Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the U.S. Will the next one be you? Or someone you love?
In 2000, my dad became part of that statistic. And he became one of the 1 million Americans who die of a myocardial infarction annually.
When he started feeling the tell-tale heart attack signs, he immediately went to the hospital. He had a personal history of hypertension, and a family history of heart disease. Unfortunately, the hospital he visited did not follow science-based care recommendations and did not even perform appropriate tests to determine whether he was experiencing a heart attack. Hours later, he went home and died of a sudden heart attack while sleeping. He was 42 years old.
In 2022, I was lucky enough to make my personal interest in preventing heart disease a new career. I joined the American Heart Association as a communications manager focused on quality, outcomes research and analytics, ensuring hospitals follow the latest evidence-based guidelines so that no one experiences the poor medical care that led to my father's death.
Money donated to the American Heart Association will help create a world where everyone receives equitable care for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that keeps hearts beating and helps people enjoy longer, healthier lives. Please donate if you can!
