Below are some pictures of advocates telling lawmakers to improve stroke care in Oklahoma.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Stroke Advocates Have Nothing to Fear
Stroke advocates for the American Heart Association want to let lawmakers know that they have nothing to fear this Halloween!!! It’s estimated one out of every six people worldwide will have a stroke. This might scare some people but I know that there are changes we can make in Oklahoma to reverse this trend. We can do this by improving our systems of care, reducing our risk factors and making sure our citizens know the signs of a stroke.
Below are some pictures of advocates telling lawmakers to improve stroke care in Oklahoma.
Below are some pictures of advocates telling lawmakers to improve stroke care in Oklahoma.
Telling the Story of Strokes In Oklahoma
Over the past month through out You're the Cure network you've heard about the signs of strokes, you've heard about stroke care in Oklahoma and you've heard about the financial cost of stroke. Now it's time to hear a personal story about how stroke can change a life. Pam Bedford is a stroke survivor and valued advocate with the American Heart Association. She has graciously agreed to share her story with us.
My name is Pam Bedford and I am a stroke survivor of five years. I was 43 years old when my life changed. It happened while getting ready one Saturday morning when I heard a lout buzzing in my ears, numbness on the right side of my body, a horrific headche and an overwhelming urge to fall asleep. My husband of 11 months called 911 and I was rushed to St. Anthony Hospital. I fell unconsious and woke up 5 days later. I spent the next 24 days in the rehabilitation depatment learning how to talk, walk, eat. sit up and try to understand why this has happened. I was like a little baby learning basic skills all over again. The kind of stroke I had is called a hemorrhagic stroke (brain bleed). I have left side muscle weakness and right side nerve damage along with a number of other issues. Being left handed, I had to learn to start using my right hand. My old "normal" was no more and now I have to create a new normal. Today, I still live with the side effects of my stroke. I am leading a fulfilling life. I have learned to listen to my body more and not take life for granted. This has given me an opportunity of helping others that I never would have had.
Above is a picture of Pam visiting with
Rep. Ann Coody at the State Capitol about
stroke care in Oklahoma.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Strokes Are Scary: Reduce Your Risk today!
Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke can not only be devastating it can be SCARY. That’s why it’s important to reduce your risks.
Smoking cigarettes and exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases your risk of stroke and is one of the biggest risk factors that you CAN control. Consider these facts from the CDC:
• Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke.
• The U.S. incidence of stroke is estimated at 600,000 cases per year, and the one-year fatality rate is about 30%. (p. 393)
• The risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years.
• About 60 percent of American children ages 4-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
• On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
One way we can improve our environment in Oklahoma is to ask lawmakers to pass a law allowing cities to go 100% smoke-free. I know Strokes Are Scary but contacting your lawmaker isn’t. Sign up to be a You’re the Cure advocate today! Go to www.yourethecure.org
Smoking cigarettes and exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases your risk of stroke and is one of the biggest risk factors that you CAN control. Consider these facts from the CDC:
• Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke.
• The U.S. incidence of stroke is estimated at 600,000 cases per year, and the one-year fatality rate is about 30%. (p. 393)
• The risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years.
• About 60 percent of American children ages 4-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
• On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
One way we can improve our environment in Oklahoma is to ask lawmakers to pass a law allowing cities to go 100% smoke-free. I know Strokes Are Scary but contacting your lawmaker isn’t. Sign up to be a You’re the Cure advocate today! Go to www.yourethecure.org
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Strokes Are Scary: But they don’t have to be
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Labels: American Heart Association, american stroke association, oklahoma, stroke, you're the cure
Labels: American Heart Association, american stroke association, oklahoma, stroke, you're the cure
If you look at the statistics they will scare you. Heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death for men and women, are among the most widespread and costly health problems facing our nation today, yet they also are among the most preventable. Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, account for more than one-third (33.6%) of all U.S. deaths.
795,000 strokes occur each year in the United States costing taxpayers $53.9 billion.
Having a stroke can be a life-changing event. Being prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from all types of public health threats requires that states and localities have the right tools and knowledge available to them. Public health strategies and policies that support healthy living, encourage healthy environments, and promote a quality system of care are vital to improving the public's health and saving lives.
Don’t be scared! Become a You’re the Cure advocate and contact your lawmaker today! Find out how here http://www.yourethecure.org/
795,000 strokes occur each year in the United States costing taxpayers $53.9 billion.
