Three health stories are converging with a common thread: The power of prevention.
CLEVELAND — When heart care comes to you, lives are saved
For people living in rural and semi-rural communities, getting specialized medical care often means long drives, delayed diagnoses, and worse outcomes. A new study is putting hard numbers behind what many already suspected — proximity to quality cardiac care saves lives.
The research comes from University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio. The study examined what happened in Portage County — a semi-rural community historically burdened by high rates of cardiovascular disease — after a major investment in local cardiac services was made nearly a decade ago.
Ischemic heart disease, which occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In rural areas like Portage County, geographic isolation has historically meant delayed treatment and poorer outcomes compared to more urban communities with greater access to specialty care.
In 2016, University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute launched a comprehensive cardiovascular initiative at UH Portage Medical Center — the sole hospital serving the county. The effort included a more than two-million-dollar investment to establish Portage County’s first cardiac catheterization lab, along with expanded preventive screening programs designed to reach residents who had long lacked access to that level of care.
The results were significant. Between 2016 and 2019, more than 3,000 cardiac catheterizations were performed at the facility. During that same period, cardiovascular death rates dropped substantially across older age groups. Among adults ages 65 to 74, the crude death rate — a measure of the number of deaths occurring in a population over a given period — fell by 36 percent. Those ages 75 to 84 saw a 21 percent decline, and adults 85 and older experienced a 28 percent reduction.
The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reversed some of those gains. As access to preventive and specialized care was disrupted, cardiovascular mortality in the county increased by approximately 3 percent. Researchers noted that rural and semi-rural communities facing a high existing burden of cardiovascular disease may be especially vulnerable during public health emergencies, when continuity of care is hardest to maintain.
But as services normalized in the post-pandemic period, the numbers improved again. Updated trend analysis now shows the crude death rate is lower than it was when the cardiac program first launched — a finding researchers say is especially encouraging given the disruption that occurred in between.
The study was conducted using publicly available mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER database and DataOhio, and was recently presented to the American Heart Association. Researchers calculated crude death rates across all age groups for overall circulatory diseases and ischemic heart disease, tracking changes before and after the catheterization lab opened and through the onset of the pandemic.
University Hospitals says the findings carry a broader message for rural communities across the country: sustained investment in local cardiovascular care produces lasting results — and protecting access to that care during future public health crises should be a priority.
Blue pinwheels and a sobering statistic
If you notice blue pinwheels appearing in your community this month, they carry a powerful message. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the pinwheel has served as the symbol of the cause since 2008, when Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. The whimsical design was chosen deliberately — its playfulness representing the joyful, safe childhood every child deserves. Each pinwheel also symbolizes a call to action signaling the steps communities must take to protect children.
The statistics behind the symbol are sobering. Nationally, one in seven children will experience abuse or neglect at some point in their lives, and experts say the impact can last a lifetime — affecting physical health, mental health, and long-term development.
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s is among the institutions participating in the campaign this April. Leaders and staff, joined by members of Canopy Child Advocacy Center, wear blue and plant pinwheels outside UH Rainbow locations as a visible symbol of their commitment to children in the community. Each pinwheel represents a child who deserves a safe, nurturing, and joyful childhood.
UH Rainbow’s involvement goes beyond symbolism. The hospital serves as the coordinating entity for the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Great Lakes Region, covering Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, and Geauga counties. Through that partnership, the institution provides education and tools aimed at preventing child abuse and strengthening families across the region.
The good news, according to health and child welfare experts, is that child abuse is preventable. With the right education, community support, and awareness, harm can be stopped before it starts. Pinwheels planted in communities across the country each April represent both resilience and a collective promise — a reminder that parents, neighbors, healthcare workers, and community members all play a role in protecting children.
Before you ride, check your helmet
As temperatures rise and bikes come out of garages and storage units across the country, health and safety experts are urging riders to take one critical step before hitting the road or trail: make sure your helmet actually protects you.
Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die in crashes involving motor vehicles in the United States every year, and an estimated 120,000 others are treated in emergency rooms for bike-related injuries — many involving the head.
Experts say many of those injuries happen not because a rider skipped the helmet, but because the helmet didn’t fit properly or wasn’t up to safety standards.
Here is what to look for: check inside the helmet for a label confirming it meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements. Buy from a reputable dealer — ideally a dedicated bike shop where staff can help ensure a proper fit. Avoid purchasing helmets from unknown online sellers, where counterfeit products are more common. And every single time you ride, make sure the strap is fastened snugly under your chin.
Experts also advise against sharing helmets. A helmet sized and shaped for someone else’s head may shift during a fall, reducing its protective ability significantly.
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