Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "american heart association"

American Heart Association's Start Training 2012

2012-02-01T07:04:33Z

The American Heart Association (AHA) held its 2012 Start Training Team Kickoff on Saturday at the California Family Fitness Center in Folsom. The event included health screenings, nutritional and health information as well as a series of mentor and inspirational speeches.

This year’s run/walk half marathon will be held at the American River Parkway on April 28. Participants are required to raise a minimum of $500 through writing letters, email campaigns and personal fundraising websites.

The goal for this campaign is $100,000. By the kickoff meeting, a little over $6,000 had already been pledged.

Start Training is a team training program for AHA half marathon participants of all levels and abilities. The meeting gave people who attended a chance to meet the AHA, mentors and coaches, and culminated in a one-mile walk/run with the AHA team.

The team takes walkers and runners from the first step to the finish line of a marathon or half marathon event. Weekly group training meetings are scheduled to help participants raise funds for the AHA and the American Stroke Association. Mentor meet-ups are scheduled to be held at McKinley Park on Tuesdays. Practices are also conducted and led by experienced mentors.

Justin Carlino talks about his involvement as AHA mentor.

Team mentor Justin Carlino shared his story of living in a house with a long, steep driveway, which he and his wife walked every day. One day, he had to stop because of a shortness of breath. His doctor referred him to a local cardiologist, who diagnosed him with dilated cardiomyopathy, meaning his heart had continued to grow without subsequent growth of heart muscle.

“There were three possible causes: pregnancy, alcoholism, or poison,” Carlino said. “I’m a male who hardly drank alcohol except for an occasional glass of wine.”

After a few years, Carlino was referred to a Stanford Hospital cardiologist for further treatment. Treatment continued for 13 years.

Carlino had a pacemaker installed and was then put on the heart transplant list. Feeling horrible during a holiday, he called the cardiologist and was advised to come in the next day. His blood pressure at the time was 70 over 50, and he was immediately sent to the hospital. Two days later, a heart was available. After five hours of surgery, Carlino had a new heart.

At the time, the hospital had a transplant age cut-off at 70 but made an exception for this case. Carlino, at 73, became the oldest heart transplant recipient in Stanford’s history. Today there is no age limit for transplants at Stanford.

Carlino soon became a volunteer for the California Transplant Donor Network. It wasn’t until recently, at a presentation at the EMT training facility in Stockton, that he learned his pre-transplant condition was classified 1-A, which meant that at the time he had approximately two weeks to live without the transplant.

He now has a patch installed in his chest to correct a venal hernia, eye lenses after laser surgery for cataract removal, has had laser surgery to correct a prostate problem, surgery on his left hand to correct carpel tunnel syndrome, two lower back surgeries and surgery on his right elbow. He says the only original body parts he has are his legs and feet.

Seven and a half years after transplant, Carlino walks rapidly every day. His goal in supporting the AHA was to walk a half marathon.

“I got to the point of walking five miles a day, every day, and I’ve been doing that as soon as I was able to after the heart transplant,” he said. “So that put me in shape for this half marathon. I’ve never done something like that before.”

His strategy for that half marathon was to intentionally start last, at 567th place, to see how many walkers he could pass. He easily passed the first walker who was on crutches, and at the end of the race he had improved his standing by 318 places. His pace of 16.5 minutes per mile was a new record. This year’s goal is to beat that record.

“At the finish line, somebody tapped me on the shoulder,” he said. “I turned, and they gave me a medal. They also gave me a bottle of water, and I turned forward again and the legs said, ‘OK, are you happy we did it,’ then – boom! – I fell forward on my face.”

“I think the real reason I did it is because I had it in my mind,” he said. “I set my mind to it, and I didn’t veer. No rest stops, fluids were given to me during the walk. No potty stops. I just kept going.”

Pam Clements shares her inspirational story.

Stroke survivor Pam Clements also shared her story at the kickoff.

“One Saturday, six years ago, I was very happy,” she said. “I had saved my money and I was going shoe shopping. While I was shopping, and I had some shoes in my hand, something happened. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I got this severe, sudden headache. I got really dizzy, and when I got dizzy I got scared, but I did not know what was happening to me.”

She sat down and believed she was going to die.

