Heart First

NBCI Worsening Heart Failure Program

Black Churches Launch Effort to Tackle Heart Health

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Coconut Grove hosts national pilot program Samantha Morell Miami Times Staff Writer Nov 14, 2023

The National Black Church Initiative launched its “Heart First” program last week to educate members of the Black faith community on the risks of heart failure, and ways to prevent or manage it.

The pilot program was announced at a press conference Nov. 10, 2023, at St. James Baptist Church in Coconut Grove, which will participate in the initiative. Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), visited the locale from headquarters in Washington, D.C., to share the news.

Pastor Anthony Evans Heart First Campaign Continues with Dr. Bernard Ashby
The NBCI Heart First Health Campaign continues with the third "Health Sermon" featuring Dr. Bernard Ashby, owner of CVC Medicine at Second Baptist Church, Miami, FL Sunday, February 11, 2024 @ with a discussion of heart failure and its' symptoms and effects.

Anthony Evans Heart First Campaign Rollout with Dr. Bernard Ashby
The National Black Church Initiative Heart First Health Sermon features Dr. Bernard Ashby, owner of CVC Medicine who discussed heart failure and its' symptoms and effects

Anthony Evans Heart First Campaign Rollout with Dr. Bernard Ashby #2
The National Black Church Initiative Heart First Health Sermon video is the second to feature Dr. Bernard Ashby, owner of CVC Medicine who discussed heart failure and its' symptoms and effects

From Fear to Hope: Mother of Four's Triumph Over Heart Failure

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According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of new moms. This significantly impacts Black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white womem, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While these statistics sound stark, there is hope.

For Marian Dancy, that hope started with taking charge of her own health.

5 Heart Failure Symptoms Doctors Commonly Miss

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While symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and swelling in ankles are typically associated with heart failure, less publicized ones commonly escape doctors.

This sadly denies some patients the advantage of early detection, which could have dramatically improved their outcomes. These under-the-radar symptoms are characteristics of more severe heart failure cases.

Follow this link to see more Heart First articles!

Worsening Heart Failure: A Growing Public Health Epidemic

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Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition that occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s cells and organs.1 The definition of “worsening heart failure” (WHF) is evolving. Instead of an in-hospital and clinical trial-based definition, it’s now based on deterioration of HF signs and symptoms after a period of stability that requires escalation of therapy or development of breakthrough symptoms despite maximally tolerated guideline-directed therapy (GDMT).

Over time, the heart tries to compensate by stretching, enlarging and pumping faster to keep up with the body’s demands, and becomes weakened as a result. Because this can occur without the patient recognizing any symptoms, people with heart failure may go undiagnosed for years.

BURDENS OF HEART FAILURE
Financial - The average cost for each heart failure-related hospital stay in the US is $17k.
Mental - WHF patients often feel depression and sadness, isolation, fear of dying and anxiety related to their condition.
Physical - Everyday activities, like walking to the mailbox, cleaning one’s home, climbing stairs and participating in social activities are difficult — often leading to a poorer quality of life.

NBCI Heart First Program - Implementation Guide

.pdf 3mb This slide presentation is an implementation guide to the NBCI Pilot Program. Subjects in brief include;

Program Characteristics
What Are the 4 Types of Heart Diseases?
A List of Cardiovascular Diseases: The 5 Most Common
Combating Heart Disease in the Black Community
Clergy & Clinicians, Heart Disease and Black Americans

A Clinical Decision Support Tool to Advance Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a high-morbidity, high-cost condition that is expected to increase in prevalence. Although hospital admissions and readmissions are common in HF, research consistently shows that guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) reduces mortality, hospitalizations, and symptom burden.

5 Drinks that Help Unclog Arteries Fast!
Clogged arteries result from the build-up of a substance called plaque or arterial plaque in the arterial walls. This plaque can reduce blood flow or block the arteries. It also increases the risk of developing other health complications like a heart attack or stroke.

Try these drinks to detox clogged arteries and keep a healthy heart

3 Ingredients That Stop A Heart Attack
Heart attacks are scary, period. They are scary for those who are having one and scary for those who are watching. Of course, eating right and exercise helps diminish your heart attack risk, but do you know what to do if and when one strikes?

Clergy & Clinicians, Heart Disease and Black Americans

In honor of Heart Health Month and Black History Month, our seventh episode of Clergy & Clinicians features Pastor Chris Harris speaking with Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, about the impacts of heart disease on Black people in the U.S.

Dr. Yancy, chief of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and former president of the American Heart Association, explains why heart disease is the leading cause of death among Black people in the U.S. and answers questions from members of Bright Star Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville community. Tune in to this episode to learn simple ways to reduce your risk of developing heart disease!