American Heart Association

📣 $15M in funding available now for valvular heart disease research. The American Heart Association is accepting proposals for studies on earlier detection and delaying progression of valvular heart disease. Awardees will collaborate with other researchers across an array of areas of investigation. Required pre-proposals are due Oct. 29.

Six-year-old Oscar Stuebe was playing center field. When a batter hit a pop fly, Oscar took off running, It looked like he'd made the catch. Then the ball dropped. Oscar bowed his head and collapsed. Instead of hitting his glove, the baseball had hit him in the chest, throwing his heart out of a normal rhythm and causing it to stop beating. Cardiac arrest caused by a blow to the chest is known as commotio cordis. It's what happened to Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin. Oscar's dad, Riley, ran from the dugout. His mom, Sarah, called 911 as she ran from the stands. She went into "nurse mode," pushing hard and fast in the center of his chest. First responders got his heart beating, but Oscar's prognosis depended on how long his brain had gone without oxygen. Two days later, Oscar woke up. Today he's safe and healthy. "We were so lucky," Sarah said. The Stuebes have started a nonprofit organization to increase awareness of sudden cardiac arrest during sports. They want to get more AEDs onto Florida sports fields and work with teams to establish emergency response plans that include heart events. The field where Oscar's heart stopped didn't have an AED, but it does now. They've made it their mission to talk to anyone who will listen about the importance of CPR. "Know how and when to do CPR, and don't be afraid to use it," Riley said. "Hopefully you'll never have to, but if you do, you can save someone's life."

Pain while walking is a common symptom of peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a narrowing of the arteries leading away from the heart. As plaque builds in the arteries, the muscles get less oxygen, causing leg pain. Talk to your doctor about any pain in the legs, hips, thighs or rear end and take off your socks so your doctor can check for other signs of PAD.

Together with the National Football League (NFL), we're working to build a #NationOfLifesavers through the in-school programs Kids Heart Challenge & American Heart Challenge. By completing the Hands-Only CPR learning module during the 2024-25 school year, participating students and schools had a chance to be awarded Super Bowl LX tickets or a $10,000 school physical equipment makeover. Here are the winners. Learn more 👉 http://spr.ly/6042Akude

Build new habits that stick with habit stacking. Just add a new healthy routine to something you already do every day. Try these ideas for a meal prep habit stack.

September is Self-Improvement Month, providing a time to reflect on how you can take actionable steps to achieve your career goals. When you join #TheAHALife, you gain access to resources, benefits, and a culture designed to help you advance, build connections, and strengthen workplace well-being. A few of our resources include: 💻 HeartU: our online learning platform offering courses to expand skills and knowledge 📝 Career Coaching: one-on-one guidance to help shape your career path 🤲 Wellness Benefits: resources to help you stay healthy, focused, and energized ❤️ Recognition: a team that celebrates achievements and fosters belonging Curious about joining us and experiencing this for yourself? http://spr.ly/6041AV1FW

Published today, Post-Myocardial Infarction Psychological Distress A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. http://spr.ly/6041Ak1Rb Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, psychosocial stress, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These negative psychological factors when occurring post-MI have been referred to as post-myocardial psychological distress (PMPD). 📷 Biologically plausible mechanisms by which MI leads to PMPD, which in turn leads to increased cardiac risk.

This scientific statement discusses the psychological issues that may be present in persons that are post myocardial infarction and a push for healthcare professional awareness. http://spr.ly/6046Ak1HM

You had great rhythm back then. Make sure your heart has great rhythm now. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) can raise your stroke risk up to 5X. The most common symptoms are a racing pulse or irregular heartbeat along with shortness of breath or fatigue. But sometimes there are no signs at all. Ask your doctor about AFib at your next appointment. HCA Healthcare Foundation is the national sponsor of Getting to the Heart of Stroke™.

📣 Announcing new research funding! We’re looking for highly innovative, high-impact research to support that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements in cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. American Headache Society Find out more 👇