Capital Region

Shoppers can support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association Walgreens is once again proud to support the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, through Life Is Why™, a cause marketing campaign benefitting the American Heart Association. Life Is Why inspires […]

A program giving New Yorkers a chance to help control a silent killer is back.  The American Heart Association is now recruiting participants for the Check It! Challenge. The challenge is a community-wide program encouraging people to check, change, and control their blood pressure. The program began in Central New York and the Southern Tier and has […]

6-year-old Gabe Greenberg was the Heart Hero of the 2022 Capital Region Heart Walk and Run. Born with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAS), Gabe has had two open-heart surgeries. He regularly makes videos explaining medical conditions. 12-year-old Emma Duncan was born with aortic stenosis, […]

Shoppers can support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association Walgreens is proud to support the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, through Life Is Why™, a cause marketing campaign benefitting the American Heart Association. Life Is Why inspires consumers to […]

Almost at the halfway mark, the American Heart Association’s free blood pressure awareness program, the Check It! Challenge, has a reach of 315,000 people. Participants are checking their blood pressure twice monthly and taking advantage of American Heart Association resources provided to them. Each month during the four-month program that began in […]

The American Heart Association has new tools to help improve blood pressure rates in New York State, thanks to a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.  The two-year grant of $1 million will allow the American Heart Association to expand its focus on improving high blood pressure rates in under-resourced communities. Through the “Lower the […]

Shoppers in two Upstate NY communities have a new way to get healthy produce. Two retail stores in Syracuse and Albany officially launched their participation in the Double Up Food Bucks program. The American Heart Association worked with Field and Fork Network to bring Double Up Food Bucks to the Syracuse Cooperative Market in Syracuse and Honest […]

More than 100 clinicians, primary care providers and population health representatives gathered virtually to help make New York State a healthier place at the Regional Hypertension Summit hosted by the American Heart Association. Hypertension is often called the silent killer, and it is the most important modifiable risk factor for heart disease. […]

The American Heart Association is working to improve hypertension across New York State with a brand new event. The virtual Regional Hypertension Summit will bring together health care organizations, medical practices, and health-focused organizations from across New York State to collectively address blood pressure control and recognize Target: BP™ […]

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, announced the top awardees of its first-ever EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ Faith-Based hosted by the Eastern States region. The first-place grant of $50,000 was awarded to Pastor Cynthia Wallace of Bible Center Church in the […]

Over $105,000 in Grants Will be Awarded to Local Community Leaders Faith-based organizations and places of worship have played an important role during the COVID-19 crisis in our country. These organizations and their volunteers and staff have been on the frontline, mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and providing communities with much needed guidance […]

Women have a lot on their plates, and sometimes important self-care can take a back seat to work, family and other obligations. In fact, nearly 50% of adult women have high blood pressure, and nearly three-quarters of those with high blood pressure don’t have it under control. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can significantly increase a woman’s risk […]

The power of partnerships built on trust, dignity and respect was a key theme during March 17th’s EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ Faith-Based Workshop Zoom webinar, hosted by the American Heart Association (AHA), Eastern States region. “When you see value in people, it affirms that value that is in you,” said Dr. Abraham […]

Faith-based organizations and places of worship have played an important role during the COVID-19 crisis in our country. These organizations and their volunteers and staff have been on the frontline, mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and providing communities with much needed guidance and support. That is why the American Heart Association’s Eastern […]

The challenges facing our world are many – from timely concerns such as the coronavirus pandemic and the renewed emphasis it has placed on the need to dismantle structural racism to the ongoing challenges of treating and beating the top two killers around the globe: heart disease and stroke. As president of the American Heart Association, Dr. Mitch […]

Albany, New York – Jennifer Corcoran Conway, a partner at Tully Rinckey LLC, has been named Chair of the Capital Region Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. Alan Boulos, M.D., Chair of Neurosurgery, Co-Director of the Neurosciences Institute and Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology at Albany Med, is its new president. Both […]

With the summer heat upon us, be sure to protect your heart in the heat. It’s important to know that extreme heat can be hard on the heart. As the temperature rises, so can your risk for suffering health issues like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Doctors recommend using good judgment when it comes to activities outside in the heat, and that you stay […]

Long before the pandemic, systemic challenges have contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, as well as immigration status, occupation, and language preference, […]

On May 15, the Eastern States Community Impact team launched the first webinar of a series designed to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in communities of color. The webinar was offered to health equity leaders nationwide and was attended by approximately 1,035 participants. During the webinar, implications of COVID-19 from the perspective of economics, […]

