American Heart Association

When 18-month-old Konner woke up with a 104-degree fever, his parents took him to the emergency room. The doctor said he was just dehydrated and needed more fluids. When his temperature spiked again, a trip to a different ER ended in the same diagnosis.

But Konner’s lips were also badly swollen. He had bumps all over his tongue and his body was covered in rashes. He cried when anyone touched him. His mom and dad, Stephanie and Justin, were sure there was more to it and took him to the pediatrician the next morning. Right away, the doctor said: "He's got Kawasaki disease."

Kawasaki disease develops suddenly and causes a high fever and inflammation of the blood vessels, including arteries of the heart. The exact cause is unknown. It typically affects children under the age of 5, more often boys than girls. It can become life-threatening if not diagnosed within the first 5-7 days of symptoms. Konner was diagnosed on day 5.

Over the next week, Konner received infusions of antibodies, standard treatment for Kawasaki disease. For the next six months, he took an aspirin a day to prevent fevers and blood clots.

Now 8, Konner is happy, healthy and full of energy. He will always be a carrier of the disease, but his chances of further complications reduce greatly the older he gets. He loves playing baseball, coloring and all things wrestling. He’s testing for the gifted and talented program at his school.

"Having a 104-degree temperature for days on end at 18 months old could have messed with Konner's brain, but it didn't," Stephanie said.

Or, as Konner puts it: "Kawasaki disease didn't weaken me. It made me stronger."

Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, but many of us don’t get nearly enough. 😩 That can have serious consequences for our health and well-being.

💡 Tip: For better sleep, try setting an alarm for 1 hour before bedtime as a reminder to start your nighttime routine.

Let’s have a heart-to-heart. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.

The risks of developing peripheral artery disease, or PAD, go up as you age, especially if you’re over 65. It can have serious consequences, including amputation. If you have pain in your hips, legs, thighs or butt, ask your doctor about PAD. Alrighty then!

150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week is the recommended amount for a healthy heart. But this is one case where more might be better. Research showed that adults who exercised two to four times the recommended amount might lower their risk of dying by as much as 31%.

We ❤️ 🐕 🐩

🐾 Dog-owning families often promote physical activity within the household.
🐾 Dog parents are more likely to fit in the recommended level of physical activity.
🐾 Dogs are always there to comfort you & put a smile on your face every day.

If your doctor has prescribed medication to help manage your type 2 diabetes, ask if the generics equivalent would be right for you. Generics have the same active ingredients and potency as originals and are FDA approved, but can cost significantly less.

Susan Koeppen was two hours into a conference call when she started feeling pain in her left shoulder blade. When the call ended, she went upstairs to grab lunch. That's when she was hit with an overwhelming sense of nausea.

As she continued to feel worse, she kept trying to figure out the source of her discomfort. Then she remembered something: When her father experienced a heart attack, he couldn't articulate what exactly was wrong, just that he felt terrible.

She needed to get to the emergency room.

At the hospital, tests showed a 100% blockage in the artery that provides most of the blood to the heart. She was whisked to the catheterization lab, where doctors inserted a stent to restore proper blood flow.

All of this happened within hours. The quick response likely saved her life. Susan was able to return home the next day.

Nearly two years later, Susan pays closer attention to her lifestyle. She goes for a walk every day and swims, runs or hikes three to four times a week. She eats more lean protein, fruits and vegetables while cutting back on sweets and red meat. She also now better understands the threat posed by her family history. She was at an elevated risk because both her parents had heart attacks; her mom's mom had four heart attacks.

The good news of her family history is that her parents not only survived their heart attacks, but also thrived for years to come. Her mom lived to be 91, her dad 86.

"I get a lot of hope and optimism from that," Susan said. "Having a heart attack doesn't necessarily mean that my life is going to be shorter or less fulfilling."

This little ditty could help you save a life with Hands-Only CPR. If you see a teen or adult collapse, call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of “Jack and Diane.”

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❤❤

Michael, an AT&T team member in Ohio, was born with a congenital heart defect that went undiagnosed until 2018. The prognosis wasn’t good, and multiple surgeries and a pacemaker were required to address the CHD. Even though he recently received a diagnosis of heart failure, thanks to those surgeries and research and advancements into treatment and care, Michael is here to fight.
People like Michael are why AT&T is a proud national Life is Why supporter. Throughout August, customers can visit any AT&T store or go online to support the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign with a donation through September 11. http://spr.ly/6185YlCYV

Some kids prefer the same lunch every day, but others might get bored. Ask them to choose if they’d prefer one of these options:

🍞 Use 100% whole-wheat tortillas or pita pockets.
🥕 Add shredded carrot or zucchini to a sandwich.
🥑 Swap avocado or hummus for cheese or mayo.
🍗 Use leftover grilled chicken instead of lunch meat.

Do you remember Jump Rope for Heart? AHA’s kid-focused events have raised a total of $1.8 billion to improve heart health and inspired generations to be active and healthy.

At the baggage carousel in the Philadelphia airport with his wife, Zsuzsa, Vang felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. One side of his face started to droop. He couldn't smile.

"Stroke, help," he tried to say. But his words came out as gibberish.

Minutes later he woke up in the back of an ambulance. While in the hospital, he had several more strokes overnight. Vang, who was 28, had dilated cardiomyopathy – his left ventricle was enlarged. The potentially life-threatening condition also caused his strokes.

Vang was convinced his days were numbered. He wanted to squeeze more life into the days he did have and leave Zsuzsa with happy memories. A new doctor told him to let his body guide his level of activity. So, for the next 14 years, Vang lived.

Then came 2020. Vang was in heart failure. After repeated trips to the hospital, he went on the transplant list and got a new heart. After six months, he was physically recovered, but not emotionally. He felt like he didn't have direction. One day scrolling online, he came across an article about a heart transplant patient who did an Ironman race within a year of transplantation.

