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To Listen to Dana Vollmer with host Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino on The Best Ever You Show - Click for free replays: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/besteveryou/2017/02/07/dana-vollmer
U.S. Swimmer Dana Vollmer owns seven Olympic medals (4 Gold) and six world records but her challenges haven’t always been in the pool. At age 14, Dana was diagnosed with long QT syndrome, a cardiac electrical disorder, and much like the defibrillator doctors recommended be poolside in case of a cardiac emergency, the threat of heart disease was never far from Vollmer’s mind. February is American Heart Month and Dana joins us this morning to talk about her heart health and some steps every woman should be taking to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. Cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Go Red For Women advocates for more research and swifter action for women's heart health. The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's and CVS Health, with additional support from our cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).
CVS Health Announces Support of Women’s Heart Health
with $10 Million Commitment to Go Red For Women®
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation's largest pharmacy innovation company, today announced a major commitment in support of women’s heart health. As a new national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement, CVS Health has pledged to raise a minimum of $10 million over the next three years to support life-saving cardiovascular research and education. Helena Foulkes, President of CVS Pharmacy, has also been named as the inaugural National Chair for Go Red For Women, an annual campaign designed to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women and to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
“With more than one in three women living with cardiovascular disease, there is a great need for increased awareness, funding and research about women’s heart health. I am honored to serve as National Chair for Go Red For Women to help spread this important message,” said Foulkes. “Many of our colleagues, customers and communities have been touched by heart disease and stroke and we are encouraging them to help us inspire action and support the work of the American Heart Association by ‘going red’ and as part of our company’s broader commitment to helping people on their path to better health.”
Coinciding with American Heart Month in February, CVS Pharmacy customers can support Go Red For Women by making a $1, $3 or larger donation at the register at 7,900 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide or online, February 5-25. The in-store fundraising campaign is the first of many initiatives to support the three-year, $10 million commitment by CVS
Health to the American Heart Association.
“CVS Health and the American Heart Association both share a deep commitment to making a meaningful health impact in the communities we serve and we couldn’t be more energized and excited about them joining us in the fight against heart disease in women,” said American Heart Association Board Chairman Al Royse. “CVS Health’s support of Go Red For Women will help fund lifesaving research and education in this critical area, while also providing easy ways for their customers to ‘Go Red’. We look forward to saving and changing countless lives by working together.”
Cardiovascular diseases cause nearly one in three deaths in women each year or one death every 80 seconds. It is important to be armed with heart health knowledge, including knowing the five key numbers that affect risk for heart disease – total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. To help address this need, MinuteClinic – the retail walk-in medical clinic of CVS Health – is offering free “Know Your Numbers” heart screenings at its more than 1,100 locations nationwide on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
“Many women do not realize that most regular cardiovascular screening tests should begin at age 20, and that knowing your personal health numbers helps you and your health care provider better determine your risk for developing future problems,” said Angela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer at MinuteClinic. “By offering free heart health screenings at our MinuteClinic locations this Valentine’s Day, we can help women assess their heart health and make any necessary changes to their lifestyle to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.”
For a list of MinuteClinic locations, visit http://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator. No appointment is necessary; screenings will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
DANA VOLLMER:
Dana was raised in Granbury, Texas and found great swimming success at a young age under Coach Ron Forrest at the Fort Worth Area Swim Team. At 12 years old she was the youngest swimmer competing at the 2000 US Olympic Trials. In college, under Coach Teri McKeever, Dana won four national titles and played a key role in bringing the University of California Golden Bears their first NCAA national team title in women’s swimming.
Dana’s Olympic career started in 2004 at the Athens Olympics where she won gold as part of the World Record setting 4×200 Meter Freestyle Relay. After a heartbreaking miss of the national team in 2008, she came back in 2012 and won three gold medals while setting two World Records at the London Olympics. Her World Record in the individual 100 Meter Butterfly of 55.98 seconds was the first time a woman swam the event under 56 seconds.
After having her first child in March of 2015, Dana returned to the pool and quickly regained her place among the top swimmers in the world. At the 2016 Rio Olympics she won bronze in the 100 Meter Butterfly, silver and an American Record in the 4×100 Meter Freestyle Relay, and gold in the 4×100 Meter Medley Relay. Her gold in 2016 is USA Swimming’s first-ever gold won by a mother.
Although she believed she was done with swimming after 2012, Dana has found a new love for swimming. For years she defined her life through her success or failure in the pool, but now it is her family that matters the most. With the pressure off of swimming, it is a hobby that Dana loves. She continues to train while raising her son, Arlen, with her husband, Andy Grant. The family just announced that they are expecting another baby, due in July of 2017.
Dana is one of the most gold-medaled female USA Olympians of all-time, currently ranked fourth. Throughout her incredible accomplishments she has endured setbacks, injuries, and seven weeks of bed-rest during her pregnancy. She draws from these experiences for her own inspiration and also uses them to help motivate others. She is a seasoned motivational speaker who is personable and professional. When not training and spending time with her family, she is speaking to others about how they too can accomplish their dreams.