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Feature Article
The Month of Love and Heart Health
It’s that time of year where people throughout the world exchange candy, flowers, and sentimental gifts with their loved ones, and those that they hope to love. While many of us believe—especially those who grumble at the thought of the lovey-dovey holiday—that Valentine’s Day was invented by greeting card and chocolate companies to up their profits, it actually has a long, and somewhat dark history.
Heart health advocacy organizations are hoping to add to the history of Valentine’s Day by designating the month of love “heart health month” and making it another reminder of how important it is that we protect and cherish both our loved ones and our hearts.
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Fact Sheet
The Silver Book: Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation impacts between 2.7 and 6.1 million adults and can lead to stroke, heart failure, dementia, disability, and death. It also costs a tremendous amount of money--at least $6.65 billion each year. This latest factsheet from The Silver Book brings the leading data on the burden of the disease and the value of innovation to reduce that burden, all into one place.
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Document
Assessing Stroke and Bleeding Risk in Atrial Fibrillation
This expert consensus statement makes important recommendations on the use of stroke and bleeding risk tools, the decision to anticoagulate, the incorporation of patient preferences, and more.
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Alliance Views, Newsletters
Know Your Pulse: It Could Save Your Life
Think back and try to remember if your doctor or another health care professional checked your pulse during your last visit? Not with a stethoscope but with their fingers on your wrist? If you’re like many people you’re sure that they listened to your heart and checked your blood pressure, but you’re also pretty sure no one has taken your pulse in a while.
While listening to your heart with a stethoscope helps your doctor evaluate the functioning of your heart and its valves, a simple pulse check can better evaluate your heart’s rate and rhythm.
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Fact Sheet
The Facts About Afib
The most common type of arrhythmia—or abnormal heart rhythm—atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical system that affects an estimated 2.3 to 5.6 million people in the US. During AFib episodes the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles). In some people these episodes come and go. In others they are chronic and occur regularly. In both cases, the arrhythmia itself isn’t generally serious; however, abnormal blood flow and strain to the heart can lead to serious medical conditions.
Download to learn more about what it means to have AFib, risk factors, treatment options, and making the right treatment decision for you.
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Science in the Spotlight
The Balancing Act: Managing Atrial Fibrillation
Every year around 75,000 Americans learn that they have atrial fibrillation. Some are diagnosed after noticing that their heart is racing or skipping beats. Others feel chest and throat pressure that they think is a heart attack. Or they go to their doctors feeling tired-out and weak all the time. Some feel nothing at all.
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Report
The Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation - Thrombosis
This latest volume in the important Silver Book collection focuses on atrial fibrillation, stroke, and venous thromboembolism--three of the most common causes of and results of thrombosis. The data in this volume emphasize the tremendous burden of thrombosis, especially as our population ages, as well as the potential value of innovation in reducing this burden.
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Science in the Spotlight
Treating Valve Disease: Successful Options for All Patients
Each year, as many as 5 million Americans are diagnosed with valve disease. There are a number of different types of valve disease and all of them involve defects or damage to one or more of the heart’s four valves. While some types are not serious, others can lead to major complications, including death. Fortunately, most valve disease can be successfully treated with surgery in patients of all ages and races.
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Fact Sheet
Talking with Your Doctor About Valve Disease
This quick guide to talking with your doctor about valve disease includes information for patients who think they may have a valve problem, as well as for those who know they have valve disease. This resource can help make these important conversations with your doctor a little bit easier.
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Fact Sheet
Valve Disease: Patient Information
This fact sheet includes basics on valve disease--what it is, how you get it, how you know you have it, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated. It also covers broad treatment options, what to expect after surgery, and a list of helpful resources.
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Alliance Views
Aortic Stenosis: Under-Diagnosed and Under-Treated
Aortic stenosis is a type of heart disease where the aortic valve becomes narrowed over time, obstructing blood flow to the body. It is more common with age and if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, significantly decreased quality of life, heart failure, and even death. Fortunately, aortic stenosis (AS) can usually be treated with surgery in patients of all ages.
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Document
Aortic Stenosis Podcast with Garry Clarke
Garry Clarke is an aortic stenosis patient and provides details about his own journey with the disease in this podcast. Topics he discusses include his symptoms and when he decided to see a doctor about them, how he was diagnosed, how his knowledge about the disease progressed, how he felt after surgery, and resources he recommends.
To listen to this podcast, click
here.
