The American Heart Association in Alaska: healthy living and healthy hearts in the Last Frontier.

• Position: HEALTHCARE

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According to the Chronic Disease in Alaska 2016 Brief Report, heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Alaska; in 2014 heart disease accounted for 19 percent of deaths; and in 2014, 26 percent of adults reported having high blood pressure.

Scott A. Wellmann, MD, pediatric cardiologist at the Alaska Children's Health Center and a member of the American Heart Association's (AHA) Alaska Division Board of Directors, says that the Association's 2020 goal "is to reduce death from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent and also increase cardiovascular health in Americans by 20 percent. As Alaskans we can help to optimize our cardiovascular health by embracing an active lifestyle as a part of our culture."

Heart Health Events

AHA hosts major events in Anchorage and Fairbanks in its efforts to educate the public and promote cardiovascular health.

Two of them are Go Red for Women conferences designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health and dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women. The events include men's breakfasts to share information that can help men help to educate the women in their lives of their heart and stroke health risks and improve their own health. The women's conferences also include health seminars, expos with free health screenings, fund-raising silent auctions, and keynote addresses by nationally-recognized health speakers during formal luncheons.

"Heart disease affects one out of three women, and most women think of heart disease as a man's problem," says Lynn Rust Henderson, vice president of sales and service for Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and member of AHA's Alaska Division Board of Directors and Go Red For Women Leadership Team.

"Another critical point of women's heart health is that women don't always experience the same symptoms when having a heart attack," Rust Henderson adds. "You don't have the classic grab your arm or your chest and fall down. It could be jaw pain, nausea, indigestion, or lower back pain."

Another of the AHA's fund-raising and awareness events is The Alaska Heart Run, which took place on April 23. More than six thousand people attended the event to both run and walk. "We raised approximately $311,000, and our goal was $290,000," adds Rust Henderson. The Heart Run is a certified 5K, but people of all fitness levels are invited to participate. "People put together teams...