(NewsUSA) - For professional athletes, being at your physical best and pushing your body to its limits is often what it takes to achieve success on the field. When a player is struggling to catch their breath in the middle of a game, an undiagnosed heart condition isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but that was the case for Ogmedi “OG” Nwagbuo.  

Hailing from San Diego, OG was selected for his home team’s professional football team as an undrafted free agent. Within weeks of joining the team, OG earned himself a starting role on the team’s defensive line.  

Then, in one particular game playing in Denver, Colorado, OG just didn’t feel right. While it’s common for players to have difficulty adjusting to the high altitude in Denver, what OG felt was different. OG had an overwhelming feeling of dizziness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. Despite these symptoms, his vitals appeared normal when evaluated by team doctors. “I remember thinking, ‘I just have to fight through this.’ I knew something was wrong, but nobody could pinpoint what was causing it.” 

The symptoms OG experienced throughout his entire professional football career took nearly a decade to be diagnosed. Doctors eventually suspected a heart condition – identified to be atrial fibrillation, or AFib – which is caused by extremely fast and irregular beats. AFib can also cause blood to pool and form clots which can lead to stroke.  

OG was prescribed a variety of medications, often taking eight pills a day to manage his symptoms. In 2021, a few weeks out from his scheduled cardiac ablation, OG experienced an AFib induced stroke. After recovering, doctors recommended that OG receive a long-term continuous heart monitor so they could better manage his medication regimen and have consistent visibility into his heart condition. OG received the Medtronic LINQ II™ insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), which is placed just underneath the skin in the chest and continuously monitors the heart for up to several years. The ICM provides heart information that helps his care team better manage his AFib. 

With the additional peace of mind knowing his heart is being continuously monitored, OG lives an active life and enjoys spending quality time outdoors with his teenage son. “I feel better now than I did when I was playing football professionally,” said OG. “Whether I’m doing yoga or coaching my son’s football team, I’m thankful to be here, and can hopefully be a good role model for others.” 

OG’s story is like so many others who feel like they just have to fight through unusual symptoms. Whether you’re a professional athlete or just looking to keep up an active lifestyle, it’s important to understand when your body is trying to tell you something. The first step is understanding potential signs and symptoms of AFib so that you can talk to your doctor, and if needed, find the right treatment and management plan for this common heart condition.  

Warning Signs  

While AFib can look different from person to person, common symptoms include: 

• Heart sensations, sometimes called palpitations, which may include irregular, thumping, or pounding heartbeats 

• A feeling the heart is racing 

• Chest discomfort or pain 

• Fainting or lightheadedness 

• Fatigue, shortness of breath, or weakness 

Treating and Managing  

Once diagnosed with AFib, treatment options can include:  

• Medication, known as antiarrhythmic drugs, is one form of treatment to prevent and treat irregular heart rhythms. However, these drugs don’t work for half of people who take them.  

• Minimally invasive ablation procedure is another form of treatment, to help break up the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats.  

• Your doctor might also recommend an insertable heart monitor (ICM), such as the LINQ™ family of ICMs, that watches your heart continuously and can monitor any AFib episodes.  

To learn more about the LINQ family of ICMs, visit: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/insertable-heart-monitors/getting-monitor.html 

Always talk to your doctor about risks, diagnosis, and treatment information. 

Possible risks associated with the implant of the LINQ™ Family ICMs include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site, device migration, erosion of the device through the skin and/or sensitivity to the device material. For important safety information, see: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/insertable-heart-monitors/getting-monitor/important-safety-information.html. 

(NewsUSA) - The federally funded program provides no-cost vaccines to eligible children 

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to help protect children from certain serious and potentially deadly diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unfortunately, many children in the United States are not up-to-date on the vaccines for which they are eligible. This puts them – and the children around them – at increased risk of infection.  

Many children may not be fully vaccinated because of cost or because they lack access to health care services. Vaccines for Children (VFC) is a federally funded program through the CDC that makes vaccines available at no cost to eligible children up to 18 years of age through a network of health care providers across the United States. The VFC program helps ensure that all children have a better chance of getting their recommended vaccinations on schedule.  

“A vaccine works best when everyone in the community has the confidence to be vaccinated,” according to the conveners of the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project, a coalition providing education and raising awareness about the importance of vaccines and promoting conversations to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all. “When you vaccinate, you’re protecting yourself as well as those in your family and your community.” 

Children are eligible for the VFC program if they are 18 years old or younger and qualify for Medicaid, are uninsured or underinsured, or are American Indian or Alaska Native. Approved, available vaccines protect babies, young children, and adolescents from preventable diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, flu, pneumococcal disease, polio, hepatitis A and B, whooping cough, and, most recently, COVID-19.  