Long before the coronavirus impacted how we live, work, and play, systemic challenges contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, have been mostly responsible for […]

Gov. Cuomo’s call for ending the sale of flavored e-cigarettes doesn’t go far enough, according to the American Heart Association. “We need to protect the health of all New Yorkers by prohibiting the sale of all flavors in all tobacco products,” said Caitlin O’Brien, J.D., New York State Director of Government Affairs for the American Heart […]

Stents. CPR. Clot-busting drugs. Those are just a few of the scientific advancements that were begun with research grants from the American Heart Association. On Friday, Nov. 15, four researchers funded by the American Heart Association shared a little bit about their projects, and offered a tour of the RNA Institute, where the Research Reception was […]

 The Albany County Legislature lost an opportunity to be a leader and prevent the current generation of youth from falling prey to the epidemic of e-cigarette use when it defeated Local Law E tonight. The measure failed with 18 “ayes,” 17 “nos” and an abstention. It needed 20 votes to pass. Local Law E would have restricted the sale of flavored tobacco […]

We are thrilled to introduce the 2019 EmPOWERED to Serve National Business Accelerator grant recipients!  The October 17th event was hosted in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The top nine candidates presented their innovative concepts and ideas in a shark-tank style program at the event for a chance to […]

NEW YORK – The American Heart Association is very disappointed with the limited scope of the emergency executive action Gov. Cuomo took today, Sept. 15,  which would ban the sale of certain flavored e-cigarettes, and hopes that there is an opportunity to include all flavored tobacco products, including menthol combustible cigarettes. “This […]

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature on the Tobacco 21 law today will help prevent a new generation from becoming hooked on tobacco products. The law makes 21 the legal sales age for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. “By making 21 the legal sales age to purchase tobacco products, it will drive down youth use rates by eliminating kids’ source […]

On May 16, Kelley Pike ran 5 kilometers for the first time in her life. “I tried not to cry when I finished that,” Pike, who has participated in the Healthy For Good 5K Training that is part of the 2019 Capital Region Heart Walk and Run, said. When Pike started the training program in March, she was having trouble getting out of bed. Pike had faced a […]

Everyone in the Healthy For Good 5K Training Program had their own reason for wanting to run the 5K in the Sunday, June 2, Capital Region Heart Walk and Run. Spouses Gail and Dr. Joe Sacco shared their thoughts about being part of the group. “I’ve always been active, but never considered myself athletic,” Gail Sacco, 65, retired director of the […]

On April 21st, 2017, the sun rose, the coffee was brewed, and the shower was finished. It was a day like any other. As I stepped out of the shower and wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror, I noticed my left thumb felt numb and I felt a bit woozy. So I went to lie down on the bed and realized something was really wrong. I stood up to get the phone […]

Kathleen Pingelski, president of MicroKnowledge and ProKnowledge, is the same age her father was when he had his first heart attack. Cindy Applebaum, market president and publisher of The Albany Business Review, lost her best friend at the age of 39 to a heart attack. These are the two main reasons that both women are chairing the 2019 Go Red for Women […]

Save the date for the 2019 Westchester Go Red for Women Luncheon on May 31, 2019! We welcome 2019 Go Red For Women Chair: Judy Melillo Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation! For tickets, visit: http://westchestergored.heart.org […]

 In today’s State of the State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signaled an important step in the campaign to protect New York’s youth from the dangers of smoking and e-cigarette use. By raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, New York State can change the narrative pushed on youth by Big Tobacco. “Electronic cigarette […]

The American Heart Association announced the new chair for the 16th Annual Westchester Go Red For Women Luncheon set for Friday, May 31st at the Hilton Westchester.  Judy Melillo, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, will lead the Go Red campaign efforts to help raise awareness and funds to fight the […]

Jenniffer Snyder Wright remembers watching the 2016 BetterU class at that year’s Go Red for Women Luncheon, and telling her employer, Andrea Crisafulli, who had invited her to the Luncheon, that she needed to be part of the American Heart Association’s 12-week heart-health improvement program for women.   On Thursday, January 3, at CAP COM FEDERAL […]

In a direct response to the ongoing national opioid crisis, the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives, will provide two courses to educate both lay responders and all levels of clinical healthcare providers and emergency responders on delivering immediate treatment and care […]

The American Heart Association (AHA), the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives, announced the finalists for the 2019 Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, sponsored by Marathon Oil Corporation. Representing the nation’s best in college football, these coaches will compete for the highly-coveted and final […]

