It's All About the Heart: AHA Resources for Patients and Caregivers

By Mary Kyle Blogger

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One of the great things about living in our technology-packed generation is that no matter what the topic, information is ready available at our fingertips. All it takes is the click of a mouse.

Unfortunately, sometimes the volume of information received can be daunting and somewhat overwhelming. When it comes to sorting out the facts about heart disease, the American Heart Association, or AHA, makes it easy to navigate the ABCs of heart disease.

The AHA’s HeartHub® for Patients is a one-stop shopping resource for cardiac patients and their caregivers. At the HeartHub you’ll find information, tools, quizzes, podcasts, and much more.

Some of the interesting resources include:

1. Health Centers
The Health Centers is one of the many interesting resources you’ll find at the HeartHub. Health Center topics include resources specific to arrhythmias, cardiac rehabilitation, caregiver resources, cholesterol, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, and peripheral artery disease or PAD.

2. Resources
The Resource section of the HeartHub contains not only a range of heart-related information, but provides it in many formats designed to meet today’s changing communication needs. Those who still love the feel of paper will find information on free magazines while those who maximize traffic time will love listening to the heart podcasts.

Whether you’re looking for podcasts, magazines, eNewsletters, or video, you’re sure to find a resource in the delivery format that’s right for you.

3. Tools
The Tools section provides links to tools in four different categories -- Risk Assessments, BMI Calculator, Heart Health Tools, and Glossary -- designed to help you manage your heart-related health needs. The Risk Assessment area provides information to help you assess your risk for diabetes, heart risk, and high blood pressure. It also provides a link to the My Life Check center located at http://mylifecheck.heart.org/Multitab.aspx?NavID=3/

Heart Health Tools provides users with assessments, tools to track their heart health status, print and web resources, newsletters, personal stories, caregiver information, and much more.

4. News
Looking for the latest information on your heart-related condition? If so, then check out the AHA’s Newsroom at http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/default.aspx/

5. General Information
If you’re looking for general information to point the right path on your journey to heart health, then you’ll want to review the general information topics.

Here you’ll find information on topics such as:

a. Warning signs

b. Sugar FAQs

c. Healthy recipes, including recipes for specific heart-related conditions such as low cholesterol, low sodium, diabetes-friendly, and heart friendly

d. Risk information, including diabetes, heart, high blood pressure, and more

e. Healthy Heart Quizzes on a wide variety of topics ranging from stroke, dining out, high blood pressure, heart disease, and more

In addition to English, the HeartHub is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. For more information on The HeartHub, visit http://www.hearthub.org/

Also, as you look for information, don’t forget to check out the resources available for heart patients on EmpowHer’s Heart & Blood page located at https://www.empowher.com/condition/heart-blood/

Here you’ll find an Advocacy Center, videos, up-to-date news, expert interviews, and a community of heart-minded sisters where you can ask questions and share your heart journey.

If you can’t find the resources you’re looking for, be certain to ask our heart guide, Christine Jeffries.

Sources:

The Heart Hub for Patients. American Heart Association. 2008. http://www.hearthub.org

American Heart Association News page. 2012. http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/default.aspx

Heart & Blood. Empowher. 2012.
https://www.empowher.com/condition/heart-blood

Reviewed April 18, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.