Washington's Center For Health & Wellness

Turn the White House Red!

25,000 signatures. That's what we need in the next 30 days (ends Jan. 4, 2012) for the White House to consider our petition to illuminate the building in red to honor National Wear Red Day® and American Heart Month.

The White House

You know how important education and research are to fighting this country's No. 1 killer—heart disease. It's often silent, hidden and misunderstood. That's why we need your help to shine a "red" light and bring this disease to the forefront in February.

Every signature makes a difference, so sign up and share with colleagues, friends and family today! There are a few steps, but with your help we can get there!

Visit our special petition page on WhiteHouse.gov.
Create an account (we know, what a pain!)
Watch for a verification email.
Sign the petition.
Ask your friends, family and coworkers to sign up!

May 2011

Dr. Aaron Heide treated his own father's stroke, via telemedicine

"Arthur Heide is a 62-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran. On April 26, 2010, Mr. Heide was working on repairing his laptop, something he has done many times in the past. This time he was having problems with getting the last screw in the slot..."

Read the full article: "Acting F.A.S.T. may halt symptoms of a stroke" by Merrili Owens for the Kent Reporter.

May 2011

Dr. Aaron Heide selected to be a part of National Stroke Association's Faces of Stroke campaign

On May 18th, Dr. Heide was the featured Face of Stroke for the National Stroke Association.

Read Dr. Heide's story

The Faces of Stroke is National Stroke Association's 2011 National Stroke Awareness Month campaign to help bring attention to the personal side of stroke and educate about important stroke facts. You can share your own Stroke story at the Stroke Awareness Resource Center of the National Stroke Association.

October 11, 2010

Stroke Prevention at Eastside Science Café

This Eastside Science Café tackled a difficult subject: stroke, the number two cause of death worldwide. Neurologist Aaron Heide, MD gave a talk about the latest in preventing this serious disease and the remarkable advances that have been made in stroke recovery.

Watch the video of Dr. Heide's talk now at KCTS9.org

Science Cafés bring scientists face-to-face with the general public in the comfortable, lively atmosphere of a neighborhood cafe or pub. The evening begins with a brief presentation by a scientist, which kicks off an extended discussion session between the scientist and audience. Previous cafés have covered climate science, evolution and religion, robotics, and health care, just to name a few. All Science Cafés are free to the public, open to all ages and no science background is required!
More information: www.PacSci.org/sciencecafe

This café series is a partnership between Pacific Science Center and KCTS9.

September 2010

"Back to School" unfortunately means increased Brain Injuries

Here are some Resources:

Injury Prevention & Control: Traumatic Brain Injury from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NPR interviews brain injury author Dr. Lisa Bakhos (audio file)

November 2009

Dr. Aaron Heide elected Hospital Commissioner

Dr. Aaron Heide was elected to the Valley Medical Center's (Public Hospital District #1 of King County) Board of Commissioners in November's General Election.
Board of Commissioners of Valley Medical Center

July 2009

Bettie's Challenge

Follow the blog of Dick Aitkins as he reports daily on the progress of his wife, a patient of our own Dr. Heide, as she goes through the process of a stroke:
BettiesChallenge.blogspot.com

May 2009

American Stroke Month:
Know the warning signs of stroke and call 9-1-1 when it happens

From the Local American Heart Association:

"Washington has the 13th highest rate of stroke death in the United States, and this devastating disease is the third leading cause of death and a leading disabler within our state.

A Washington State Department of Health report reveals that few people in Washington get early medical treatment for stroke and that less than three percent of the most common type of strokes are treated with tPA, a clot-busting drug, and the only treatment for acute strokes caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain.

Know the warning signs and act fast by calling 9-1-1 as soon as stroke happens:

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or extremities, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache of unknown cause"

"Let's Talk About Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs"
Downloadable PDF from the American Heart Association & American Stroke Association

February 16, 2009

Stimulus Package Re-Energizes Fight Against Heart Disease and Stroke

From Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association:

"Today we witnessed a historic victory for the health of Americans when Congress approved the economic recovery bill that includes a number of provisions to help reduce heart disease and stroke.

Our congressional champions - Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Tom Harkin - and many others helped secure a significant funding increase of $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health. We thank them for their leadership and determination to support the research community with an infusion of dollars for scientific discoveries that will help us find a cure for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. This is an important down payment on President Obama's pledge to double science funding over the next decade. We thank the congress and the Administration for recognizing that NIH funding can help cure the economy as well as disease.

Other provisions supported by the association include those that will promote health information technology, increase funding for comparative effectiveness research, support State-based prevention programs, extend health insurance for the unemployed, address health disparities and allow for the renovation of school facilities - including those that promote physical activity - to address our nation's childhood obesity epidemic.

With passage of this important legislation, we are one step closer to our goal of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Our You're the Cure advocates have been instrumental in contacting lawmakers on priority funding issues and their efforts have made a difference.

This legislation is a testament to the importance of our work in advocacy made possible by your commitment and support of the American Heart Association. As we move forward, we hope we can continue to count on you to help us encourage our elected officials to support measures that preserve and protect research funding, improve health care quality, expand access to all, and support policies that prevent cardiovascular disease."

May 9, 2008