Thank you, Barbara Vinson, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

Volunteers from across our You're the Cure Network have been sharing their stories with us about why they advocate for the American Heart Association.

Read Barbara Vinson's story below:

The answer is a simple one. I have congestive heart failure for which I have been treated a good eight years. I believe it both necessary and valuable to be aware of any changes occurring with my heart, and it's paid off. Only last year I acquired a pacemaker because suddenly, I could hardly get my breath. If I could keep on top of any progress made for the heart by both associations, then you never know--I could extend my own life and perhaps help a friend or a relative to be aware of any suspicious changes in their heart. I only wish I could have helped my brother.

-Barbara H. Vinson
Winton, MN

Thank you, Barbara, for all you do as an advocate and for sharing your story with us.

Do you have a story to share? Do you want to be picked as a feature for our blog? Send us your story by e-mailing Melissa.Horn@heart.org today!

So many of us are affected by heart disease and stroke. That's why our advocacy network, You're the Cure, provides you with an opportunity to fight back and tell your legislators why these issues are so important to you. Join You're the Cure TODAY, by logging on at www.yourethecure.org !

Is MN Missing the Boat With No Physical Education Standards?

Public News Service-MN
November 23, 2009

Is MN Missing the Boat With No Physical Education Standards?

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota is one of just three states in the entire country that don't have statewide physical education standards in schools; such standards currently are up to local districts. University of Minnesota professor Dr. Marti Kubik says many kids aren't getting the physical activity they need, and a new study from Germany reinforces the crucial nature of such exercise. The study of children in lower socio-economic circumstances found that daily physical activity resulted in significant health improvements.

Kubik says Minnesota kids aren't getting the daily doses of exercise they need.

"The opportunity to mandate policy and standards would certainly benefit the health of our youth and is something that, as Minnesotans, we really need to give serious consideration to."

Kubik says Minnesota data shows that only 25 percent of boys in 12th grade get 30 minutes of daily exercise, and only 10 percent of girls do.

She adds that supporting physical activity in youth is the best gift we can give them for life.

"We're missing the boat when we are not providing them the physical and the social support to make that happen during their childhood and adolescent period."

Senator Al Franken is sponsoring the "FIT Kids Act." He's in Washington right now debating the health care reform bill, and says this falls in line with what health reform is all about.

"If you're going to do health reform you have to put physical education and you have to put nutrition into that, and the best to place to start is school. We've just seen a growing epidemic of childhood obesity and it's happening here in Minnesota."

The supports the "FIT Kids Act" to ensure that quality physical activity is incorporated into school curricula.

According to the AHA, Minnesota dropped in ranking from the healthiest state in the nation in 2006 to number four in 2008, with the change based in part on the increase in obesity.

Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/11465-1

Thank You, Stevie Nelson, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

Throughout November, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope.

We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for “Giving” your time and sharing your lives with us.

You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

YOU’RE THE CURE!!!


Read Stevie Nelson's story below:

Stevie K. Nelson was a healthy 35-year-old, working full-time in the Army Reserve, when he suffered a devastating hemorrhagic stroke. Stevie fought back and today he is one of the most dedicated volunteers raising awareness for Power To End Stroke. He was honored nationally at the Power To End Stroke Awards in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007 by the American Stroke Association for his passion.

Stevie is currently the volunteer stroke service coordinator with Courage Center in Golden Valley, where he is responsible for facilitating groups for stroke survivors, peer mentorship, and educating families.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced in October Stevie’s appointment to the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (MGCDD) to complete a three-year term that expires on Jan. 3, 2011.

As an advocate for You're the Cure, Stevie also does his part to encourage everyone to contact their lawmakers about stroke issues.

We celebrate Stevie’s appointment by the governor and thank him for his service as a beloved volunteer of the American Heart Association.

MDH Health Reform Update: New Reports on Health Care Cost Trends

From the Minnesota Department of Health...

Two new reports from the Health Economics Program at the Minnesota Department of Health present the latest trends in private health insurance premiums and drivers of cost (for 2008) and total health care spending for all Minnesota residents (for 2007). Both reports show a moderating of trends compared to the recent past. At the same time, these reports underscore that over the long term, spending and premium growth remain unsustainable. A third report presents 2007 estimates of the distribution of insurance coverage in Minnesota; it presents a largely unchanged picture.

Key findings about total health care spending (private and public) for Minnesota residents in 2007 include the following:

• In 2007 Minnesota residents spent an estimated $32.5 billion on health care. This is about $6,266 per person, up from $5,966 in 2006.
• Compared to the nation overall, Minnesota spends a smaller but increasing share of its economy on health care (12.9 percent versus 15.3 percent), but the share is increasing in both Minnesota and the nation as a whole.
• In both Minnesota and the U.S. overall, public spending in 2007 grew at a faster rate than private spending, and overall growth was slower than in 2006.
  

As required by the 2008 health reform law, MDH published its first set of official health care spending projections in June 2009. In June 2010, MDH will publish a comparison of actual and projected spending for 2008, along with updated projections.

Links to these three new reports can be found on the Health Economics Program Web site.

For questions, please contact Stefan Gildemeister at (651) 201-3554, or by e-mail at stefan.gildemeister@state.mn.us.

Read more Health Reform announcements.

Thank you, Gene Johnson, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

Throughout November, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope.

We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for “Giving” your time and sharing your lives with us.

You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

YOU’RE THE CURE!!!

Read about Gene Johnson's story below:

My experience as a Sudden Cardiac Arrest survivor has been life-changing! I arrested back on 9-11-02 and because of a truly serendipity series of events, I was able to live, and with this second chance at life, I vowed to take this new life in a different direction from my past. The picture of me to the left is at the spot where I was saved!!!

Jill Birnbaum, an AHA staff person, contacted me in March of 2003 to be an AHA Lobbyist that April in Wash.DC. The experiences from that trip... and working with Jill ...inspired me to join and advocate heart issues with the wonderful people and organization of AHA .

I was very impressed with how AHA could get things done! I took every opportunity that came my way to volunteer my time in any capacity that they wanted me to be involved in.

I join Mended Hearts at my local hospital and volunteered to see heart patients pre and post op to support, comfort, and share my surgery/ hospital (quadruple heart by pass) experiences. I'm still doing it as of this date.

I write and visit my state and local politicians to advocate for all heart and stroke AHA goals.

I am still working with Allina Hospitals here in Minnesota on CPR/AED training of High School and College students. This would hopefully carry over to all families giving us a trained population!

I work with Medtronic Foundation thru Grant monies to train various groups in CPR/AED usage and placement.

We have a group of approximately three hundred known SCA Survivors ( Minnesota Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Network) I chair a group of ninety metro SCA survivors to work with local Heart Initiatives (Take Heart Minnesota).

Life is so good! The progress we have made is remarkable yet...so much remains to be done!!!

-Gene Johnson

If you are interested in becoming a part of our advocacy network, You're the Cure, visit www.yourethecure.org and you can join in with Gene in letting our legislators know to make heart issues a national priority!

Thank You, Gene for all you do as an advocate and volunteer - your story is an inspiration!