PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tues., Feb. 20, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how to support and improve heart health as well as prevent and manage heart disease.
Event participants include:
- Anna Bess Brown, MPH, Executive Director, Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
- Kardie Tobb, DO MS, FACC, Cardiologist, Cone Health; Medical Director, Women’s Heart Health & Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic; Clinical Integration Officer, Cone Health Center for Health Equity
- Leatrice Martin, Community and Patient Advocate
Many North Carolinians are impacted by heart conditions — nearly one in 10 adults have a history of heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men across the United States, and close to one in two women over the age of 20 live with some form of heart disease.
Black and African American communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by disparities in diagnoses and access to health care. Black and African American adults are 40% more likely than Caucasian adults to have high blood pressure, a main risk factor for heart conditions, and twice as likely to die from preventable heart disease.
Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:
- Ways to support and improve heart health
- Where to find heart health resources and support
- Heart disease prevention, detection and management
- How to access health care services, guidance and providers
Many people were unable to attend regular checkups or screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to navigate challenges as they access health services, including those who do not have health insurance. Resources are available across the state to connect communities with health care providers, education and support to improve heart health and help loved ones do the same.
The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 100653#.