WomGVMH Director of Nutrition and Dietetics Educates Legislators in Washington, D.C.

Pictured with Clair McCaskill is Cynthia Barron Brouk, RD, LD, AHCFA, MBA (Back Row, fourth from left), along with Heart and Stroke Survivors, AHA Volunteers and AHA Staff. Rachel Malen (Back Row, 2nd from left) is alive today only because of heart research that allowed her to have special surgery and an implanted device when she was younger.  She is now thriving and will soon be introducing another generation into the world thanks to generous financial donors that help fund heart research. Carolyn Holt (Front row, far left) was driving home from work when she suffered a heart attack.  She was saved through CPR and an AED.  She would not be alive and working today if weren't for heart research for CPR and AED development and the educational programs for medical professionals as well as by-standers.

Cynthia Barron Brouk, RD, LD, AHCFA, MBA, Director of Nutrition & Dietetics at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital recently traveled to Washington DC to educate legislators on childhood obesity and prevention measures including the FIT Kids Act for Schools (K-12).  Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, increasing our children’s risk of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea and other ‘adult-related” diseases.  Regular physical activity is critical to fighting back and ensuring a brighter, healthier future. The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids) would amend the No Child Left Behind Act to help prioritize quality physical education in our schools and ensure they receive important health and nutrition information.  Curtailing overweight during childhood and adolescence is paramount as 70% of overweight children remain overweight as adults.  While in Washington DC, she promoted increased funding for Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for cardiac and stroke prevention programs and increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The CDC program, WISEWOMAN, screens and treats uninsured, underinsured and low-income women, ages 40-64, for heart disease and stroke.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death with stroke close behind at third.  One in five women have some sort of heart of blood vessel disease.  Yet, when it comes to NIH funding, heart related grants receive only 7% of research dollars and stroke gets a mere 1%.  For more information on FIT kids visit the website at www.fitkidsact.org.  To learn more about health resources for women, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/WISEWOMAN/resources.htm