"I can do that, too!" Vang told himself. The discovery gave him direction and purpose. Fifteen months after his transplant, he completed a sprint triathlon. Two months later, he finished an Olympic-length race. He completed a full Ironman last year.

"During the race when I thought about quitting, I always went back to this mantra: You didn't accept this heart to add days to your life, you accepted it to add life to your days. I told myself, you've just got to keep moving forward," he said.

There’s one week left in National Make-A-Will Month! It’s the perfect time to ensure that your wishes are known, and your legacy endures.

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Having good balance is important for many activities we do every day, such as walking and going up and down the stairs. Balance exercise is one of the four types of exercise, along with strength, endurance, and flexibility. Make sure it’s a part of your workout routine every week.

At 3 a.m., Rafaelito was breathing so loud and fast that he woke up his wife, MiLinda. She flipped on the lamp to find Rafaelito's face pale and his lips tinged blue. MiLinda dialed 911, unlocked their front door for first responders, then ran back to their bedroom and started CPR. It took three shocks from an AED after first responders arrived to get his heart beating again.

Rafaelito's cardiologist assured him his arteries weren't clogged. He'd experienced only an "electrical" problem with his heart – he didn't have a plumbing problem. Stress may have contributed, his doctors suggested. As a police detective sergeant, he had recently worked a tough case involving an infant who passed away. Days later, Rafaelito had a defibrillator implanted in his chest. The device can shock his heart into a normal rhythm if needed.

Five months after his cardiac arrest, Rafaelito returned to work. Across his 20-year career, he's been recognized for pulling people from burning buildings and saving them from gas leaks. Now, MiLinda joins her husband as a hero.

After their experience, the family has made it their mission to spread awareness about the importance of quick action and CPR. "Call 911 as soon as you can," MiLinda said. "You can save a life."

"I still can't believe he's here. We look at life a little differently now, and we appreciate those teeny tiny moments."

Help fight disparities and improve health in rural communities by joining HeartCorps. Volunteers get a stipend, valuable public health experience, and the opportunity to make a big impact in a small town. Learn more and apply at http://spr.ly/6186lMnAi.

No matter what footwear fits your style, take off your shoes and socks at your next checkup so the doctor can check of signs of PAD. Early detection can prevent serious complications of peripheral artery disease, including amputation.

Garden State arrived in theaters 20 years ago. If you saw it then, it might be time to get an initial blood sugar screening. Ask your doctor if you are due for a blood test.

Loving-kindness meditation is a way to practice feeling unconditional compassion for ourselves and others. Some studies suggest it can boost empathy and feelings of connection AND reduce bias, anger, depression and anxiety.

Follow this guide to give it a try. Start with just a few minutes today and gradually extend your time.

Salvador is incredibly passionate about funding heart health research. He lost both his grandfather and his brother to heart disease. His brother was born with a heart condition and was expected to live only until around 17 years old. However, thanks to advancements in treatments, he survived 12 more years.
People like Jason are why AT&T is a proud national Life is Why supporter. Throughout August, customers can visit any AT&T store or go online to support the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign with a donation through September 11. Click the link to learn more.

Give your heart some R&R! Practicing relaxation techniques and reducing stress are crucial for heart health. Long or short, restorative breaks and mindful stress management can help lower blood pressure and improve heart function. Another proven method to feel better? Helping others! With a quick & convenient contribution, you can help us save more lives without putting more stress on yours.Click the link to do your part!

http://spr.ly/6185lgXuF

Trust that you have the power to save a life. Immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, and you only need to know two steps: Call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Humming along to this Billy Joel song can help you keep the beat.

Our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Richard Simmons.

His family released a statement today citing heart disease as a contributing factor to his passing.

Simmons dedicated his life to helping people and inspired millions to achieve healthier lifestyles.

At 16, Claire learned her aortic valve wasn't working correctly. She avoided surgery to replace it until her 30s, when at 4 months pregnant, she started having trouble breathing. Doctors said her heart valve was too weak to survive the pregnancy and she needed a new one. Now.

Open-heart surgery would have been risky for the baby. After a month of back-and-forth between her doctors, Claire underwent a procedure known as TAVR, which inserts a new valve into the heart through a catheter without removing the old one. The procedure was so successful that Claire left the hospital the next day. Almost immediately, she breathed easier. Her baby boy, Milo was born healthy.

Learn more about aortic stenosis at http://spr.ly/6189jOPBv.

When the American Heart Association was founded a century ago, people threw medicine balls and did calisthenics to stay fit. Then came the hula hoop, vibrating belts and aerobics, high-intensity fitness programs and cycling.

How people exercise changes with each new trend, but what won't change is this: Staying active benefits your health. Physical activity lowers the risk for heart attacks, strokes, dementia and cancers, boosts mental health and potentially reverses Type 2 diabetes.

Americans, however, are moving less than ever. Just 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women and adolescents get the recommended amount of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. "We have engineered physical activity out of our lives," said Bethany Barone Gibbs, chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at West Virginia University in Morgantown. "You can do all your shopping online, order your food online. If you wanted to spend all day not moving, you could do it.”

Current guidelines backed by the AHA say adults should do 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity exercise. Moderate-intensity muscle strengthening is a twice-weekly goal, along with balance and fall prevention training for older adults. Children are advised to get at least one hour of moderate physical activity per day, with vigorous aerobic activity three times each week.

And even small amounts of activity throughout the day can make a difference.

"The big public health message is to just get off the couch," said Dr. Damon Swift, an exercise physiologist and associate professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. "There is a misperception that you need to be a marathoner to get health benefits from exercise," he said. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what you do to stay active, he said. As long as you do something.”