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New American Heart Association Support Network helps in Heart Disease, Stroke emotional recovery

Nashville assisting in development of new national “connect with others” site for heart and stroke patients, families, friends, caregivers

American Heart AssociationNashville, TN – When Nashville mom Catherine Clinkscales’s son, Cain, was born with severe heart defects, the first place she turned to was the American Heart Association. Four years later, she’s helping the national American Heart Association reach out to other parents who may be facing similar challenges.

“At the time, I had no idea where to turn and I was looking to get connected with another family that was in our situation,” she said.

Catherine Clinkscales and her son Cain.
Catherine Clinkscales and her son Cain.

Clinkscales, a volunteer with the association’s Nashville affiliate, is now able to make those connections – and help others – through the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Support Network, a new initiative to provide emotional and practical support to people living with heart disease and stroke.

The Support Network offers an online community, as well as materials for starting face-to-face community-based support groups. The monitored online community is a place for people to ask questions, share concerns or fears, provide helpful tips and find encouragement and inspiration.

“I have been blown away with the website and the connections it offers,” Clinkscales said. “I had two people reach out to me just this week asking if they could give my number to moms who just found out their unborn child would be born with a single ventricle. So many people are going to benefit from the Support Network.”

American Heart Association Support NetworkResearch shows that helping people heal emotionally after a heart attack or stroke can also help them heal physically.

A study just released in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that a general lack of social support is associated with poor health and quality of life and depression in young men and women a year after having a heart attack.

“Having support throughout your recovery is vitally important,” said Karen Guccione-Englert, a heart disease survivor and AHA volunteer from St. Louis. “The emotional impact of heart disease is often more significant than the physical. Without strong support in place, full recovery becomes much more challenging.”

The person who’s had a heart attack or stroke isn’t the only one impacted by these life-changing events. The stress of caring for a disabled spouse can significantly raise the caregiver’s risk of future stroke, especially among African-American men, according to a study in the journal, Stroke.

“We’ve always used research to guide our clinical recommendations for treating patients; with more science showing a need for social and emotional support, it’s a logical step to add this to our resources to help people live healthier,” said Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., an AHA/ASA volunteer and director of behavioral sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pennsylvania. “Who can offer better perspective on what lies ahead after a heart disease or stroke diagnosis than someone who’s been there?”

Teams in three cities — Nashville, Phoenix and St. Louis — are piloting more extensive activities within the support platform. Local volunteers in each market have helped AHA to shape resources on the site while it was in development, and offline resources as well.

They’ll work with local partners to promote the online community and establish face-to-face community-based support groups. They’ll also identify and work with local volunteers who can serve in a variety of leadership roles in the community and online networks.

“Support from friends, family and others can help you deal with your feelings of depression, isolation and being overwhelmed,” Jacobs said. “The Support Network offers a place for people to find and share emotional support from others going through similar journeys. Sharing stories, experiences and practical advice can make a positive impact in how we face these challenges.

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