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) will hold their 2nd annual indoor cycling “CycleNation” event at Sportsplex Fitness in New Windsor on Thursday, February 28th. The goal of the event is to encourage Hudson Valley residents to use cycling to improve heart and brain health, while raising funds to continue the AHA/ASA’s […]

The American Heart Association announced the launch of their Community Impact Committee which is goaled with building a culture of health in the Westchester community while improving cardiovascular health for all. The Community Impact Committee, or CIC, is a standing committee of the Westchester American Heart Regional Board and responsible for […]

Dining out this holiday season? The American Heart Association offers these tips to help people make healthy choices, even when dining out. The Association’s “Healthy For Good” campaign encourages people to make the healthy choice the default choice for heart health. A nutritious diet including an abundance of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean […]

Thanksgiving is about enjoying time with our family and celebrating with traditional foods we know and love. Unfortunately, many of those foods are packed with fat, sodium, sugar and too many calories. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers these tips and healthy smart substitutions for your holiday meals to help keep health on the holiday menu. […]

 Theresa Petrone Butts, Leader of IT Vendor and Budget Management at MVP Health Care, and Adanna Akujuo, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Albany Med, are leading the Capital Region Advisory Board for the next two years. Petrone Butts, who first joined the board in 2012, will be the chair of the board. […]

Today, Sept. 4, the Essex County Board of Supervisors took an important step in protecting the youth of the county by raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21. This is the first county in the North Country to pass the measure. The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society applauded the board’s action. Bob Elling, […]

On Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m., the Essex County Board of Supervisors will vote on Tobacco 21, a measure that would raise the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21. If you live in Essex County, would you contact your legislator and ask them to pass this measure? We’ve provided a letter you can adapt, as well as a link that will give […]

The American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association are urging the Essex County Board of Supervisors to be the next county in New York to pass Tobacco 21, which would raise the minimum legal sales age to 21, thus protecting the North Country’s youth from the extreme dangers of smoking. The Board of Supervisors […]

Adrienne Weitzel, RN, MSN, Stroke Coordinator at Albany Med, shares her reason for being part of #CycleNation in the Capital Region.  Our Community is Why….. Caring for stroke patients truly takes a team approach to ensure our patients in our communities receive the optimal stroke care from recognition of stroke like symptoms to discharge.  As the […]

Our Government Relations Director Caitlin O’Brien has an update from Essex County, where the board of supervisors will vote again on Tobacco 21 on Sept. 4. Will you help? The list of legislators to contact is at the bottom of Caitlin’s update.  The American Heart Association is thrilled to see Tobacco 21 getting a second chance in Essex […]

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke, will host the Capital Region’s first CycleNation event at Brown’s Revolution Hall, 425 River St., Troy, on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature 50 […]

 There will be a group of special heroes among all the superheroes at Thursday’s Valley Cats game. Thirteen of the American Heart Association’s Cardiac Kids – children born with congenital heart defects – will be sporting their red capes at the game. One of them, Connor Daddario, 2, of Niskayuna, will throw out the first pitch at 6:45 p.m. A blip on an […]

Caitlin O’Brien, our government relations director in New York State, sums up our activities from the recently concluded legislative session – and gives us a forecast of what’s to come.  New York’s Legislative Session came to an anti-climactic end on June 20th. With continued political turmoil in the Senate stemming from an even […]

 The state Legislature left Albany without listening to the will of the people, and left a measure to reduce the risk of death and disease on the table. “We are so disappointed in our elected representatives that they didn’t pass Tobacco 21,” said Caitlin O’Brien, New York state government relations director for the American Heart Association. “More […]

Very good news in Albany County today! Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today signed Local Law A, which bans the sale of tobacco and other nicotine products in pharmacies and stores containing pharmacies throughout Albany County. County Executive McCoy held a public hearing on the measure after the bill was adopted by the Albany County […]

After 28 years with the American Cancer Society, something she never expected happened to Jeanne Walsh: she was diagnosed with chordoma, a rare cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine. That was in February 2017, and required two surgeries, and treatments from May till the end of July, not in her Capital Region home, but in Boston. […]

Our New York State Government Relations Director Caitlin O’Brien has a June Update From Albany. With only a few weeks left of this year’s legislative session, the fate of Tobacco 21 remains uncertain. Due to continued political turmoil regarding control of the Senate, and the recent return to Naval duty by Republican Senator Tom Croci, nobody […]

