American Heart Association

MAKING A DIFFERENCE | HEART HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

FEBRUARY 2022

The American Heart Association (AHA) office in Tulsa raises funds and awareness to support its mission of being a relentless force for longer, healthier lives in Tulsa and the surrounding communities.

Heart disease is the number one killer of people globally, and stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide. Even in cases where stroke does not result in death, it can cause disability and diminish a person's quality of life. The AHA’s goal is to eradicate heart disease and stroke while advancing cardiovascular health for all. This includes removing barriers to health care access and quality.

In Tulsa, the Association focuses its work around women's health, hypertension (high blood pressure), and nutrition security for those without access to healthy affordable food.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 – more than all kinds of cancer combined. The AHA’s Go Red for Women movement brings awareness to heart health in women and culminates each year in the Tulsa Go Red for Women Luncheon, slated for May 6, 2022.

Half the people in the U.S. have high blood pressure, though many don’t know they have it. Blood pressure can be largely controlled through a combination of lifestyle changes or medication, or both. The AHA is uniquely positioned to help people keep their blood pressure in check through several initiatives, including Check. Change. Control.™, Target: BP™, and self-measured blood pressure programs.

Nearly a third of Oklahoma high school students report having tried e-cigarettes. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development that continues into the early to mid-20s. Ending tobacco use is the focus of the Tulsa Heart Ball, scheduled for Feb. 12, 2022. Information and tickets to the ball can be found at TulsaHeartBall.heart.org or by calling the Tulsa office at (918) 877-8359.

The AHA-Tulsa has two active events – the Tulsa Heart Walk and CycleNation – that focus on getting people moving. Studies show that people who begin to engage in regular physical activity and make other healthy changes after a heart attack live longer and have a better quality of life than those who don't.

Information on Heart Walk and CycleNation can be found by contacting Heart Challenge Corporate Development Director Liz Briggs at Liz.Briggs@heart.org or Senior Corporate Development Director Haley Coffman at Haley.Coffman@heart.org