 7.9 different providers annually.

• Adults with mild heart failure saw an average of 15.9 providers annually, while those with moderate heart failure saw an average of 18.6 providers.

• Those with all stages of heart failure had an average of 61 prescriptions written in a year; the typical beneficiary, 29.

adults with heart failure see physicians from different specialties, according to the analysis. about 26 percent of office visits for heart failure were to internal medicine specialists and about 20 percent were to family practice physicians.

visits to cardiologists for those with mild, moderate and severe heart failure increased as heart failure worsened and were 16 percent, 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively. “these findings highlight the complexity of treating heart failure patients who often have serious co-morbidities,” said robert Page, Pharm.d., lead author of the study and associate professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine and a clinical specialist in the division of cardiology at the university of colorado school of Pharmacy and medicine in aurora. “these findings stress the importance of developing comprehensive and coordinated care.” co-morbidity is the simultaneous presence of two or more morbid conditions or diseases. in heart failure, it includes diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (coPd) and renal disease. with 61 prescriptions being filled each year, the potential for medication errors, adverse drug events and drug-to-drug interactions increases, Page said. in 2005, medicare beneficiaries with heart failure accounted for 37 percent of all medicare

spending and nearly 50 percent of all hospital inpatient costs, according to the analysis. “From a public health point of view, we need to have better coordinated care for our patients with cardiovascular disease, not just among physicians, but also among other healthcare professionals,” Page said.

on sept. 24, the american heart association, in partnership with the university of mississippi, convened a panel of

top business, government and health leaders to examine the nation’s healthcare system. the program, “reinventing health care,” was held in conjunction with activities leading up to the first presidential debate at the university of mississippi. the discussion engaged the panelists in an in-depth exploration of various aspects of the healthcare reform debate and how the issues impact the lives of all americans. to date, the program has aired on PBs stations across the country, with more than 500 broadcasts representing 51 million television households. during the week of the presidential inauguration, the program had nearly 300 scheduled broadcasts on PBs stations from maine to california. “the association strongly believes that this discussion can provide a framework that will address the challenges facing those who don’t have access to quality health care,” said daniel w. Jones, m.d., immediate past president of the american heart association and vice chancellor for health affairs of

the university of mississippi medical center. “with millions of uninsured and underinsured americans in a system that has not adequately served the best interests of patients, we cannot wait any longer for change.” the program, produced by Fred Friendly seminars of columbia university, focuses on health policy reform in hypothetical scenarios involving patients, businesses and consumers. Panelists included dr. Jones; Bill novelli, chief executive officer of the american association of retired Persons; reed tucker, executive vice president of the unitedhealth group; david walker, ceo of the Peter g. Peterson Foundation and former u.s. comptroller general; and regina herzlinger, professor of business administration in the harvard Business school. the american heart association’s 2008 statement of Principles on health care reform outlines critical issues that must be addressed to ensure high-quality, affordable health care for all americans. to pledge your support for affordable, accessible, quality health care, visit www.heartsforhealthcare.org.

Heart failure patientshave more doctors’ visits,medications than others

on Medicare

‘reinventing health care’AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

Panelists included (left to right) Denise Rodgers, M.D., associate dean, New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Michael Tanner, senior fellow, Cato Institute; Daniel W. Jones, M.D, Vice Chancellor, University of Mississippi; Reed Tuckson, EVP, UnitedHealth Group; and Bill Novelli, CEO, AARP.

the alliance for a healthier generation — a joint initiative of

the american heart association and the william J. clinton Foundation — has launched a “by kids, for kids” web site that empowers kids to make healthy behavior changes and become leaders and advocates for healthy eating and physical activity. myGO Healthy Challenge is a free online crash course in healthy living for tweens ages 8–12. it assesses the health of tweens and helps them set realistic health goals while having fun. tweens learn nutrition basics, how to get their whole family involved in their healthy activities and how to keep track of their successes. at the end of the course, they receive a certificate of achievement.

to keep kids from spending too much time in front of the computer, the site has a built-in timer that encourages them to sign off after 30 minutes and pursue other activities. the site has had 10,925 unique visi-tors since its launch on nov. 20. the information taught on myGo Healthy Challenge is based on the american heart association’s recommendations for a heart-healthy lifestyle. tools and games align with the national health education standards for grades 6–8, according to the american association for health education.

