State:
California
Advocate Spotlight: Debra Meyerson
My husband Steve and I recently returned from 3 days in Washington DC with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
hero_image_alt_text===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
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thumbnail_alt_text===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
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bottom_action===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
Advocate Spotlight: Why I Support Prop. E
My involvement in the San Francisco campaign to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products (#YesOnE) has opened my eyes to what smoking looks like today for youth in the US. I was appalled by the amount of smoking that still occurs in middle schools and high schools today despite all the progress we have made to keep tobacco products out of the hands of kids in the last several decades. As I learned, however, most of this “smoking” occurs in the form of vaping rather than traditional cigarette smoking. Although 86% of middle and high school students believe that all tobacco products are dangerous, this has not prevented approximately 20% of them from trying cigarettes, and another 23% from trying e-cigarettes.
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Advocate Spotlight: Kristin Williams
The morning of October 1, 2011 started as an average one; I smoked a cigarette, had a cup of coffee, and headed out for the day. However, it quickly took a turn for the worse. As I sat down for lunch, my heart rate shot up and I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. I assumed it was anxiety and tried to forget the discomfort. I went about my day until a friend placed his hand on my chest to feel my heart rate. After feeling what felt like “a thousand grenades going off” in my chest, he convinced me to go to the hospital. There I was told that an aneurysm in my heart ruptured and I would probably need open-heart surgery.
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Advocate Spotlight: Nicole Pereira
When I was first introduced to the Healthy Drinks for Kids initiative for the city of Long Beach, I knew this policy would have great potential to influence childhood food consumption patterns and alter the course of the childhood obesity epidemic. If passed, this measure would offer water, low fat milk or 100% juice with kid’s meals as opposed to soda, unless otherwise requested by the consumer. A simple modification with promising impact.
hero_image_alt_text===Image of City Council vote
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My Advocacy Involvement
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I have learned that the best way to highlight the healthcare disparities that affect our communities of color is to get involved in advocacy.
hero_image_alt_text===Beatrice with volunteer award
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thumbnail_alt_text===Beatrice with volunteer award
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My Health by Andrew Blackshear
After a long night of restaurant work, I was leaning over to untie my shoes at home and I felt my first chest pains. It was only a slight pain when I took in a deep breath at first. A day later a fever came on suddenly and strong, so I called out of work the next few days to rest. The fever didn’t seem to go away though. It only got worse over the next two weeks. 101 up to 102 and even reaching past 103. It was more alarming every day until I had only one choice, and that choice was to go to work while sick to save myself from being looked at unfavorably by my employer. That night at work, I almost died on the floor of a steakhouse from cardiac tamponade in response to a fluid buildup between the heart and pericardium.
hero_image_alt_text===Photo of advocates on stairs
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Jocelyn Gomez
August 7th, 2015 was the start of the most life-changing event of our lives. My father, mother, and I were sitting in the emergency room that night waiting to be called on.
Why I Intern for the American Heart Association
Guest Blogger: Lyudmila Chernenko- Intern, AHA Sacramento California Office
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Jacob's Heart
Nicole shares the story of her twins, Julianna and Jacob and the journey of "Jacob's Heart".
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Advocate Spotlight: Joshua Levy
Hey! My name is Joshua Levy and I am an advocacy intern for the American Heart Association--Greater Bay Area!
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