A GIFT FROM THE HEART

A few months back, I had written in my publisher’s letter that we here at Akers are always dedicated to finding the most entertaining and cutting-edge ways to deliver important information to our readers.

This month, we feel we have accomplished just that. As you read the magazine, you will see we have placed a heart healthy gift in here for you. In the spirit of American Heart Month, we worked closely with the American Heart Association and put together a removable 24-page booklet filled with useful information pertaining to heart disease. We are also excited to have the Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence, also known as ICE, sponsoring this booklet.

Heart disease is a silent killer of many men and women. With so many other diseases taking the limelight, this deadly disease often does not receive enough attention. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is the reason why most of the pages in this month’s issue focus on awareness. Creating awareness about other diseases is important, but it seems we need to pay more attention to heart disease because it is taking so many lives.

On a positive note, we also share several success stories this month. We write about two local women who actually survived heart attacks. You will read about their journeys back to health and how their lives were changed.

In addition, we have another update from Traci Oliver. Healthy Living has been following Traci’s journey to undergo a complete lifestyle change. Traci bravely agreed to share her process with our readers so she may inspire others to do the same. She has come a long way and will share her big reveal in the Look Good, Feel Good issue coming this April.

As always, we hope you enjoy this month’s issue and accept the heart healthy gift we are offering inside. We would love to hear your feedback and any ideas you would like to share for future issues.

EDITORIAL // DESIGN

TINA MORRISON editorial/community relations director tina@akersmediagroup.com

MARY ANN D ESANTIS editor-at-large maryann@akersmediagroup.com

SHEMIR WILES copy editor/writer shemir@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

HEATHER TOOTLE office manager heather@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS receptionist contributing writers RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS

RICHARD BURGUET LORI ESAREY ARNP, CFT

ROBERT FROSS

THOMAS FROSS

FRED HILTON TOM RUGGIE LORI STRONG

STEVEN J. CODRARO associate creative director steve@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer/advertising josh@akersmediagroup.com

ANTHONY CASTO senior designer/editorial anthony@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com

MATTHEW GAULIN photography intern contributing photographer TRACI OLIVER

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE vice president of sales and marketing tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL senior marketing representative mike@akersmediagroup.com

LORI STRONG marketing representative lori@akersmediagroup.com

HEIDI RESSLER marketing representative heidi@akersmediagroup.com

SHAENA CHASTAIN sales assistant shaena@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

Live healthy,

Live

SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Kendra Akers. Publisher

nds; “Yes, You Can Die from a Broken Heart.” ABC News. abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/02/14/yes-you-can-die-from-a-broken-heart/ (Accessed January 6, 2014)