We had such a great day at the 2018 Go Red for Women Luncheon! Take a look at the great photos that ran in the Times Union. https://www.timesunion.com/photogallery/article/SEEN-Go-Red-for-Women-luncheon-2018-12943202.php […]

The American Heart Association applauds the Albany County Legislature tonight, as it voted to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. The county Legislature approved Local Law A 26 – 11, with one abstention. “This is a great step forward for the health of Albany County residents,” said Caitlin O’Brien, New York state government relations […]

  THIS WEEK, Tobacco 21 was a priority for American Heart Association, American Lung Association and New York State Public Health advocates as they gathered at the Capitol Cardiologist, former smoker, teen among the 50 volunteers, who asked their legislators to protect the state’s youth by raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to […]

With the American Heart Association’s Tobacco 21 lobby day set for May 8, a strong show of support will go a long way. Help us protect the health of our youth by letting elected officials know that you support raising the minimum legal sales age of tobacco products to 21. You may have heard about the political unrest currently going on in the New York […]

The third stop of the Red Couch Tour is almost here! On Tuesday, April 24, at the Southern Saratoga Y, you can join host Leigh Hornbeck of the Times Union on the red couch presented by the American Heart Association and Ellis Medicine, and share your story of how heart disease and stroke has affected you. The Heart Association and Ellis invite […]

On a Thursday evening in March 2015, Dr. Joy Lucas, owner of Upstate Animal Medical Center in Saratoga Springs, didn’t feel right. But she kept on about her business, working 12-hour days, taking her four-mile runs, and doing her intense workouts at the gym. The following Tuesday, after her chiropractor made her promise to go to the emergency […]

Update from Caitlin O’Brien, NYS American Heart Association Government Relations Director With New York State finalizing the State budget this past weekend, the Heart Association scored some great public health wins. With the Governor threatening to cut millions of dollars in funding to crucial public health programs, AHA staff and advocates […]

Caitlin O’Brien, the Heart Association’s government relations director, brings us an Update From Albany. With New York State finalizing the state budget this past weekend, the Heart Association scored some great public health wins. With the Governor threatening to cut millions of dollars in funding to crucial public health programs, AHA […]

Caitlin O’Brien, the government relations director for New York, brings us an update on the New York state budget, and how it affects the policies and programs we need to help all New Yorkers fight heart disease and stroke. The Assembly and Senate have proposed their one-house budget bills which lay out the policies and legislation they hope to see […]

  Caitlin O’Brien, the government relations director for New York, brings us an update on the New York state budget, and how it affects the policies and programs we need to help all New Yorkers fight heart disease and stroke. The Assembly and Senate have proposed their one-house budget bills which lay out the policies and legislation they hope to […]

Getting the most appropriate care in the quickest manner to a patient suffering the most severe kind of heart attack, a STEMI, is the goal of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program. For the past two years, Edward Philbin III, MD, the George E. Pataki Chair of the Division of Cardiology at Albany Med, and Michael Dailey, MD, Chief of […]

Robert “Henna” Hanrahan had one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. He was a Navy pilot for 10 years, and stayed in the Reserves after leaving the Navy. He flew a helicopter for the New York state Department of Conservation, which then merged with the State Police. It wasn’t this dangerous job that threatened Henna’s life, but his heart. Henna was […]

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of all Americans. Yet, both diseases can be largely prevented, and every year, thanks to scientific advances brought about by research, treatment improves. To continue that good work, leaders from Albany Med, Saratoga Hospital and Columbia Memorial Health have come together to lead the fight […]

The state’s Asthma Program. Funding to fight high blood pressure. The Obesity and Diabetes Program. The Physically Handicapped Children’s program. Maternal and child health programs. Those are just some of the programs that could suffer under the proposed executive budget, which calls for a consolidation of public health spending, and a 20 percent […]

 The American Heart Association is proud to announce that Caitlin O’Brien has joined its staff as the government relations director for New York. O’Brien will work with volunteers and advocates to enact legislation that will improve the cardiovascular health of all New Yorkers. O’Brien, 26, grew up in Vestal, Broome County. Caitlin’s father, James […]

For the past seven years, 10 to 12 women have come together for 12 weeks to improve their heart health. They’ve lowered their blood pressure, gone off insulin, come to love planks, lost inches and pounds, and gained newfound confidence and strength. TODAY, MONDAY, JAN. 8, at 11 A.M. AT CAP COM FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, 4 WINNERS CIRCLE, ALBANY, the […]

