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American Heart Association

208 S. LaSalle St., #900
Chicago, IL 60604
312-346-4675
312-346-8236 Fax
www.americanheart.org

Mission
The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Facts and Statistics
Coronary heart disease is America's #1 killer

Stroke is America’s #3 killer

Health Tips
Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

You can estimate your risk of having a heart attack, by going here.

Fundraising & Administrative Percentage
20.3%

Testimonials
When 49-year-old Des Plaines resident Susan Liongson started participating in the American Heart Association Northwest Suburban Heart Walk six years ago, she walked to honor her father, who survived a stroke. “I thought it was a good cause, and I wanted to show my support for all the good work the American Heart Association does.” But little did she think that the American Heart Association’s mission - to fight heart disease and stroke - would affect her personally.

On May 17, 2003, Liongson suffered muscle aches all morning and afternoon, which she assumed were stress-related - in addition to her technician position at Unilever and running Maaco Auto Painting and Body Shop with her husband Joey in Des Plaines, she was the mother to three teenagers. “I felt run-down, but I didn’t think it was anything serious.” As the pains refused to subside, her husband decided to drive her to the hospital. Liongson says, “Up until the last minute, I tried to back out. I was in denial that something was wrong.”

Once in the emergency room at Northwest Community Hospital, doctors ordered a battery of tests, including an angiogram. Liongson remembers: “That’s when I realized this is serious.” Doctors found three blocked arteries, and diagnosed her muscle aches as a mild heart attack. An angioplasty to unblock the arteries was ordered the next day, and two stents were installed - two additional stents followed a few months later. In May 2004, one year after her heart attack, Liongson had a follow-up, and is happy to report her stress test results were good, and that she has made a near complete recovery.

Holly Butler was sure that nothing could happen to her. Just 42 years old, she kept on top of everything. She balanced her job as a dental assistant with her roles as a wife and mother. And she took good care of herself — exercising regularly, sticking to a good diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.

But on May 9, 2001, her outlook changed. While painting in her house in Wheat Ridge, Colo., a nagging, sharp pain hit her between her shoulder blades. She took ibuprofen, which brought temporary relief, but then the ache returned.

“You might think I’m crazy,” she told her husband Warren, “but I think I’m having a heart attack.”

Warren hurried to the Internet for information on heart attack warning signs. When he discovered symptoms included pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, he encouraged Holly to call a friend of hers who worked as a nurse.

“Get to the hospital immediately,” were the first words out of her friend’s mouth.

The ER staff ran tests, including an EKG, which appeared normal. Holly didn’t have any of the other symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, nor risk factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol, so the staff felt a heart attack was unlikely.

But there was one other consideration: Several of her family members had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Doctors decided it would be better to keep her overnight for observation. Their caution was justified when tests came back the next morning confirming that Holly did have a heart attack. Two days later, she underwent bypass surgery for a blocked left anterior artery.

“I never thought this could happen to me,” she said. I didn’t think that young, healthy women had heart attacks. And I was so careful to take care of myself. But even if you have no other risk factors but you do have a family history, you have to take that very seriously.”

Today, Holly is thankful to be alive. She spends most of her extra time volunteering for the American Heart Association, telling her story and sharing important heart-health information. This past February, she was featured with other women in Glamour magazine in a story about women’s heart health.

“I want women to know that heart disease is an equal opportunity disease. I also want them to know how to take charge of their health so they can live longer and healthier and enjoy the life they’ve been given.”