Page 109 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2019

GivingBACK healthier days ahead
American Heart Association
story and photos courtesy of
the American Heart Association
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a community rich in culinary innovation, musical influences, noted artists, and grandiose architecture. But it’s also a diverse community that struggles with many of the factors that lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Mississippi still ranks among the nation’s worst states in obesity rates, tobacco use, and physical activity.
Gulf Coast Heart Walk
However, through dedicated community sponsors and volunteers, things are getting better. More municipalities are parting ways with tobacco use. There are more walking paths, biking trails, and green spaces than ever before. There’s a renewed emphasis on locally- grown produce and sourced food from Gulf of Mexico that keeps hearts strong. A healthier new day is dawning on the horizon, and that day brings hope for longer, healthier lives.
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people
from heart disease and stroke – America’s number 1 and number 5 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide
lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases.
The Dallas- based association is the nation’s
oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting
heart disease and stroke. Locally, the American Heart
Association educates the public regarding heart health, provides resources for healthy living, improves systems of care in partnership with local hospitals, advocates for healthy policies
at the state and local levels, improves access to quality
care for at-risk populations, encourages heart healthy habits among youth, and raises critical funds for research.
The American Heart Association accomplishes these goals thanks to funds raised through the Gulf Coast Heart Walk, Jackson County Heart Walk, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Heart Gala. Initiatives funded by such events include CPR in Schools kit placements
in middle and high schools, Teaching Gardens in elementary schools, and TargetBP blood pressure cuff donations to health clinics. Currently, $2,700,185 in research in the state of Mississippi is being funded by the American Heart Association.
For more information on how to get involved in the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke, visit www.heart.org.
Teaching CPR
American Heart Association | 2159 E Pass Rd., Gulfport | 228.604.5300 | www.heart.org
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