For more information about myGO Healthy Challenge, visit www.empowerme2b.org.

myGo Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

the american heart association and the american diabetes association have jointly released Diabetes

& Heart Healthy Meals for Two: Over 170 Delicious Recipes that Help You (Both) Eat Well and Eat Right. a healthy diet

is essential for people living with diabetes, and the new book can help make home cooking easy, affordable and delicious. But you don’t have to have diabetes to enjoy the recipes in this book.

the latest collaboration — from two of the most trusted

health associations in america — focuses on recipes that make only two servings. Because so many adults with diabetes are older, two-serving meals are perfect for those without children in the house or for people living alone who want to minimize leftovers. the cookbook contains more than 170 delicious recipes that take an average of 10 minutes to prepare. they include:

• Turkey Tortilla Soup

• Grilled Shrimp with Mint Salsa Verde

• Crisp Chicken with Raspberry Dipping Sauce

• Cajun-Creole Smothered Steaks

• Poached Pears with Pomegranate Sauce

Diabetes & Heart Healthy Meals for Two recipes include information on calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein and diabetic exchanges or choices. the recipes also meet the nutrition guidelines of the american diabetes association and the dietary recommendations of the american heart association. the cookbook can be purchased for $18.95 at booksellers everywhere or at www.americanheart.org/cookbooks.

meals For twoAmerican Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

L e a r n a n d L i v e t h r o u g h r e s e a r c h , e d u c at i o n , awa r e n e s s a n d c o m m u n i t y o u t r e a c h voLume 27 sPring 2009

heartstylenational center

7272 greenville ave.dallas, tX 75231-4596

americanheart.org 1-800-AHA-USA155-1054 03/09

©2009, American Heart Association.

all information provided is treated as confidential. tm PFw 04/0909JPcaa

Inside heartstyle

❑ YES! i would like to receive a free copy of Planning For Women. (Xda)

❑ Please put me in touch with an american heart association representative. (Xdd)

❑ i am considering a gift to the american heart association through my estate plan. (Xdc)

❑ i have included the american heart association in my estate plan. (XdB)

name ❑ mr. ❑ mrs. ❑ ms. _____________________________________________________________________________

address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

city ________________________________________________________ state ____________________ ZiP ________________

daytime telephone ( ) ____________________________________ date of Birth___________________________

e-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: we urge you to consult with a qualified advisor before making a final decision regarding any planned gift to the american heart association.

Top Research Advancements for 2008

Please send to: american heart association, Planned giving department, 7272 greenville ave, dallas, tX 75231-4596

• myGO Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

• Heart failure patients have more doctors visits, medications than others on Medicare

• Meals For Two • American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

• “Reinventing Health Care” • AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

• Toni Reel: Research Saved Her Life

• Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

the american heart

association has compiled its

annual list of top major advances

in heart disease and stroke

research. some of the 2008

achievements include:

Smoke-free legislation and hospitalizations for acute coronary syndrome

researchers found smoke-free

legislation covering all enclosed

places resulted in hospital

admissions for acute coronary

syndrome decreasing by 17

percent in scotland, compared

with only a 4 percent decrease in

england, where there was no such

legislation.

10-year follow-up of intensive glucose control in type 2 diabetes; Long-term follow-up after tight control of blood pressure in type 2 diabetes

in 2008, follow-up to the uK Prospective diabetes study

found that intensive and sustained glucose and blood

pressure control are important in reducing multiple risks for

people with type 2 diabetes.

A policy-based school intervention to prevent overweight and obesity

a school intervention based on changes in policy, carried

out in grades 4–6 in 10 urban schools, used school self-

assessment, nutrition education, nutrition policy, social

marketing and parent outreach to

successfully reduce the incidence

of overweight children in the

intervention schools compared

with control schools, over a two-

year period.

Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein

the JuPiter (Justification for

the use of statins in Prevention:

an intervention trial evaluating

rosuvastatin) study of 17,802

patients, and its many subgroups,

has spurred discussion about

widening the net for the use of

statins. People who don’t have

high cholesterol, but have high

c-reactive protein, could benefit

from statins. the findings will be

considered as primary prevention

guidelines are revised in 2009.

Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older

results of the hypertension in the very elderly trial

provides evidence that effective antihypertensive treatment

in persons 80 years or older helps reduce the risk of

cardiovascular events.

view the complete list at www.americanheart.org.

the age-adjusted death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke have each dropped about 30 percent from 1999 to

2005, according to data in the american heart association’s heart disease and stroke statistics – 2009 update, published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. the reductions in the coronary heart disease (30.7 percent) and stroke (29.2 percent) death rates mean the american heart association has achieved a major goal set in 1998: to reduce coro-nary heart disease and stroke by 25 percent by 2010. “the american heart association is proud of the progress this

country has made against heart disease and stroke, america’s no. 1 and no. 3 killers,” said timothy gardner, m.d., aha president. “there has been a tremendous effort from many partners in

research, health care, govern-ment, business and communi-ties to achieve these goals.” “however, our work is not done, since the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke have not seen the same decline as the death rates — and several are rising. if this trend continues, death rates could begin to rise again in the years ahead. while we have seen better control of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use, we still have much work to do on these risk factors — and progress continues to lag in obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity.” read more about the latest statistics from the american heart association online at www.americanheart.org.

Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

Coronary Heart Disease

Down30.7%

StrokeDown30.7%

in which heat is used to physically destroy a small section of heart tissue that’s the source of abnormal electrical activity. the research that led to the widespread use of this procedure was partially funded by the american heart association. toni felt immediate relief after the procedure. she even attended a week-long tennis camp a week after the surgery. toni’s experience led her to support the american heart association because she knows the value of research in saving lives. toni speaks and raises funds for the start! heart walk. “i love volunteering for the american heart association for several reasons. First, i want to give back to an organization that truly helped me. second, i get to meet some amazing people — survivors, caregivers, healthcare experts and staff,” she said. toni’s experience with heart disease also prompted her to create an estate plan to ensure her family’s future. during its development, toni decided to provide for the american heart association while taking care of the needs of her family through a revocable trust. revocable trusts and other planned giving options provide benefits for your family and the american heart association

toni reel is a mother, heart disease survivor and american heart

association volunteer. she’s doing her part to make sure future generations benefit from the american heart association’s lifesaving work, just as she did. toni was diagnosed with an abnormal, fast heart rhythm when she was only a year old. at age three, she was diagnosed with wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome (wPw). wPw can affect how the heart beats. in a normal heart, electrical signals use only one path to move through the heart and make it beat. the timing of the electrical signal is important for the heart to beat properly. People with wPw have an extra conduction pathway, so the electrical signal may arrive at the heart’s lower, pumping chambers too soon, causing rhythm abnormalities. toni began taking heart medications as a child. although she was able to enjoy normal childhood activities like running, playing soccer and cheerleading, she was in the hospital at least once a month for a week at a time either for an attack or to modify her medications. in 1991, at age 18, toni learned of a new procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. it’s a commonly used treatment

— and you don’t have to be wealthy to participate in the benefits. through a trust you can provide income for your family, and in some cases save on federal estate taxes and estate administration costs. the american heart association has developed programs and tools to help women take charge of their heart health. But taking care of your financial well-being is also important, so we’ve created a brochure, Planning for Women, that addresses financial issues from a woman’s point of view. to receive your free brochure, please return the attached form to the american heart association. you can also visit www.americanheart.org/plannedgiving, call 1-888-227-5242 or e-mail plannedgiving@heart.org. contact the planned giving representative listed on the back page of the newsletter for more information about trusts and other planned gifts that benefit you, your family and the american heart association.

toni reel: Research Saved Her Life

Toni with daughter Phoebe (left) and son Peyton

L e a r n a n d L i v e t h r o u g h r e s e a r c h , e d u c at i o n , awa r e n e s s a n d c o m m u n i t y o u t r e a c h voLume 27 sPring 2009

heartstylenational center

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Inside heartstyle

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Note: we urge you to consult with a qualified advisor before making a final decision regarding any planned gift to the american heart association.

Top Research Advancements for 2008

Please send to: american heart association, Planned giving department, 7272 greenville ave, dallas, tX 75231-4596

• myGO Healthy Challenge provides healthy interactive experience for kids

• Heart failure patients have more doctors visits, medications than others on Medicare

• Meals For Two • American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association release new cookbook

• “Reinventing Health Care” • AHA, University of Mississippi convene panel to examine nation’s healthcare system

• Toni Reel: Research Saved Her Life

• Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

the american heart

association has compiled its

annual list of top major advances

in heart disease and stroke

research. some of the 2008

achievements include:

Smoke-free legislation and hospitalizations for acute coronary syndrome

researchers found smoke-free

legislation covering all enclosed

places resulted in hospital

admissions for acute coronary

syndrome decreasing by 17

percent in scotland, compared

with only a 4 percent decrease in

england, where there was no such

legislation.

10-year follow-up of intensive glucose control in type 2 diabetes; Long-term follow-up after tight control of blood pressure in type 2 diabetes

in 2008, follow-up to the uK Prospective diabetes study

found that intensive and sustained glucose and blood

pressure control are important in reducing multiple risks for

people with type 2 diabetes.