“I did not know the warning signs to a stroke,” she said, listing sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing from one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headaches with no known cause. “If you’re having a stroke, you do not need to have all five of those symptoms. I did not have all five of them. I did not get confused, because I never put those shoes down.”

Two months later, a similar thing happened.

“I remember this day so vividly because I was so happy that day,” she said. “I was so happy, and I looked over at my husband and my little yorkie, and I said, ‘God, thank you for giving me such an awesome husband.’ And then moments later that same thing happened again.”

Clements’ husband took her to the emergency room immediately. At the time of the stroke, she was 48 years old, but she said there’s no age limit for a stroke.

“Just imagine waking up one day feeling good and then seconds later your whole life changes,” she said. “When this happened to me, I couldn’t get out of bed by myself, I couldn’t go to the bathroom, I couldn’t walk. I had to learn everything all over again.”

Mentors in AHA half marathon volunteer to help with training and encoruagement.

Each mentor had encouraging words for participants and was a good example of different ages and abilities and how the AHA had become part of their lives.

Participants and guests were then told what donations can do for the community.

“The reason we raise money for AHA is threefold; educate, spread the message you need to be aware of and tell friends and family,” said Erin Harris. Raising awareness and money for research are primary goals. Harris noted that the University of California, Davis had received $900,000 from AHA for research.

“The AHA has funded 12 Nobel Prize Winners for their work directly related to heart and strokes. This is huge and our passion is to make sure that this enthusiasm continues, to make sure we as a community not only know that we need to get health care but that we also have the tools to do that,” said Harris.

Harris said that $50,000 can fund a doctoral student for an entire year and reaching the goal of $100,000, “We can fund two of those just through this fundraising program, so that’s our goal.”

The presentation also included a game where questions were asked and someone in the crowd received a prize for answering correctly. The question of how to reach their goal was discussed during the game. Celia Cortez held a board with the top “5 Ways to Fundraise.” These five ways to raise funding included letter writing, online fundraising, matching gifts, social media and rummage sales.

Coach Raymond Martinez stated that participants were doing something fantastic not only for themselves but were also raising awareness and motivating others.

“We’re all in this together building to participate in that first half marathon,” said Martinez. “We’re going to make it fun for you. We can all go out and run a half marathon today but it just might take us forever. This program will allow us to participate safely and take our time building up to it so that when that day comes it’s more fun, it’s safer, we’re reducing our risk of injury and we’re going to have a good time on that day.”

Martinez said that as participants train it’s important to know that you do your best and stick to it. Participants were encouraged to have fun. He also introduced Daryl Parker, a professor of Exercise Physiology at California State University, Sacramento.

Parker is an exercise physiologist who works at Mercy General Hospital and is also a professor at CSUS. Parker indicated that he loves to come to this type of meeting and listen to speakers and mentors. Parker shared that their speeches motivate him as well. He spoke about the kinds of things people should expect during their training period.

Not all expectations are good, noted Parker. His presentation covered several key items participants of the half marathon should expect.

Parker explained that realistic expectations should be set in order to succeed.

“I have to bring research data otherwise people won’t believe me when I talk. Exercise is good, right? That’s what we came. Chronic exercise is good for you and research backs this. Regular exercise is good for the body. Don’t expect too much too fast as this takes time,” he said. “Keep showing up and success will follow, don’t expect too much too fast.”

Good and bad things follow exercise. Parker suggested setting a threshold and doing exercise. He compared it to a prescription and taking certain doses. A minimum dose should be taken to burn calories and suggested that it could be achieved by taking four to six hourly walks four to six times a week. Another dose could be done by running. You can burn more calories by running three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes. Parker indicated that these doses also serve as disease management.

The training introduction covered many topics and all of the speakers were inspirational. Volunteers at the event helped things go smoothly and they were all more than willing to answer any questions. Mercy General was thanked for their participation and for being a big supporter of the program.

After all the speeches were done, participants were able to do a one mile run/walk to complete the team kickoff meeting. Several runners completed the run quickly, and walkers were able to chat about their experience at the kickoff and talk about their training programs and goals for the April 28 half marathon.

Capitol Events for this week

2010-09-14T21:59:39Z

Wednesday, Sept. 15
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The California Emergency Management Agency is hosting September Preparedness Month. Join Cal EMA Secretary Matthew Bettenhausen and other emergency response agencies and learn about the importance of preparedness. About 20 people are expected to attend this event on the North Steps of the Capitol.

