American Heart Month is underway this February and the Bronx once again ranks last out of the 62 counties in New York for heart healthiness, according to the American Heart Association.
The leading cause of death in New York has consistently been heart disease and the CDC’s latest data counts 42,434 deaths from heart disease in 2021. In 2020 in the Bronx, 3,634 people died from heart disease, according to the New York State Department of Health.
This February, Centers Health Care — a network of nursing, rehab and senior care facilities with six locations in the Bronx — has implemented new programs and educational seminars to improve heart health and raise awareness, in addition to its typical patient care.
Nuris Cevallos, 64, is a patient at the Bronx Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Cevallos was diagnosed with arterial fibrillation four years ago, but in late November she began to struggle with an intense shortness of breath, bloating and she had trouble walking. Her condition became so dire that she was hospitalized and then sent to the Bronx Center to recover; she has been there since the end of December.
Since December, Cevallos has been treated for water retention and has lost 100 pounds during her rehabilitation at the Bronx Center.
She is currently working with Centers Health Care staff to reach the point where she can climb the six steps into her home. Cevallos takes laps, ties weights to her ankles and practices climbing as often as she can.
“I’m up to four steps,” she said about her stair-climbing progress.
Cevallos says that she is eating healthier and learning more portion control since her hospitalization, all in an effort to protect her heart health. But her lifestyle isn’t the only one that has changed. She says her children and grandchildren have come to visit her at the Bronx Center, and they have begun to pay careful attention to what they eat and how it could affect their hearts.
“It’s in the front of their minds,” Cevallos said.
Residents like Cevallos are invited to take part in February’s American Heart Month initiatives at Centers. The events are dedicated to educating and encouraging staff, patients and their families as they navigate their own heart health. Centers Health Care works in partnership with the American Heart Association to provide these resources and initiatives.
“At Centers Health Care, we are dedicated and committed to raising awareness for heart health in the Bronx community and look forward to spearheading and launching many new and exciting initiatives in 2024 and beyond,” said Chief Nursing Officer Heidi Hendrix.
During Zoom sessions throughout the month of February, Centers clinical teams have provided information on blood pressure, cholesterol, healthy weigh, stress management and adequate sleep to staff and patients.
This month, Centers Health Care is taking part once again in the national Target:BP initiative by the American Heart Association, which is a commitment to improving blood pressure control.
Awards are offered to facilities through the initiative, based on metrics of patient improvement. All six Bronx facilities have participated year after year and, according to Hendrix, each has been awarded at least a Gold Status. This award recognizes facilities with 70% or more of their adult patient population with controlled high blood pressure.
Centers Health Care also takes part in AHA Heart Walks and a Bronx hypertension collaboration, which acts as a data exchange and think tank on solving hypertension issues in the Bronx with other local hospitals, nursing facilities and community groups.
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