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Document
Aortic Stenosis Podcast with Adam Pick
Adam Pick is an aortic stenosis patient and valve disease education advocate. In this podcast, he discusses many of his experiences including diagnosis, finding a surgeon, resources he used to learn about treatment options, and his blog.
To listen to this podcast, click
here.
To learn more about Adam, visit his blog--
Adam's Heart Valve Replacement and Repair Blog.
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Document
Aortic Stenosis Podcast with Dr. Harlan Krumholz
Dr. Harlan Krumholz is a cardiologist and professor of medicine, epidemiology, and public health at Yale University. In this podcast, he provides the physician's perspective and discusses many aspects of aortic stenosis such as words commonly used by physician's to describe the disease, risk factors, diagnosis, when a patient should see a cardiologist, treatment options, and what patients should expect after surgery.
To listen to this podcast, click
here.
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Brochure
Aortic Stenosis: Facts about a Heart Valve Disease
Aortic stenosis is a type of heart disease where the main outlet for blood to be pumped to the body--the aortic valve--becomes narrowed over time. It is more common with age and if left untreated, can lead to significantly decreased quality of life, heart failure, and even death.
This brochure provides information about aortic stenosis including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Get Mad Column
Restoring a Commitment to Medical Research
Investigators supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are on the cusp of research breakthroughs that may enhance their ability to predict and intervene earlier in the processes of many age-related chronic diseases.
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Report
2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding
The 2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding--more than 65 non-partisan disease groups, patient advocates, and foundations--urges Congress and the President to restore a national commitment to medical research on behalf of America's aging population. This year's report of the Task Force calls for a at least a 7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2010. It also presents data on the burden of diseases and conditions that predominately affect older Americans, highlights the emerging research the NIH is doing to decrease these burdens, and serves as a resource for policymakers working to establish the funding levels necessary to advance healthy aging.
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Brochure
Aortic Stenosis in Seniors: A Physician's Guide
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a deadly condition that becomes more common with age. This expert-reviewed resource provides important information for physicians including screening, diagnosis, treatment information, and tips on talking with patients about AS. It also includes a prognosis comparison of treated versus untreated patients, plus a quick guide to the 2006 ACC/AHA practice guidelines on AS.
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Science in the Spotlight
Inhibiting Key Enzyme Blocks Heart Muscle Cell Death
Exciting findings reported in the May 2 issue of Cell ratchet up interest in an enzyme known as CaM kinase as a potential target for therapy in the treatment of heart disease.
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Feature Article
Keeping Up the Fight Against Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a classic “good news, bad news” story. Although improved treatments have led to lower death rates, an aging and overweight population poses challenges for the U.S. health care system, experts said at a recent briefing in Washington, D.C.
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Report
2007 Task Force Report on Aging Research Funding
The 2007 Task Force on Aging Research Funding--more than 85 non-partisan disease groups, patient advocates, and foundations--urges Congress and the President to chart a better course for medical research on behalf of America's aging population. This year's report of the Task Force calls for a 6.7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2008. It also presents data on the burden of 27 diseases and conditions that predominately affect older Americans, highlights some of the exciting work the NIH is doing to decrease these burdens, and serves as a resource for policymakers working to establish the funding levels necessary to advance healthy aging.
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Brochure
Women’s Health Quiz: Heart Disease:
About Women, About You
This brochure quizzes women on how much they know about heart disease and provides helpful tips on talking to health care providers about this important issue.
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Brochure
Women & Heart Disease:
What They Need You to Tell Them - A Physician's Guide
This guide helps physicians learn more about starting a heart healthy conversation with their patients and attempts to bridge the awareness gaps about women and heart disease.
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Fact Sheet
What Men Should Know About their Health
Men continue to struggle to manage many health concerns and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are among the leading causes of death in men over 40. Read this fact sheet and learn more about some of the leading health conditions facing men today.
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Report
The Silver Book:
Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation
The Silver Book is a unique almanac of references that the Alliance has compiled to spotlight the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. Much of the information on this topic is buried in dense and detailed reports and peer-reviewed papers and is spread out amongst many important publications.
The Silver Book brings together statistics and data culled from over 130 of these reports and articles, from more than 85 agencies, organizations, and experts. The information is presented in an easy-to-use format that we hope brings it to the fingertips of those shaping policy.
The Silver Book is also available on-line in a searchable database that is regularly updated. Visit
The Silver Book On-line to find the latest data, download presentation slides, submit data, and find-out about
Silver Book events.
