American Heart Association

National ambassador Damar Hamlin is asking you to join the #NationofLifesavers. Learn CPR at http://spr.ly/6046PI9h8.

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/6045lMnA9.

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.

Whether it’s a looming deadline, a big presentation or just a bad day at the office, work can be a big source of stress. And that’s not good for our hearts or minds. Try 4-7-8 breathing to relax, focus, lower blood pressure and slow down your heart rate. #wellbeing #mentalhealth #stressbuster #breathwork

Congratulations to our Stroke Images award winners! Using $460K in grant funding, neuroscience teams at Yale, Columbia & Cornell universities will collaborate and analyze de-identified brain images, a critical component of neuroscience research. #stroke #neurology

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.

High blood pressure can make it more likely for you to have a heart attack, stroke or diabetes-related issues like chronic kidney disease (CKD). The target blood pressure for people with diabetes is below 130/80. #KnowDiabetesByHeart

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/6045lgXuX

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.” #AHABoldHearts