American Heart Association -- New Hampshire

12/12/2025

Mental health and heart health are connected! Stress and anxiety can take a toll on your heart, just as unhealthy habits can impact mental well-being. Here are some ways to build healthy habits that are good for your heart and mind, using a habit loop.

12/11/2025

Like most people who become caregivers, Carol Coulther had no warning. In 2016, her husband, Rich, had a stroke. And the whirlwind of demands began.

Suddenly she was in charge of keeping track of doctors and monitoring his care. He’d been devastated, physically. “It took six weeks before he could move a finger,” she said.

As her husband moved between care facilities and began to make progress, Carol was planning for what life would be like when he was discharged.

Carol is now a volunteer leader of the American Heart Association’s Support Network online Stroke Caregiver group. Here’s some of her advice for other caregivers.

🗒️ Stay organized. “I went into teacher mode,” Carol said. “I got a binder, and I made dividers for doctors, medications, what therapists were saying.” They kept track of appointments and home visits on a big calendar on the refrigerator.

❓ Learn how to ask questions. Being a medical advocate is a huge part of being a caregiver. If something doesn’t seem right, ask for clarification. “If I wanted to talk to a nurse or a doctor, I would say, ‘When is a good time?’ I always got a good response from doing it that way.”

🆘 Ask for help. Ask the health care team what programs are available for their specific situation. Carol and her husband leaned on family, and she continues to draw on support from other survivors and caregivers online, including the Support Network.

😲 Expect things to change. Nothing about caregiving stays the same for long. In Carol’s case, that was often a good thing, as her husband kept improving. But even that meant “as soon as we got something working and we got a routine going, everything would change.”

☺️ Take care of yourself. Carol understands that taking your focus off a loved one is almost impossible at first. But over time, caregivers can find ways to ease into taking breaks. “You have to do it slowly. Maybe just going in the back and reading is enough.”

🙏 Hold onto hope. Caregiving is all-consuming and exhausting, especially in the beginning. “There’s just no answer for that,” Carol said. But she tells people to keep looking ahead. “You just have to kind of get through it, and it will get better.”

Read more on what to expect when you become a caregiver: http://spr.ly/618970ZDX

12/10/2025

This holiday season, we’re shining a light on the incredible volunteers who are the heart and soul of our mission. Your dedication fuels our fight for longer, healthier lives—and your passion keeps us going. Thank you for making a difference, one heartbeat at a time.

12/09/2025

A healthy workout routine is made up of 4 types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. They don’t all need to be done every day, but variety helps keep the body fit and keeps your exercise routine interesting.

12/08/2025

Shortly after her mother died, Anissa Swanigan’s heart started beating faster. Doctors chalked it up to anxiety and grief, so she did, too.

More than a year later, her heart was still beating too fast. She was also now pregnant with her second child. She feared something else was going on.

Anissa was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, a condition in which the heart stiffens, restricting blood flow to the rest of the body. HCM is an inherited condition. Her mother had it, too.

Doctors told 37-year-old Anissa she “had a heart like a 65-year-old woman.” She delivered her son, Ilyas, by emergency C-section at six months. He went to the neonatal intensive care unit to gain weight while she received care for her heart condition.

Over the next few years, Anissa’s heart problems continued. She eventually began having lung problems. Then, her liver began to fail. She needed transplants, but doctors worried she wasn’t a great candidate. But they came up with a plan.

Anissa checked into the Mayo Clinic, where doctors used medication to improve her lungs. Then it was time for a liver and heart transplant.

In a typical double transplant, the new heart goes in first. In Annisa’s case, she’d get the liver first, because that would help her body accept a donor heart. A machine would keep her heart beating during the liver transplant.

Doctors called it risky. They’d only performed the procedure once before. Anissa spoke to the woman who’d had the surgeries. “She told me, ‘I’m still here. I’m still living.’ That made me feel better. That was the green light for me.”

Nearly 13 years later, Anissa is doing fine. Because of the immunosuppressant medications she takes to prevent organ rejection, she takes precautions such as avoiding being around sick people and not eating raw meats and undercooked foods. And her health has to be monitored regularly.

“But we certainly hope she’ll live a full and normal life,” her doctor said. “She’s very vibrant. She has a lot of heart – no pun intended.”

Read Anissa's Story From the Heart: http://spr.ly/61857Icj1

12/06/2025

To our dogs, we are perfect. Living up to that image means believing in yourself, getting up when you’re knocked down, finding joy in simple things, and living in the moment. Embodying that goodness will make us happier, healthier and more connected to those around us.

12/05/2025

Walking is one of the simplest ways to move more. And you can do it anytime, anywhere. All those steps add up to a healthier, happier you.

12/04/2025

Last Chance! Nominations close tonight at 9 PM ET.
Your story could inspire hope and change lives. Become a Stroke Hero and help raise awareness, build support, and make a difference. Apply or nominate someone you know now! Link in the comments.

LAST CHANCE! Nominations close today at 8 PM CT.
Your story could inspire hope and change lives. Become a Stroke Hero and help raise awareness, build support, and make a difference. Link in the comments.

12/04/2025

Finn's Mission: teach Hands-Only CPR to as many people as possible. Students who complete Finn’s Mission through the Kids Heart Challenge & American Heart Challenge at their school are entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LX in 2027. 🎉 Every 18 students who complete the mission earn their school a chance at a $10k fitness equipment makeover. Let’s create a safer, healthier community and a . Visit http://spr.ly/61887WraO and send five emails to get started.

12/03/2025

Thank you to everyone who shared, engaged, and gave on Giving Tuesday—you made an incredible impact!

And the momentum isn’t stopping. A generous donor has extended an 8X match until midnight.

If Giving Tuesday passed you by, this is your chance to make your gift go 8X further and help save lives today.

🫶 8X your gift now: spr.ly/6008N4ma0

12/03/2025

Medical research saves lives, but right now, it’s at risk of being cut.

Join us TODAY as advocates nationwide urge Congress to increase NIH funding that fuels lifesaving cardiovascular research, and more.

Make your voice heard: http://spr.ly/61897F4pH

12/02/2025

Our 6X match launches today — but only until midnight!

That means $100 = $600 to end the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Your tax-deductible gift today powers lifesaving research, CPR training, and heart health programs that help families spend more time together.

And when you give $125 or more, you’ll receive our limited-edition metal heart ornament (while supplies last).

❤️ Help protect the hearts you love: spr.ly/6008N4ma0