Heart Awareness Month - February 2013Celebrate. Educate. Care. Share.

February is Heart Awareness Month.  A month dedicated to raising awareness and increasing knowledge about the prevention of heart disease – the #1 cause of death among men and women in the U.S.   It is the major cause of death for almost one in four people. It’s near and dear to us. Please educate yourself on the dangers of heart disease and get on track to better heart health. Our goal at NorthDelaWHEREHappening.com is to infuse Heart Healthy Ways into our LOCAL Communities. Here you will find celebrations, education sessions, FREE health checks, recipes, shopping, walking, kids and fundraising for HEART. Get your HEART INvolved.

DELAWARE Heart Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2009 report, Delaware ranked 24th of 51 states with 177.8 deaths per 100,000 due to diseases of the hearth. The highest being Mississippi at 244.9 and the lowest being Minnesota at 121.9.

Christiana Care’s Heart & Vascular Health Center Goes RED

hristiana Heart & Vascular Center Goes Red - DelawareChristiana Care’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health is awash in red lighting in February to celebrate heart month.  The dramatic red glow spotlights the only center in the region to integrate services under one roof including cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, vascular interventional cardiology, cardiology and interventional nephrology.

How lucky are we to have this right in our own back yard?

According to ChristianaCare.org, their prestigious cardiovascular program earned a national reputation with gold achievement awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and a three-star ranking for the third consecutive year from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The ranking places CC among the top 12% of all U.S. heart surgery programs. In addition, Christiana Care ranks in the top 2% in the U.S. for advanced heart arrhythmia capabilities and is 6th in stroke volume. Last year, CC performed 588 open-heart cases and 4,790 cardiac catheterization cases. Learn more: http://news.christianacare.org/2013/02/red-lighting-adorns-heart-center

FREE Blood Pressure Reading

Blood-pressure-readings-walgreensYour opportunity to support the fight against heart disease is at the corner of happy and healthy – at your local Walgreens! From now through Feb. 28, 2013, you can receive a FREE blood pressure reading AND make a donation to the American Heart Association before you leave. Thanks to Walgreens for their support! How often do you check your blood pressure?

FREE Heart & Vascular Risk Assessment

Christiana Care - know-your-numbers-test-pageHow well do you think you know your own risk for heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease? While it might be uncomfortable to think about, understanding your risk for these diseases can help you to take important steps to prevent them. It might even save your life. Visit www.christianacare.org/hearttest to take the test.

Recipes for the HeartGo Red for Women Recipes

The Go Red For Women – American Heart Association Recipes for the Heart magazine cookbook is now digital and available on iTunes – Get the iTunes version today!   Try dozens of heart-healthy recipes that help you stay on track to living a heart-healthy life! What is your favorite heart-healthy recipe?

Heart Check Meal Certification Program

In today’s hectic lifestyle, it’s tempting to hit the drive through or dash into a diner. But the sad truth is that a lot of restaurant menu items are loaded with calories, sodium, saturated fat, and other things that can really do a number on your health–especially, when the convenience of restaurant food brings us to the table several times a week; it’s even more important to pick spots with healthy choices. That’s why the American Heart Association is making it easy to find better options when eating away from home with the Heart-Check mark certification for heart-healthy meals.

AHA Certified Heart Check markSimply look for the Heart-Check mark on the menu—it’s similar to the one you may recognize from heart-healthy foods in the grocery store. When you see the Heart-Check mark on the menu, you’ll know right away that the meal has been certified to meet our nutritional standards.

SUBWAY® Restaurants® are the first to certify heart-healthy meals in its 25,000 U.S. locations, including some kids meals. Choose from any of these heart-healthy meals.

Shop for Heart

Looking for health-related prizes or gifts for your special event?  Additional American Heart Association branded items such as cookbooks, tshirts, greeting cards, water bottles and pedometers can be purchased at www.shopheart.org.  Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association.

#MacysGoesRed

Color your world red and Macy’s will donate $2 to Go Red for Women®, up to $250,000.  Post it, pin it, tweet it and tag it with #MacysGoesRed and you can share the magic of giving with Macy’s.Wear Red Pin Macys 20percent off

Celebrate. Support. Save.

Now thru February 14, 2013. In-store only. Purchase a Red Dress Pin for $2 and save 20% off. Visit Macys.com for more details and some restrictions apply.

Kids for Heart

Learn AHA Kids ProgramsJump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart T-Shirt.  Kids – Someone just like you designed this year’s Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart tshirts.  Will you design next year’s?  All you have to do is draw or color a picture about Jump Rope For Heart or Hoops For Heart and submit it on our website. All pictures submitted will be considered and two very special pictures—one for Jump and one for Hoops—will be chosen as next year’s designs! It will also be seen on the Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops For Heart collection envelopes and thank-you gift posters next year! Be sure to have an adult help you submit your design here by Friday, February 8, 2013. Receive an official thank-you gift t-shirt. The winner will also get a $150 Nike gift card! Click here to enter your design.

Videos with Heart. Kids – Would you like to share a message from your heart?  Have an adult help you to record a short, 1- to 3-minute video about healthy eating, being active, or how heart disease may have affected you or someone you love. Ask an adult to help you upload your video to our site so you can tell your story to boys and girls everywhere!

WALK for Heart

Heart Walk Delaware 2013Mark your calendars for the 2013 Wilmington Heart Walk – September 8, 2013

Activities 8:00 am, Walk 9:00 am   |  Event Goal – $300,000

Sign up to WALK today. Organize a Team. Register today. www.heartwalk.kintera.org/wilmingtonde

Heart Ball Wilmington Delaware 2013

Wilmington Heart Ball

An unforgettable evening of entertainment and hope at the 2013 Wilmington Heart Ball.  Each year, community members, medical professionals and corporate leaders come together to celebrate the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.

For years, the Heart Ball has helped to advance the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association, a mission that has impacted the lives of thousands of men, women and children in the Wilmington area.  Contributions received go far in supporting cardiovascular research, professional and community education, and advocacy efforts. The Heart Ball celebrates: our work and mission; our donors and volunteers; and – most importantly – the lives saved and improved because of everyone’s efforts. Join us!  We look forward to celebrating with you! For more information, tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.heart.org/wilmingtondeheartball.

Healthy Heart Month DelawareMORE HEART INFO

For the most current HEART information, we encourage you to connect with the following organizations:

If you know of more Local HEART Healthy events, tell us about them.

Email [email protected]