Many doctors and nurses across the United States are enrolled in the VFC program and can provide vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, to children at no cost. If your child does not have a doctor, ask your local public health department about access to vaccines through the VFC program. Community health centers and rural health clinics may also be VFC providers.  

Visit cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc for more information about the Vaccines for Children program and covidvaccineproject.org to learn about the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project.

(NewsUSA) - Want to learn more about the latest innovations in artificial intelligence that will propel the United States forward as a leader in emerging technology?

The first-ever AI Expo for National Competitiveness is set to take place on May 7-8, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

The event, sponsored by the Special Competitive Studies Project, is meant to spark an exchange of ideas and initiatives related to the intersection of AI, emerging technology, and national security. You can now register to join the first ever AI Expo.

The AI Expo provides a unique opportunity to learn about groundbreaking ideas and initiatives in the world of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

In particular, the Expo is designed to bring together experts from a range of fields to explore the key areas of AI and emerging technology that impact our national security, economy, and society. The events scheduled for the two-day expo are designed to foster a vibrant exchange among pioneers in AI from the business world, academia, government agencies, and our international allies.

“Witness firsthand the groundbreaking technologies poised to maintain U.S. leadership on the world stage,” according to the SCSP’s website. “Dive into meaningful dialogues with experts and enthusiasts alike, all with a shared vision: to solidify the United States’ position as the leader in critical, emerging technologies.”

The AI Expo builds on the success of the SCSP’s Global Emerging Technology Summit, which took place in September of 2023. The summit brought together government and private sector leaders from the United States and allies and partners from around the world. 

SCSP is a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal to make recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape national security, the economy, and society.

The Expo offers opportunities for sponsors, exhibitors, and participants. Registration is free and open to the public. For more information, visit scsp.ai.

(NewsUSA) - There is no shortage of challenges in schools today—from bullying to gun violence and beyond—yet The Magical Place We Call School by Dr. Kathleen Corley reminds us of the extraordinary things that still happen in classrooms across America and that school truly can be a safe and happy place for learning. 

At a time when public discourse rages on about what students should or should not be taught, when books are being banned, when school shootings fill the news, and when families are still reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic—here comes The Magical Place We Call School. With its fresh focus on the power and perils of education, it’s an intentional way of thinking that will intrigue readers everywhere. 

Dr. Corley’s 40 years of classroom wisdom as a teacher and school principal span different beliefs about learning, different styles of education and discipline, different environments, societal issues and cultural norms.  

In telling her own story, Corley unpacks a lifetime of lessons from the front lines on educating our youth and shaping young minds, formulating Big Picture strategies and case-by-case solutions as she weaves her way through faculties, parents and, most of all, the children themselves. 

“Some students will never know a thing exists out there in the world unless we are the ones bringing it to them,” to quote one of her aptly named “Corleyisms.” 

In her literary debut, Dr. Corley writes knowingly and with unique humor and insight about the value of education, how kids think and learn, what they need to succeed in and out of school, and how their home life affects their performance. Plus, she tackles some of the most daunting societal issues impacting children today, from bullying to gun violence and beyond. 

She is an award-winning educator, an authority on school culture, and the charismatic principal at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton, SC, and renowned for her unique communication and management skills. Dr. Corley began her career in education as an elementary music teacher and transitioned to education administration to make a wider impact upon student achievement and school culture. She entered the administrative ranks as an assistant principal in Palatine, IL, then became an elementary school principal in Lynchburg, VA, Salem MA, and Bluffton, SC.  

Dr. Corley reminds us that something extraordinary still occurs in classrooms across America—not just miraculously, but by design and with tenacity. 

In The Magical Place We Call School, Corley shares human interest stories that shed light on what is and isn’t working and provides a calm hand and much-needed perspective from the front lines of learning. 

"Someday, a techie will invent a chip that can pre-install 40 years of classroom wisdom into every new teacher or principal. Until then, we've got Dr. Kathleen Corley's book," says Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and author of Free-Range Kids. 
 
The Magical Place We Call School is available on Amazon - https://bit.ly/48zUCdP – and other popular retail outlets where books are sold. For more information, visit www.TheMagicalPlaceWeCallSchool.com.