New York Gov. Cuomo hit the nail on the head when he said during today’s State of the State that health care isn’t just for the rich. “The American Heart Association is committed to making sure everyone receives quality health care, and we applaud Gov. Cuomo for stating that New York will continue to provide great health care,” said Caitlin O’Brien, […]

The American Heart Association says that for most people, shoveling snow may not lead to any health problems. However, the association warns that the risk of a heart attack during snow shoveling may increase for some, stating that the combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart. People who are outdoors […]

   Albany, June 22, 2017 – Thirty years ago, Leslie Bogucki began teaching Jump Rope for Heart as part of her P.E. curriculum. TODAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, at 9 a.m. at Albany School of Humanities, 108 Whitehall Road, Albany, The American Heart Association and the City School District of Albany honored her  for 30 years of teaching Jump Rope […]

Public health groups call on full Assembly and Senate to pass ‘T21’ before the session ends  Today’s passage of Tobacco 21 (A273) in the state Assembly’s Health Committee was a positive step forward in preventing New York’s youth from becoming addicted to tobacco, the No. 1 preventable cause of death in New York and a leading risk factor for heart […]

   Will Legislators pick the side of Public Health or Tobacco and E-cigarette Interests?  With the clock ticking on the New York State legislative session, groups representing children, public health organizations and medical professionals have joined forces to kick off a campaign calling on both houses of the state legislature to “Pick a Side” on the […]

They come from different parts of the state, and they’ll all be dressed in red. Advocates with the American Heart Association will hit the halls of the Capitol buildings today, MONDAY, MAY 1, to ask their representatives to raise the age to purchase tobacco products to 21. “Smoking is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. […]

When Deborah Flaherty-Kizer was born nearly 60 years ago, her parents were told, “Your baby might not live.” She was blue and only weighed 4 pounds. After her admission to the US Naval Academy was rescinded due to a “heart issue,” she was diagnosed with Ebstein’s Anomaly. She had her first open-heart surgery two years ago. On Saturday, April 29, Deb […]

Fighting heart disease and stroke has added a new component in 2017: a 5-kilometer run as part of the American Heart Association’s largest fundraising event, the Capital Region Heart Walk and Run. “I’m honored to chair the 2017 Capital Region Heart Run and Walk, and excited that, for the first time, the event will feature a 5K,” said Denise Gonick, […]

The American Hearst Association announced today that Woman’s Day Editor in Chief Susan Spencer will give the keynote address at the 2017 Go Red for Women Luncheon, the 13th annual gathering of Capital Region women committed to fighting the No. 1 killer of women, heart disease. The luncheon will be held Thursday, May 25, at the Albany Marriott. As […]

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY, MARCH 30! The state Legislature is talking about cutting state funding for public health programs by 20% as part of a state budget deal. We can’t jeopardize important hypertension, obesity prevention and other chronic and infectious disease prevention efforts for underserved New Yorkers. Please call the leaders of the […]

National outdoor co-op REI, the American Heart Association, and the Healthcare Association of New York together announced their support today for the Empire State Trail, a proposal in Governor Cuomo’s executive budget to complete the nation’s longest multi-use trail in the next three years. The trail will serve as a “spine” connecting multi-use trail […]

What’s more heart-warming than settling in to a comfy couch for a cozy chat with a good friend? How about something potentially lifesaving? That’s what the Red Couch Tour, presented by the American Heart Association and Ellis Medicine, is – a potential lifesaver. The Red Couch Tour launched today, Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Robb Alley at the […]

The American Heart Association today proudly announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Albany Medical Center aimed at improving the heart health of the Capital Region. During 2017, Albany Med will join forces with the American Heart Association to promote “Life is Why,” the Heart Association’s national campaign designed to help individuals make […]

Shannon James shares her experiences as the mother of a child born with a congenital heart defect. It was a July night eight and a half years ago, that my husband and I were thrust into the world of congenital heart disease. I had just given birth to our first born, a little boy named Jack. We spent those first few hours getting to know him and sharing […]

The Heart Princess of the 2016 Capital Region Heart Walk, Eliana, was born in the fall of 2008. Here’s her story, told from her perspective. I had been growing in my mommy’s tummy just fine until I was 20 weeks gestation when all of a sudden my mom had to keep going for ultrasound appointments. The doctors could see something was wrong with my heart […]