1-10 p.m. The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California will be hosting a celebration for Mexican Independence Day on the West Steps of the Capitol. Around 3,000 people are expected to attend.

Thursday, Sept. 16
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The American Heart Association presents the Start! Heart Walk and Wellness Fair on the West Steps of the Capitol. The Start! Heart Walk raises money to fund research and education, advocate for health and save lives. Around 2,500 people are expected to attend.

Sacramento Goes Heart Red

2010-02-04T22:47:49Z

A Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute worker checks blood pressure during the start of Sacramento's American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement at the capitol building this morning. Men and women were screened for heart disease and other health issues. There was a Heart disease and stroke health disparities briefing for legislative staff by Sutter cardiologist Diane Sobcowicz, M.D., Board President, American Heart Association Sacramento Division.

February is Heart Month and Sacramento will show its support for the American Heart Association’s fight against the nation’s leading killer of women – heart disease. Five buildings, including two neighboring structures in downtown Sacramento (Wells Fargo Center and Bank of the West Tower), will light their exterior windows red to help raise awareness.

This year the American Heart Association invites everyone to spend their lunch break at Arden Fair Mall for the Go Red For Women Wear Red Day celebration. It will be a fun-filled and educational day, featuring live entertainment and free health screenings courtesy of Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute.

A casting call, presented by Go Red For Women national sponsor, Macy’s, will be held to find the next group of women who will represent the Go Red For Women campaign in 2011. You could be one of these women! At the casting call, simply tell us how you are speaking up against heart disease to improve your life and those around you. Jiffy Lube will distribute savings books containing over $100 in Jiffy Lube service discounts and more, as well as share information about the Maintenance Partners For Life campaign which aims to raise $1.5 million for the America.

Friday, February 5, 2010, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Arden Fair Mall, Sacramento. Contact: Andrea Hull, (916) 431-2381.

Learn more at http://www.goredforwomen.org

SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Fighting cardiovascular disease through Start! Sacramento Heart Walk

2009-09-17T06:47:41Z

William Land Park will come alive Saturday with over 3,000 community members walking together to fight against heart disease in the Sacramento Heart Walk. Start! Heart Walk is locally sponsored by Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute, and aided nationally by the American Heart Association. The event is scheduled to begin from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Sacramento community is very much involved, said Kristine Mosqueda-Kelly with American Heart Association. Families and individuals are participating in this event to share their stories and hopefully raise community awareness about the fight against heart disease and stroke. The event is driven by volunteers and walkers to fund lifesaving research in the cardiovascular field.

"The American Heart Association has had a significant impact in the lives of countless families through its research efforts, community education outreach, advocacy and healthcare quality improvement efforts," said Mosqueda-Kelly. "AHA-funded research has contributed to many important discoveries such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects. These are medical breakthroughs that has saved countless lives and continue to save many lives everyday." Said Mosqueda-Kelly.

One survivor is Grace Brown, age 6 1/2, of Antelope. Brown was diagnosed at 2 1/2 years old with a congenital heart defect called coarctation of the aorta. At only 3 1/2 years old, she underwent lifesaving surgery for her enlarged heart.

"We were told without surgery at some point, she wouldn't survive past her 30s," said Angie Brown, Grace's mother.

Now two years after her surgery Grace has been weaned off her medication and the family is confident that her future will be bright.

"[At the Sacramento Heart Walk] we honor her for her courage and what she went through, " said Brown said. "My father passed away from a heart attack at the same time when she was diagnosed in 2006," Brown said. "I am very passionate about this cause."

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in the United States, respectively. "Anybody at any age can have risk factors," said Dr. Maxine Barish Wreden, physician with Sutter Health. "Children or teenagers can have high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, diabetes."

Obesity, can be directly related to the food we eat or don't eat as children, said Wreden. This can be easily preventable by the lifestyle choices we make with proper diet and exercise. The chance for stroke, hypertension and heart is significantly reduced by the type of food we consume, she said.

Along with community awareness, there will also be free health screenings, educational information, and heart-healthy snacks and beverages. Family-oriented activities in the Kids Zone will be providing free activities, such as the milk mustache contest, sponsored by Foster Farms Dairy. There will also be a health fair and free massages. Live bands will provide musical entertainment, as well.