(NewsUSA) - Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States – 1 in 5 people die from it each year, even though it is largely preventable. Research shows that many Americans will likely develop some form of heart disease,[i] but you don’t have to be one of them. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), you can take action by making small lifestyle changes that help reduce your risk and improve your overall health.[ii][iii][iv][v][vi][vii][viii][ix][x]

NHLBI’s The Heart Truth® program encourages you to join the #OurHearts movement and take these actions to support a heart-healthy lifestyle:

• Eat better. Select nutritious snacks. Try whole fruits, dried fruits, unsalted rice cakes, fat-free and low-fat yogurt, or raw vegetables.[xi]Use herbs and spices instead of salt.
• Add more movement to your day. Sit less. Take the stairs. Park a good walking distance away from your destination. March in place, or walk around the block.[xii] Anything that gets your heart beating counts!
• Stop (or don’t start) smoking. Make a list of the reasons you want to quit, select a quit date, and talk to a healthcare provider about resources that can help.[xiii]
• Get enough quality sleep. If possible, aim for at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.[xiv] 
• Manage stress. Use relaxation techniques that combine breathing and focused attention on pleasing thoughts and images to calm the mind and body.[xv]
• Maintain a healthy weight. Discuss with your healthcare provider if your weight is in a healthy range. If you need to lose weight, choose healthy foods, get regular exercise, and consider joining a weight loss program.
• Control cholesterol. Make healthy food choices, like limiting saturated fats found in fatty cuts of meat, dairy products, and desserts, increase your physical activity, and don’t smoke. [xvi]
• Manage blood sugar. Monitor your carbohydrate intake and choose complex carbohydrates, like whole grains and legumes, to help control blood sugar levels.[xvii]
• Control blood pressure. Get your blood pressure checked at each healthcare visit.[xviii]Ask your provider if you should monitor your blood pressure at home. Knowing your numbers is an important first step to making sure yours are in a healthy range.

Devote a little time each day to your heart. Remember, self-care is heart care. Ask a family member or friend to join you on your heart-health journey. Personal networks make it easier to stick to heart-healthy habits that can help keep #OurHearts healthy for life.

To learn more about how to take action for your heart and prevent heart disease, visit www.hearttruth.gov.

[i]https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

[ii]Scarapicchia TMF, Amireault S, Faulkner G, et al. Social support and physical activity participation among healthy adults: a systematic review of prospective studies. Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2017;10(1):50–83.

[iii]Lemstra M, Bird Y, Fox J, et al. The Healthy Weights Initiative: results from the first 2,000 participants. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2018;12:1167–1174.

[iv]Poncela-Casasnovas J, Spring B, McClary D, et al. Social embeddedness in an online weight management programme is linked to greater weight loss. J R Soc Interface. 2015;12(104):20140686.

[v]Robinson E, Thomas J, Aveyard P, et al. What everyone else is eating: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of informational eating norms on eating behavior. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(3):414–429.

[vi]Burton E, Farrier K, Hill KD, et al. Effectiveness of peers in delivering programs or motivating older people to increase their participation in physical activity: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(6):666–678.

[vii]Lightner J, Irwin BC, Chrisman M. Changes in social integration predict changes in physical activity: a 25-year prospective study. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(7):531–536.

[viii]Mitchell SA, Kneipp SM, Giscombe CW. Social factors related to smoking among rural, low-income women: findings from a systematic review. Public Health Nurs. 2016;33(3):214–223.

[ix]Creswell KG, Cheng Y, Levine MD. A test of the stress-buffering model of social support in smoking cessation: is the relationship between social support and time to relapse mediated by reduced withdrawal symptoms? Nicotine Tob Res. 2015;17(5):566–571.

[x]Pechmann C, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, et al. Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention. Tob Control. 2017;26(2):188–194.

[xi]Making the Move to DASH PDF

[xii]https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf 

[xiii]https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-healthy-living/quit-smoking

[xiv]https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Sleep_Brochure_0.pdf

[xv]Stress | NCCIH (nih.gov); Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know | NCCIH (nih.gov)

[xvi]Blood Cholesterol - Treatment | NHLBI, NIH

[xvii]Get to Know Carbs | ADA (diabetes.org)

[xviii]Heart-Healthy Living - Get Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Checked | NHLBI, NIH

(NewsUSA) - La enfermedad cardíaca es la principal causa de muerte en los Estados Unidos: 1 de cada 5 personas muere a causa de ella cada año, a pesar de que en gran medida se puede prevenir. Las investigaciones muestran que es probable que muchos estadounidenses desarrollen algún tipo de enfermedad cardíaca,^[i] pero usted no tiene que ser uno de ellos. De acuerdo con el Instituto Nacional del Corazón, los Pulmones y la Sangre (NHLBI, por sus siglas en inglés), usted puede tomar medidas haciendo pequeños cambios en su estilo de vida que ayuden a reducir su riesgo y mejorar su salud en general. ^{[ii][iii][iv][v][vi][vii][viii][ix][x]}

El programa The Heart Truth^® de NHLBI lo anima a unirse al movimiento #OurHearts

- nuestros corazones - y tomar estas medidas para apoyar un estilo de vida saludable para el corazón:

