American Heart Association

Published today, The Role of Physical Activity in Obesity Treatment and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. http://spr.ly/6041B8pVEt Because clinicians and health professionals play a pivotal role in fostering and sustaining patients’ health goals, this scientific statement provides an overview of evidence-based strategies for targeted weight loss counseling and for leveraging digital technology, particularly to engage patients and achieve realistic physical activity goals. 📷 Practical application of physical activity for weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

As physical activity is a key component of comprehensive obesity treatment, this scientific statement summarizes physical activity’s role in promoting weight loss, weight loss maintenance, and cardiometabolic health, complementing lifestyle, pharmacological (including GLP-1-based medications), and surgical-based weight loss intervention strategies. http://spr.ly/6042B8ppxp

Every movement matters! Just 20 minutes a day of a simple activity you enjoy, like walking, can improve heart health and mental well-being.

Controlar la presión arterial, comer bien y mantenerse en actividad puede reducir tu riesgo. La fundación HCA Healthcare Foundation es la patrocinadora a nivel nacional de Getting to the Heart of Stroke™

It took eight years, a heart attack and a stroke before ShantaQuilette D. Carter-Williams received a diagnosis of a common heart condition. That’s why she quit her job to become a cardiovascular social media influencer and women’s health advocate. Shanta was increasingly frustrated at a cycle that seemed to be on continuous loop. She experienced chest pain, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath or pain in her arms and legs. She’d go to the doctor and be told: It’s stress. Your tests don’t show anything wrong with your heart. Lose some weight. Change your diet. It’s all in your head. After her stroke, a doctor figured it out: She had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, a condition characterized by a buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. Today Shanta spends her time educating women, especially women of color, about heart disease and stroke and how to advocate for themselves with health professionals. Her reason is simple: She doesn’t want them to go through what she did. As HeyShantaQ, she posts regularly on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, encouraging women to eat right and stay physically active, but also to speak up when they visit a health care professional, ask questions, know their cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure levels. Since her diagnosis, Shanta has now lowered both her cholesterol and her blood pressure with the help of medication. With the help of weight-loss medications, she has also lost 157 pounds. She no longer struggles to control her symptoms. She walks regularly. She does Pilates. She eats a heart-healthy diet. “I am no longer quiet when I’m in the doctor’s office,” she said. “I’m not just a listener – I’m a communicator. And I challenge assumptions. I ask questions.” “I am now the CEO of my own health."

New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data this week signal potential health coverage losses that could put access to care in jeopardy for millions of people across the country.   When people lose health coverage, they are more likely to delay or go without care—leading to worse health outcomes and added strain on families and communities. Access to quality, affordable health care is essential for preventing and managing chronic conditions and supporting longer, healthier lives.   The decisions being made now in Congress, state legislatures and Medicaid agencies will determine if people are able to afford their health coverage, or lose access to care altogether. Policymakers should act now to protect and expand access to affordable coverage, strengthen Medicaid and keep care within reach for millions.   Read my statement: https://lnkd.in/egCqKH3C

No one should have to choose between financial security and getting the care they need. We’re proposing five principles to address the health care affordability crisis to improve outcomes for current and future generations. http://spr.ly/6047BBsrMz

Could your socks be hiding a heart problem? Some signs of peripheral artery disease or PAD can show up on the feet, including wounds that won’t heal, slow-growing toenails, cold feet and skin color changes. PAD raises the risk of amputation, heart attack and stroke, but it can be treated if it’s caught early. Take off your socks at your next doctor's appointment and ask about PAD.

Smoking is a serious health threat in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. As we celebrate AANHPI heritage this month, let’s work together to raise awareness and end tobacco use. #AANHPIHeritageMonth

As we approach the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Act, school meals are at a true crossroads. Decisions being made now at USDA and in Congress will shape what millions of children eat each day—and whether schools have the resources they need to deliver healthy, consistent meals. In an op-ed for Agri-Pulse Communications, I outline what’s at stake and why aligning strong nutrition standards with real-world support for schools is critical to protecting children’s health. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ehSuPKAB I hope you’ll join us in calling on Congress to protect healthy school meals and ensure every child has access to the nutritious food they need to learn and thrive. Take action: https://lnkd.in/e2FrsXDB #HeartPowered