Having a stroke can be a life-changing event. Being prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from all types of public health threats requires that states and localities have the right tools and knowledge available to them. Public health strategies and policies that support healthy living, encourage healthy environments, and promote a quality system of care are vital to improving the public's health and saving lives.
Don’t be scared! Become a You’re the Cure advocate and contact your lawmaker today! Find out how here http://www.yourethecure.org/
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Strokes Are Scary! AHA advocates speak out
Recently the AHA was invited to attend Stroke of Courage, an event at St. Anthony Hospital, with special guest speaker Charlie Daniels. At the event we asked stroke survivors to tell lawmakers that Strokes Are Scary and changes need to be made to Oklahoma's system of care.
Above is stroke survivor and AHA volunteer, Gary Bulmer, with his wife.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Governor Fallin Highlights The Importance of Fighting Childhood Obesity
I wanted to share with you Governor Fallin's monthly column for September. In it she highlights the need to address childhood obesity in our state.
Headline: “Time to Get Healthy: The Costs of Obesity and Poor Health”
By Governor Mary Fallin
This September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it’s a good time for all Oklahomans to reflect on the importance of healthy living. As a mother, childhood obesity is an issue that speaks to my heart. No parent wants to see a child as young as seven developing chronic diseases, like type-2 diabetes, once only found in adults. It pains me to think of the health risks and emotional heart ache that these children face and may continue to face if they develop into overweight grownups.
As Oklahoma’s chief executive, however, it concerns me for another reason: the dangerous implications for our economy, our businesses and our state budget.
Most Oklahomans know our state has a problem with obesity. Few are aware, however, of the terrible financial toll that poor health is taking on our economy, workforce productivity and our businesses, not just here but all across the nation. A report recently released by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine offers a sobering look at the United States’ obesity epidemic and the financial bottom line that comes with it. Simply put, if left unchecked, that epidemic will cause enormous financial strain on families, taxpayers, government and businesses alike.
The new report examines the hidden costs of obesity for businesses, and the numbers are staggering. Loss of productivity due to obesity now costs U.S. businesses an estimated $73.1 billion per year. To put that number in perspective, that money could be used to hire 1.8 million new workers in the United States at an annual salary of $42,000. Instead it’s being used to pay medical bills of employees who are overweight and sick, and draining the coffers of the small businesses we count on to create jobs and invest in our communities.
The cost to taxpayers, state government and families is also enormous. In Oklahoma, it’s estimated that up to 11 percent of our total medical expenditures can be directly linked to the obesity epidemic. Oklahoma taxpayers shell out millions of dollars annually to treat the chronic illnesses related to overweight and obese Oklahomans on Medicare and Medicaid – money that could be spent instead on lowering the tax burden for our citizens or funding roads and schools.
Studies show that as many as 70 percent of overweight and obese children become overweight and obese adults. If that statistic does not change, we will have a serious workforce issue on our hands.
Recently, I was in New York City touting Oklahoma’s strong economy and economic development successes, something that few governors can do during this national recession. Oklahoma has made great strides in the past several years in becoming a business friendly state that supports the creation of new jobs. In the 2011 legislative session alone, we passed comprehensive lawsuit reform, a rewrite of the workers’ compensation laws, and worked to strengthen our public schools. All of these changes make Oklahoma a more attractive place to locate or expand a business.
Unfortunately, as a variety of reports continue to show, the health of our citizens continues to decline, with diseases related to obesity being the main culprit. Preventable illnesses cost Oklahoma businesses and taxpayers more than $800 million in health care costs and lost workforce productivity. Just as high taxes and overregulation are an impediment to business recruitment and job growth, so too is poor health.
To continue the Oklahoma economy’s forward momentum, we can and we must do better when it comes to the health of our citizens. To that end, the Oklahoma Health Department will continue its support of public health campaigns like “Shape Our Future” that focus on voluntary partnerships to promote healthy living, exercise and proper nutrition in our businesses, communities and schools.
The reality is, however, that healthy life choices are just what they sound like: choices. To tackle the obesity endemic in Oklahoma and start reversing course, all of us will have to make good choices about our health and our wellness. Just as important, we will have to teach our children about the importance of exercise and good nutrition.
