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Loved Ones & Heart Health
 The month of February brings Valentine’s Day, an occasion for people to celebrate their relationships with the ones they love. In being thankful for our gifts, we have an opportunity to make positive steps in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and recognizing and contributing to organizations and institutions that support heart health.
Everyone can agree that proximity to quality health care is crucial to our community. For decades, Auburn Memorial Hospital (A.M.H.) has served that purpose, but with changes in the health care industry and community demographics, it becomes increasingly difficult.
This was demonstrated in the recent recommendations from the N.Y.S. “Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century.” We were extremely fortunate that A.M.H. was not on the list of hospitals to close in the state. Yet, if hospitals are to survive, they need to change the way they do business. The time is now for the greater community to take ownership and responsibility for their facilities. Clearly, our agencies have been maximized, yet continue to meet their challenges and move ahead, and they need our support now more than ever. A.M.H. offers workshops and special programs throughout the year for residents to take advantage of.
Women Entrepreneurs Host Benefit for
American Heart Association and
Auburn Memorial Hospital
The Heart & Soul event was Auburn’s venue for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) “Go Red for Women” Campaign- a nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion, and power of women banding together to eliminate heart disease. The event’s centerpiece was the Red Dress Fashion Show, with male and female models including heart patients, community leaders and local politicians.
One way to best combat heart-related risk is testing; therefore $1,000 of the funds raised will be used toward a new Cardiac Ultrasound machine for Auburn Memorial Hospital (AMH), to provide state-of-the-art echocardiograms. They are performed on anyone who comes to AMH with chest pain or a history of congestive heart failure. The other $1,000 raised by the event was donated to the greater Auburn area branch of AHA.
Few people realize that heart disease is the number one killer of American women and men. “Go Red for Women” empowers women with the knowledge and tools they need to reduce their risks of heart disease and stroke. This event is co-sponsored by:
The committee’s goal in hosting this event was to bring heart awareness to Cayuga County residents and to encourage them to live stress-free, healthy lives. To quote Event Chair, Gwen Webber-McLeod, “This event was in memory of my beautiful sister Terri Webber-Simmons who I lost as the result of a sudden heart attack. It will happen November 17, the day after her birthday. This event is what my sister would have done if she were in my shoes.”
The ’06 Heart & Soul event was such a success, it is happening again in November 2007, so please stay tuned!
Heart and Soul Event
Facts about Heart Disease
All statistics and facts were found at the American Heart Association website and most figures are from 2003 reports on heart health as new data is not available regarding specific statistics
In 2003, 71.3 million Americans had one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. Out of that staggering number, 27.4 million were estimated to be age 65 or older.
Of that number in 2003, the following statistics were gathered:
- 65 million had high blood pressure
- 7.2 million had myocardial infarcation, also known as an acute heart attack
- 6.5 million had angina pectoris also referred to as chest pain or discomfort
- 5.5 million had a stroke
- 5 million had heart failure
Cardiovascular disease claimed 910,614 lives, or 37.3 percent of all deaths, or 1 out of every 2.7 deaths in 2003.
Coronary heart disease caused 479,305 deaths in 2003 and is caused by atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to fatty build ups of plaque. It’s likely to produce anginal pectoris, heart attack or both.
1 in 3 adult men and women has some form of cardiovascular disease.
Since 1900, Cardiovascular disease has been the number one killer in the United States every year but 1918.
Nearly 2500 American die of Cardiovascular disease ever day, an average of 1 death every 35 seconds. CVD claims more lives each year than the next 4 leading causes of death combined which are cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents and diabetes mellitus.
Over 152,000 Americans killed by Cardiovascular disease each year are under age 65.
According to the CDC/NCHS, if all forms of Cardiovascular Disease were eliminated, life expectancy would rise by almost 7 years.
About two thirds of unexpected cardiac deaths occur without prior recognition of cardiac disease.
The estimated direct and indirect cost of Cardiovascular disease for 2006 is 403.1 billion.
In 2003, an estimated 6.9 million inpatient cardiovascular operations and procedures were performed in the United States; 3.9 million performed on males and 2.9 million on females.
Cardiovascular disease ranks first among all disease categories in hospital discharges for women.
Nearly 39 percent of all female deaths in America occur from Cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is a particularly important problem among minority women.
38 percent of women compared with 25 percent of men will die within one year after a heart attack.
Close and reliable health care are important components of a sustainable society. Healthy communities can focus on preventative care and wellness versus emergency services. Not to mention, having Auburn Memorial Hospital and Health Care Central in our city keeps our health care dollars local.
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