Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center Launches American Heart Month Education Campaign to Help Counter National Uptick in Heart Disease Deaths

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – Jan. 26 2017 – The number of Americans dying of heart disease increased in 2015 for the first time in over two decades. To help counter this surprising uptick in heart disease deaths nationally, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center is launching a comprehensive campaign in February – American Heart Month – to educate people about cardiovascular disease, including a free online risk assessment and screening events.

The hospital is working with the American Heart Association as local sponsor of the Healthy For Good initiative to educate community members about heart disease prevention and build a healthier Fountain Valley community.

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center wants members of our community to “Know Your Numbers” – that is, to learn four optimal or suggested vital sign readings for good heart health that can help save their life:

• Blood pressure typically within the range of 120/80 mm Hg
• Blood cholesterol of less than 180 mg/dL
• Blood sugar level A1C of less than 6.5 (a more or less stringent glycemic goal may be appropriate for each individual)
• Body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 to maintain a healthy weight

Cardiovascular disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer, is responsible for about 1 in every 3 deaths in the United States. In 2015, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, it took more than 633,000 lives, a 0.9 percent increase over the previous year. This slight, unexplained jump represents the first time since 1993 that heart disease deaths have not declined. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be prevented.

“These latest statistics are a wake-up call that we need to redouble our efforts to educate people about heart disease,” said Kenneth D. McFarland, CEO of Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center. “Our physicians, nurses and staff are committed to working with the American Heart Association to get the word out not only that heart disease is a serious risk to members of our community but that it is so often preventable. Knowing the optimal key numbers for blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI can help people reduce their risk.”

“While we have made significant progress in helping reduce the number of heart disease deaths in this country, it is clear that this is no time for complacency,” said Pierre P. Habis, Chairman of the Board, American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate.  “Thank you to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center for joining with the American Heart Association to educate Americans about heart disease and help them live longer, healthier, more productive lives.”

As part of the campaign, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center will offer a variety of activities and resources to increase community and patient awareness of heart disease. These include:

• Online Risk Assessment Test – Residents can assess their risk for heart disease by filling out a brief online questionnaire. Those whose risk for cardiovascular disease is found to be high can be connected to a local specialist. People considered at medium or low risk will receive follow-up emails with detailed information about cardiovascular disease and prevention tips. The link is FountainValleyHospital.com/HeartCare.
• Free “Know Your Numbers” Information – Flyers and posters showing optimal numbers for blood cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and body mass index with the tagline “Knowing your numbers can save your life” will be made available to visitors to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center throughout February. The materials include information about each of the four measures and an area in which you can track your own numbers to discuss with your physician.

• Community Seminars – Free seminars will be available on “Learning to Live with Heart Disease” with Dr. Arthur Calick, board-certified cardiologist from Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center. To reserve your seat, call (714) 979-1408 or visit FountainValleyHospital.com/about-us/classes-events.
• AHA’s Heart and Stroke Walk – Concluding its Heart Month activities, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center will be participating in the AHA’s 2017 Orange County Heart and Stroke Walk at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on March 4.

About Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center (FVRMC) is a 400-bed acute care hospital and medical campus serving its diverse, Orange County communities for more than 45 years. The hospital provides general and critical care, and comprehensive, surgical treatments for heart and vascular, spine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, general and bariatric conditions. The Women’s and Children’s Wing offers routine and high-risk labor and delivery, a Level III Neonatal ICU, a Pediatric Unit for sick kids and a Level III Pediatric ICU for critically ill children. FVRMC also offers an accredited Outpatient Diabetes Program, a Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Program, and transfusion-free medicine and surgery. The hospital’s 24-hour emergency care is a designated Orange County Cardiac Receiving Center and Stroke-Neurology Receiving Center, and a certified Primary Stroke Center. To learn more, visit www.fountainvalleyhospital.com.

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