As we begin Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, I would ask all our parents to talk to their children about the importance of being healthy. Let’s work together to make Oklahoma a healthier and more prosperous state and to make ourselves healthier people. We owe it to ourselves and to our children.
Governor Mary Fallin’s “Oklahoma Now” Column
Headline: “Time to Get Healthy: The Costs of Obesity and Poor Health”
By Governor Mary Fallin
This September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it’s a good time for all Oklahomans to reflect on the importance of healthy living. As a mother, childhood obesity is an issue that speaks to my heart. No parent wants to see a child as young as seven developing chronic diseases, like type-2 diabetes, once only found in adults. It pains me to think of the health risks and emotional heart ache that these children face and may continue to face if they develop into overweight grownups.
As Oklahoma’s chief executive, however, it concerns me for another reason: the dangerous implications for our economy, our businesses and our state budget.
Most Oklahomans know our state has a problem with obesity. Few are aware, however, of the terrible financial toll that poor health is taking on our economy, workforce productivity and our businesses, not just here but all across the nation. A report recently released by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine offers a sobering look at the United States’ obesity epidemic and the financial bottom line that comes with it. Simply put, if left unchecked, that epidemic will cause enormous financial strain on families, taxpayers, government and businesses alike.
The new report examines the hidden costs of obesity for businesses, and the numbers are staggering. Loss of productivity due to obesity now costs U.S. businesses an estimated $73.1 billion per year. To put that number in perspective, that money could be used to hire 1.8 million new workers in the United States at an annual salary of $42,000. Instead it’s being used to pay medical bills of employees who are overweight and sick, and draining the coffers of the small businesses we count on to create jobs and invest in our communities.
The cost to taxpayers, state government and families is also enormous. In Oklahoma, it’s estimated that up to 11 percent of our total medical expenditures can be directly linked to the obesity epidemic. Oklahoma taxpayers shell out millions of dollars annually to treat the chronic illnesses related to overweight and obese Oklahomans on Medicare and Medicaid – money that could be spent instead on lowering the tax burden for our citizens or funding roads and schools.
Studies show that as many as 70 percent of overweight and obese children become overweight and obese adults. If that statistic does not change, we will have a serious workforce issue on our hands.
Recently, I was in New York City touting Oklahoma’s strong economy and economic development successes, something that few governors can do during this national recession. Oklahoma has made great strides in the past several years in becoming a business friendly state that supports the creation of new jobs. In the 2011 legislative session alone, we passed comprehensive lawsuit reform, a rewrite of the workers’ compensation laws, and worked to strengthen our public schools. All of these changes make Oklahoma a more attractive place to locate or expand a business.
Unfortunately, as a variety of reports continue to show, the health of our citizens continues to decline, with diseases related to obesity being the main culprit. Preventable illnesses cost Oklahoma businesses and taxpayers more than $800 million in health care costs and lost workforce productivity. Just as high taxes and overregulation are an impediment to business recruitment and job growth, so too is poor health.
To continue the Oklahoma economy’s forward momentum, we can and we must do better when it comes to the health of our citizens. To that end, the Oklahoma Health Department will continue its support of public health campaigns like “Shape Our Future” that focus on voluntary partnerships to promote healthy living, exercise and proper nutrition in our businesses, communities and schools.
The reality is, however, that healthy life choices are just what they sound like: choices. To tackle the obesity endemic in Oklahoma and start reversing course, all of us will have to make good choices about our health and our wellness. Just as important, we will have to teach our children about the importance of exercise and good nutrition.
As we begin Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, I would ask all our parents to talk to their children about the importance of being healthy. Let’s work together to make Oklahoma a healthier and more prosperous state and to make ourselves healthier people. We owe it to ourselves and to our children.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
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Labels: Amber England, American Heart Association, childhood obesity, oklahoma, Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition
Labels: Amber England, American Heart Association, childhood obesity, oklahoma, Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition
It's September already and like every year we are celebrating Childhood Obesity Awareness month. I wanted to take this time to share an editorial from the Oklahoman that was written by fellow childhood obesity advocate and AHA volunteer Amber England about the importance of taking action this legislative session.
You can find the link below.
http://newsok.com/children-deserve-oklahoma-legislators-best-effort/article/3600216#ixzz1WoSr1EXR
You can find the link below.
http://newsok.com/children-deserve-oklahoma-legislators-best-effort/article/3600216#ixzz1WoSr1EXR
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