• Coma mejor. Seleccione aperitivos nutritivos. Pruebe frutas enteras, frutas secas, galletas de arroz sin sal, yogur sin grasa y bajo en grasa, o verduras crudas.^[xi] Use hierbas y especias en lugar de sal.
• Añada más movimiento a su día. Siéntese menos. Suba las escaleras. Estacione su carro a una buena distancia a pie de su destino. Marche en su lugar o camine alrededor de la cuadra.^[xii] ¡Cualquier cosa que haga latir su corazón cuenta!
• Deje (o no comience) de/a fumar. Haga una lista de las razones por las que desea dejar de fumar, seleccione una fecha para dejar de fumar y hable con un proveedor de servicios médicos sobre los recursos que pueden ayudarlo.^[xiii]
• Duerma lo suficiente. Si es posible, trate de dormir al menos de 7 a 9 horas cada noche. Acuéstese y levántese a la misma hora todos los días.^[xiv]  
• Controle el estrés. Utilice técnicas de relajación que combinen la respiración y la atención centrada en pensamientos e imágenes agradables para calmar la mente y el cuerpo.^[xv]
• Mantenga un peso saludable. Hable con su proveedor de servicios médicos si su peso está dentro de un rango saludable. Si necesita perder peso, elija alimentos saludables, haga ejercicio con regularidad y considere unirse a un programa de pérdida de peso.
• Controle el colesterol. Elija alimentos saludables, como limitar las grasas saturadas que se encuentran en los cortes grasos de carne, productos lácteos y postres, aumente su actividad física y no fume.^[xvi] 
• Controle el azúcar en la sangre. Controle su consumo de carbohidratos y elija carbohidratos complejos, como granos integrales y legumbres, para ayudar a controlar los niveles de azúcar en la sangre.^[xvii]
• Controle la presión arterial. Haga revisar su presión arterial en cada visita de atención médica.^[xviii] Pregúntele a su proveedor si debe monitorear su presión arterial en casa. Conocer sus números es un primer paso importante para asegurarse de que los suyos estén en un rango saludable.

Dedique un poco de tiempo cada día a su corazón. Recuerde, el cuidado personal es el cuidado del corazón. Pídale a un familiar o amigo que lo acompañe en su viaje hacia la salud del corazón. Las redes personales hacen que sea más fácil mantener hábitos saludables para el corazón que pueden ayudar a mantener #OurHearts - nuestros corazones - saludables de por vida.

Para obtener más información sobre cómo tomar medidas para el corazón y prevenir enfermedades cardíacas, visite www.hearttruth.gov.

^[i]https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

^[ii]Scarapicchia TMF, Amireault S, Faulkner G, et al. Social support and physical activity participation among healthy adults: a systematic review of prospective studies. Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2017;10(1):50–83.

^[iii]Lemstra M, Bird Y, Fox J, et al. The Healthy Weights Initiative: results from the first 2,000 participants. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2018;12:1167–1174.

^[iv]Poncela-Casasnovas J, Spring B, McClary D, et al. Social embeddedness in an online weight management programme is linked to greater weight loss. J R Soc Interface. 2015;12(104):20140686.

^[v]Robinson E, Thomas J, Aveyard P, et al. What everyone else is eating: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of informational eating norms on eating behavior. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(3):414–429.

^[vi]Burton E, Farrier K, Hill KD, et al. Effectiveness of peers in delivering programs or motivating older people to increase their participation in physical activity: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(6):666–678.

^[vii]Lightner J, Irwin BC, Chrisman M. Changes in social integration predict changes in physical activity: a 25-year prospective study. J Phys Act Health. 2018;15(7):531–536.

^[viii]Mitchell SA, Kneipp SM, Giscombe CW. Social factors related to smoking among rural, low-income women: findings from a systematic review. Public Health Nurs. 2016;33(3):214–223.

^[ix]Creswell KG, Cheng Y, Levine MD. A test of the stress-buffering model of social support in smoking cessation: is the relationship between social support and time to relapse mediated by reduced withdrawal symptoms? Nicotine Tob Res. 2015;17(5):566–571.

^[x]Pechmann C, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, et al. Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention. Tob Control. 2017;26(2):188–194.

^[xi]Making the Move to DASH PDF

^[xii]https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf 

^[xiii]https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-healthy-living/quit-smoking

^[xiv]https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Sleep_Brochure_0.pdf

^[xv]Stress | NCCIH (nih.gov); Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know | NCCIH (nih.gov)

^[xvi]Blood Cholesterol - Treatment | NHLBI, NIH

^[xvii]Get to Know Carbs | ADA (diabetes.org)

^[xviii]Heart-Healthy Living - Get Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Checked | NHLBI, NIH