Ten Plus Quality Life Years
That’s the precious time AHA’s century long work has given me with my 52 marathon crushing grandfather after he beat cancer, a heart attack, had numerous heart stents, state of the art triple bypass heart surgery, and advanced pacemakers. We recently went on a once in a lifetime trip all over Alaska, Kenai river boat fly fishing gorgeous summer rainbow trout and salmon (our biggest “big catch” in the picture!) which would’ve never happened..
I don’t forget the rest of my family who genetically struggles with heart disease and other related conditions despite quite healthy lifestyles. Hundreds of millions of other people could tell you the same as above and more.
AHA’s direct work and the groundbreaking research it funds have never been more extremely relevant than during these tough times, EVERYTHING impacts your heart - which when attacked is the number one killer in the world. That’s why in 2018 AHA broadened to its new all encompassing holistic health and international mission statement:
“To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”
What does that mean for the right now? To name just a few:
- AHA’s work directly benefits and strengthens those actively managing conditions and those at early risk who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illness. Further, those who recover, even the healthy, are appearing to face long term heart damage
- Health Equity and Techquity - your zip code shouldn’t dictate your health (the difference can be decades in life expectency right next door!) and simple tech and telehealth solutions can help alleviate health disparities
- Mental/Brain Health and Wellness - despite the already severely prevalent issues on rise, the results of unnatural isolation and an even more digital world are leading to long term damage, the true impact of which we are yet to fully see
- Nutrition and Exercise, attacking modifiable risk factors we can actually control in an atmosphere of shortage, financial crisis, information overload, decaying food quality, and lock down
- Increasing world healthy life expectancy at least 2+ years by 2030 in the face of declines, after successfully reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke 15% in the US over the last decade!
I encourage you to be a hero by helping fund the mission of the AHA at any level, sharing our fundraiser, or even joining us as a walker!
Much love,
Taylor
