Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health and the American Heart Association of Greater Maryland recently announced the renewal of a three-year collaboration to create meaningful change in the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Started in 2018, the #StrongerHearts initiative brings together the resources of LifeBridge and the AHA to create easy-to-understand and interactive information about the prevention and treatment of heart disease, which is nation’s leading cause of death. #StrongerHearts will share this information through video, social media and other channels.
These educational assets will be complemented by in-person community events and digital experiences in which the public can interact with LifeBridge and AHA experts, as well as participate in activities to learn about heart disease and stroke.
The website lifebridgehealth.org/strongerhearts serves as the hub of the #StrongerHearts initiative. Resources include recipes and cooking videos to news articles and the latest scientific research on a variety of heart-related topics. The website will also list all upcoming #StrongerHearts events and community activities.
“We are excited to extend our #StrongerHearts collaboration with the American Heart Association, a champion in fighting cardiovascular disease,” said Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. “With the combined efforts LifeBridge Health’s top-notch cardiovascular care and leading medical experts and the broad spectrum of resources and tools of the American Heart Association, we know that in working together we can make an even bigger impact to advance heart health and awareness.”
Said Tracy Brazelton, executive director of the AHA of Greater Maryland: “LifeBridge Health has a long history in Maryland of collaborating with the American Heart Association in its mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. We are excited to continue working together to advance of our shared goal of reducing the number of people affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.”
Through the #StrongerHearts initiative, LifeBridge and the AHA have already collaborated on the annual Heart Walk (Oct. 16) and World Stroke Day (Oct. 29), and will be part of the annual Heart of Maryland Heart Ball in June.
In the first quarter of 2022, LifeBridge and the AHA plan to unveil two new blood pressure kiosks, one at the Park Heights Jewish Community Center and the other at the LifeBridge Health & Fitness Center in Pikesville, to help area residents “know their numbers,” such as blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, and can be linked to more than 400,000 American deaths annually.
These will be the second and third such kiosks opened under the #StrongerHearts collaboration. More than 5,000 people have tested their blood pressure at the first such kiosk, installed at the Owings Mills JCC in February of 2019.
Additional plans as part of the #StrongerHearts initiative include:
- Easy-to-understand, interactive information about the prevention and treatment of heart disease will be available through different outlets.
- New web-based, self-diagnostic tools will be designed to help individuals identify their own risk factors and behaviors. They can also be linked to experts and resources if requested.
- LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute physicians and AHA’s scientific staff will combine their expertise to research, publish studies and present at clinical conferences and forums.
For information, visit lifebridgehealth.org/strongerhearts.
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.