Who we are
We are a non-profit organization committed to fostering hope and enhancing the lives of heart patients of all ages, their families, and caregivers. Through ongoing peer-to-peer support, patient education, and advocacy, our mission is to build a community characterized by resilience, care, and collective strength in overcoming challenges.
Join us in shaping a world where every heart patient has access to the resources and support needed to live a healthy life.
More about us
More information
What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
7 Steps to Becoming an Empowered Patient
Navigating emotions after a cardiac event
Being a caregiver
Our expertise
Aortic stenosis is when the leaflets of the aortic valve become stiff, and the opening becomes narrow making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body. Aortic valve disease is one of the two most common types of valve disease. Many people with aortic stenosis have no symptoms.
Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless. However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome – sometimes even life-threatening – signs and symptoms. Arrhythmias are broadly categorized into two types: Tachycardia (characterized by a rapid heartbeat, defined as a resting heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute) and Bradycardia (entails a slow heartbeat, signified by a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute).
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is a relatively common heart condition that refers to an irregular heartbeat, or dysrhythmia, where the heart’s upper chambers beat out of coordination with the lower chambers. AFib can lead to heart failure, blood clots or stroke if untreated.
A congenital heart defect (CHD) is a problem with the way the heart is formed before the child is born, so a CHD is a birth defect. Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is simply congenital heart disease present after the age of 18.
Your coronary arteries are major blood vessels that carry blood, oxygen and other important nutrients to the heart. CAD happens when those arteries are damaged or diseased. Usually, damage is caused by a substance called plaque that builds up in the arteries and makes them stiff and narrow, so the blood with oxygen can’t get to the heart easily. Sometimes a piece of plaque will break off leading to a heart attack or stroke.
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle (the myocardium) is severely reduced or stopped. This is typically caused by a blockage in at least one of the arteries feeding the heart.
Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension occurs when the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. The first number is your systolic pressure, or the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number represents your diastolic pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduces, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Knowing stroke risk factors can prevent you from having a stroke.
Normal hearts have four valves – two that allow blood to go from the atria (top chambers in the heart) to the ventricles (bottom chambers in the heart), and two that allow blood to go out of the heart to the lungs or the body. Valves open and shut to allow the right amount of blood to flow through the heart and body in the right direction. Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of these valves isn’t working properly.