A policy-based school intervention to prevent overweight and obesity

a school intervention based on changes in policy, carried

out in grades 4–6 in 10 urban schools, used school self-

assessment, nutrition education, nutrition policy, social

marketing and parent outreach to

successfully reduce the incidence

of overweight children in the

intervention schools compared

with control schools, over a two-

year period.

Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein

the JuPiter (Justification for

the use of statins in Prevention:

an intervention trial evaluating

rosuvastatin) study of 17,802

patients, and its many subgroups,

has spurred discussion about

widening the net for the use of

statins. People who don’t have

high cholesterol, but have high

c-reactive protein, could benefit

from statins. the findings will be

considered as primary prevention

guidelines are revised in 2009.

Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older

results of the hypertension in the very elderly trial

provides evidence that effective antihypertensive treatment

in persons 80 years or older helps reduce the risk of

cardiovascular events.

view the complete list at www.americanheart.org.

the age-adjusted death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke have each dropped about 30 percent from 1999 to

2005, according to data in the american heart association’s heart disease and stroke statistics – 2009 update, published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. the reductions in the coronary heart disease (30.7 percent) and stroke (29.2 percent) death rates mean the american heart association has achieved a major goal set in 1998: to reduce coro-nary heart disease and stroke by 25 percent by 2010. “the american heart association is proud of the progress this

country has made against heart disease and stroke, america’s no. 1 and no. 3 killers,” said timothy gardner, m.d., aha president. “there has been a tremendous effort from many partners in

research, health care, govern-ment, business and communi-ties to achieve these goals.” “however, our work is not done, since the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke have not seen the same decline as the death rates — and several are rising. if this trend continues, death rates could begin to rise again in the years ahead. while we have seen better control of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use, we still have much work to do on these risk factors — and progress continues to lag in obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity.” read more about the latest statistics from the american heart association online at www.americanheart.org.

Heart and stroke death rates down, some risk factors still too high

Coronary Heart Disease

Down30.7%

StrokeDown30.7%

in which heat is used to physically destroy a small section of heart tissue that’s the source of abnormal electrical activity. the research that led to the widespread use of this procedure was partially funded by the american heart association. toni felt immediate relief after the procedure. she even attended a week-long tennis camp a week after the surgery. toni’s experience led her to support the american heart association because she knows the value of research in saving lives. toni speaks and raises funds for the start! heart walk. “i love volunteering for the american heart association for several reasons. First, i want to give back to an organization that truly helped me. second, i get to meet some amazing people — survivors, caregivers, healthcare experts and staff,” she said. toni’s experience with heart disease also prompted her to create an estate plan to ensure her family’s future. during its development, toni decided to provide for the american heart association while taking care of the needs of her family through a revocable trust. revocable trusts and other planned giving options provide benefits for your family and the american heart association

toni reel is a mother, heart disease survivor and american heart

association volunteer. she’s doing her part to make sure future generations benefit from the american heart association’s lifesaving work, just as she did. toni was diagnosed with an abnormal, fast heart rhythm when she was only a year old. at age three, she was diagnosed with wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome (wPw). wPw can affect how the heart beats. in a normal heart, electrical signals use only one path to move through the heart and make it beat. the timing of the electrical signal is important for the heart to beat properly. People with wPw have an extra conduction pathway, so the electrical signal may arrive at the heart’s lower, pumping chambers too soon, causing rhythm abnormalities. toni began taking heart medications as a child. although she was able to enjoy normal childhood activities like running, playing soccer and cheerleading, she was in the hospital at least once a month for a week at a time either for an attack or to modify her medications. in 1991, at age 18, toni learned of a new procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. it’s a commonly used treatment

— and you don’t have to be wealthy to participate in the benefits. through a trust you can provide income for your family, and in some cases save on federal estate taxes and estate administration costs. the american heart association has developed programs and tools to help women take charge of their heart health. But taking care of your financial well-being is also important, so we’ve created a brochure, Planning for Women, that addresses financial issues from a woman’s point of view. to receive your free brochure, please return the attached form to the american heart association. you can also visit www.americanheart.org/plannedgiving, call 1-888-227-5242 or e-mail plannedgiving@heart.org. contact the planned giving representative listed on the back page of the newsletter for more information about trusts and other planned gifts that benefit you, your family and the american heart association.

toni reel: Research Saved Her Life

Toni with daughter Phoebe (left) and son Peyton