Patrick was born prematurely at 32 weeks. We were told he would just need to learn to eat and breathe on his own and then he could go home. Two days later the news came that they heard something abnormal and called in the cardiologist. At that time the nurse said we would need to meet with them in the morning to discuss what they found. Three hours […]

My mom has told me about what I was like when I was born. I was born with a heart defect where I had a large hole in my heart and both my main arteries pumped blood from the same chamber.  This means my oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood would get all mixed together and my heart had to work really hard to get enough oxygen to the rest of my body.  My […]

Hi, my name is Grace Green. I’m 14, from Latham, and I was born with a congenital heart defect.   My heart defect is called “TOF” – Tetralogy of Fallot – which none of my family knew about until 2 weeks after I was born. My memaw thought I was breathing funny which at first they thought was just a heart murmur. I would turn blue […]

On Day Two of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, Bill and Amy Galvin share some thoughts about their son Ryan. Ryan was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect even before he was born. Through the research the AHA has funded over the years, Ryan’s doctors have the expertise to have been able to provide an early diagnosis that has helped […]

Jennifer Corcoran Conway shares her story of being the mother of a child born with a congenital heart defect, 5-year-old Aedan. Your baby has a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, and if he doesn’t have open heart surgery in his first week of life, he will die.   These are the words that stopped my world spinning on its axis […]

The American Heart Association announces that Steven Frisch, M.D., senior executive vice president for the Integrated Delivery System at Albany Medical Center; Angelo Calbone, president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital; and Jay Cahalan, president and CEO of Columbia Memorial Health, will receive the Donald Led Duke Heart Hero Award at the Capital Region […]

On a Thursday – six days before she had open heart surgery – Joy Lucas, DVM, owner of Upstate Animal Medical Center, reached down to open a drawer and felt a circular pressure in the middle of her back. “It felt like a stuck vitamin,” Lucas said. Until a chiropractor visit the following Tuesday, she continued her regular routine. For Dr. […]

  As chairs of the Capital Region Heart Ball on Feb. 25, Jennifer and Dan Pickett, CEO of nfrastructure, are bringing together organizations and businesses to help improve the health of Capital Region residents.  “The American Heart Association is one of the most impactful of its type in our community,” Dan Pickett said. “One of the foci of the […]

Our BetterU sponsor CAP COM Federal Credit Union has some tips to help women get through the holiday season. As we all race through these days of holiday preparation and celebration, I know that your own needs are the last thing on your mind. Taking care of others (and everything else) is what we ladies do. So, I’m not even going to try and tell you to […]

CAP COM, Peak Residential Executives to Chair 2017 Go Red for Women Luncheon Theresa Petrone was an overweight child. Leah Slocum’s half-sister had a stroke at the age of 34. The two women have teamed up to help raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases – and ways to prevent them – and will chair the 2017 Go Red for Women Luncheon. The Luncheon is […]

Today, Nov. 2,  is National Eating Healthy Day and the American Heart Association wants lawmakers to help fight the current obesity epidemic in New York State by passing Healthy Vending legislation. The New York State Healthy Vending Act, sponsored by state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-The Bronx, would require vending machines in all state-owned or […]

Kathy Lanni’s daughter Erin received a pacemaker when she was 18. After Erin shared her story at a Go Red for Women Luncheon in 2008, Lanni, Chief Community Officer at SEFCU, became involved with the American Heart Association. Dr. Mandeep Sidhu, FAHA, cardiologist and assistant dean for medical education and student research at Albany Medical Center, […]

Karen Magee, president of NYSUT, chaired the 2016 Capital Region Heart Walk. She took some time to look back at the year, and is this week’s guest blogger. My dad is my “why,” I said as I began the year. My dad, who lost his lifelong battle with heart disease just a few short years ago, who was and is my inspiration, was the reason I agreed […]

The only cooling showers for the next few days will be the Perseids meteor showers at night. If you’re outside during the day, though, it’s important to stay safe. Infants, young children, heart patients, those older than 50 or people who are overweight are at higher risk for heat-related illnesses. Certain medications or illnesses can also raise the […]

By prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21, the Schenectady County Legislature has acted to save lives and improve the health of county residents. Passage of Bill A-16 on Tuesday, Aug. 9, will help fight chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and all forms of cancer – and sends a powerful message to […]

They both work in fields where they see firsthand the health of Capital Region residents – and they want to take steps to help improve it. To do that, Sarah Baluch and Jennifer Page have stepped forward to lead the Circle of Red. The Circle of Red is a group of women who support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement at a […]