Upcoming NACCHO Webinar - Million Hearts: Local Practice-Based Successes in Addressing Cardiovascular Health

This webinar will feature four local health departments and their unique practice-based successes on implementing the Million Hearts™ initiative in their cardiovascular disease prevention efforts.

 

Million Hearts™ is a national initiative designed to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by the end of 2017. Million Hearts™ seeks to increase the use of proven clinical and community strategies to prevent heart disease and stroke across the nation.

 

This webinar is sponsored by NACCHO, in collaboration with the American Heart Association and CDC's Million Hearts Collaborative.

 

The webinar will be on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 from 3-4 pm EST. Click here to register.

 

Webinar presenters include:

• DC Department of Health
• Denver Public Health
• Philadelphia Department of Health
• Southern Nevada Health District

Million Hearts® now has an online community for you to connect, collaborate, and highlight the work you're doing in support of the initiative! Since the launch of Million Hearts®, they've heard your requests for an online space where you can share resources and ideas with others in your state, community, or sector. They have created such a space on the mapping and networking site Community Commons and invite you to register and join the Million Hearts® Group page.

 

By joining the Group, you can:

• Highlight the work your organization is doing to prevent heart disease and stroke.
• Connect and collaborate with organizations in your state, community, or sector.
• Learn about other organizations' successes to guide your organization's work.
• Share heart disease and stroke prevention resources and best practices.

Email Million Hearts with any questions.      

 

Clearing the Air After a Confusing Report about Reducing Sodium Intake

"Institute of Medicine: Lowering daily sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams may do more harm than good," reported CBS News in May 2013. "No benefit in sharply restricting salt, panel finds," said The New York Times. "Is eating too little salt risky?" asked National Public Radio. "New report raises questions."

 

Questions, indeed. But not so much about salt as about what the IOM was asked, what it concluded, and whether it relied on discredited data. Click here to read more.  

 

National Institutes of Health Funded Study Suggests That Moving More May Lower Stroke Risk 

New research finds link between frequency of exercise and stroke risk.  The study's findings revealed that regular, moderately vigorous exercise, enough to break a sweat, was linked to reduced risk of stroke. Part of the protective effect was due to lower rates of known stroke risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and smoking. Click here to read more.

 

Upcoming Webinar - Zoning for the Public's Health - Using Mixed-Use Zoning to Increase Walkability and Reduce Crime

Neighborhood design can play a significant role in public health. Recent research explores how zoning laws can impact the ability to create well-designed neighborhoods that increase walkability and reduce crime - two outcomes integrally tied to improved health. During the webinar, presenters will share the latest public health law research that supports these findings, describe a new method for evaluating zoning laws, and examine case studies from the East and West coasts. The webinar is on August 15, 2013 from 1-2 pm ET. Click here to register.

CDC Report Highlights State and Local Successes in Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

The 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables provides national and state-level data on how many fruits and vegetables (F&V) adults and adolescents are eating, and highlights steps states and communities are taking to make it easier for everyone to access F&V. This latest report found U.S. youth and adults consume F&V below levels recommended under the current  Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Encouraging news, however, is that:

• 28 states now have farm-to-school or -preschool policies that help guarantee students have healthy meals and nutrition education during the school day.  
• In half of all states, more than one-third of middle and high schools that offer foods at school celebrations include fruits and vegetables.
• 20 states have created state-level food policy councils-coalitions of private and public partners working together to improve access to healthy food. 

To access the complete report, click here.