For more information, visit the Start! Sacramento Heart Walk website.

More information about cardiovascular disease can be found at the American Heart Association website.

What's happening at the Capitol: September 17, 18

2009-09-17T04:19:53Z

Thursday, Sept. 17

8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. The California State Treasurer's Office will be setting up an information booth for the State Employees Charitable Campaign near the traffic circle west of the Capitol. About 75 people are expected to visit.

9:30 a.m. - noon A film crew of eight people from the China Travel Channel will be filming on the north and west sides of the Capitol.

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. American Heart Association will be holding a wellness fair on the west steps of the Capitol. During their lunchtime, about 2,500 state employees will also be walking around the Capitol in the AHA's annual Health Walk.

Friday, Sept. 18

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club will be holding a Prisoners Of War/Missing In Action rally on the west steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to participate.

What's happening at the Capitol: May 20, 21, 22

2009-05-20T03:45:13Z

Wednesday, May 20

8 a.m.-4 p.m. California Hunger Action Coalition will be holding a Hunger Action Day on the north steps of the Capitol. "Each May, hundreds of anti-hunger advocates from all over the state meet in Sacramento to educate their legislators about hunger and support anti-hunger legislation. Low-income advocates, soup kitchen volunteers, nutritionists, food bank supporters and others concerned about the 3.1 million Californians experiencing hunger travel by bus, car and airplane once each year to participate in this important event," says the event's webpage. 350 people are expected.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. American Heart Association will be holding an educational California Lobby Day on the south steps of the Capitol for a crowd of approximately 150 people. "Come out and voice your support against stroke, heart disease, childhood obesity, and [for] tobacco tax increase," says a Craigslist flyer for the event.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. California Department of Toxic Substance Control will be displaying a boat made from recycled plastic on the lawn north of the traffic circle to an expected audience of 20 people.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. California Association of Professional Scientists will be holding their annual State Scientist Day on the west steps of the Capitol. With an expected turnout of 3,000 participants, third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders are all invited to participate in the hands-on science fair with booths from the California Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Conservation (Recycle Rex will appear at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.). Teachers can still register their classes by calling (916) 441-2629, according to the event's website.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Two fuel-cell vehicles will be displayed on the east steps of the Capitol, followed by a press conference.

Noon-1:30 p.m. Natural Products Association West will be holding its seventh annual advocacy event, "Health Matters," just south of the fish pond. 100 people are expected.

1:30-3 p.m. The Association of California Water Agencies will be holding a rally near the fish pond. In attendance will be around 1500 representatives of public water agencies, other water organizations, and their supporters. "The purpose of the rally is to press for action on a comprehensive water solution. The event is intended to raise the visibility of the state’s water challenges and keep the water issue before state leaders and the public," says the event's website.

Those who register here, can check in at the west lobby of the Convention Center starting at 8:30 a.m., before attending a luncheon at 11:45 a.m., and march from the Sheraton Hotel to the Capitol at 1 p.m.

Thursday, May 21

9 a.m.-5 p.m. California Department of Toxic Substance Control will be displaying a boat made from recycled plastic on the lawn north of the traffic circle to an expected audience of 20 people.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Sacramento Transportation Management Association will be holding a carpooling, bicycling and transit information rally on the west steps of the Capitol as a part of May Is Bike Month's Bikefest. 500 participants are expected.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Office of First Lady of California Maria Shriver has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for a new garden. It can be found at 13th Street between L and N (the east side of the Capitol) according to one political blog.

6:30 p.m.- all night? If the California Supreme Court decides to uphold Prop 8, Equality Action NOW will hold a march at 6:30 p.m. from the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center to the State Capitol's west steps. Says a press release, "a second rally with speakers and entertainment will take place, followed by a march around the Capitol grounds. On return to the West Capitol Steps, participants will be invited to speak at an open mic. Speakers of all ages, all walks of life, gay, straight, children of gay couples, parents of gay individuals, students and couples who were married and who want to marry will be invited to tell their stories. If crowd interest remains high, Enrique Manjarrez, Youth program Coordinator, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center will lead an all-night youth rally."

Friday, May 22

4-7:30 p.m. A private wedding will be held near the old rose garden at the Capitol in front of an audience of 100 people.