Twenty years ago, a patient with advanced heart failure had only a ten percent chance of living for one year. Now that rate is 90 percent, notes Ulrich Jorde, MD, Head of Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Vice Chief, Division of Cardiology, Montefiore. Greater understanding of the condition, new medications, and advances in surgical options to assist the failing heart are helping many of the six million Americans with heart failure successfully manage their condition. Early diagnosis is beneficial, and Dr. Jorde encourages anyone with symptoms to seek screening. "If you have swollen legs, if you are short of breath, if you have a family member with heart failure or a cardiomyopathy, you should be screened." Managing other health conditions that burden the heart can slow the progression of heart failure. High blood pressure, diabetes and excess weight are the main culprits. Dr. Jorde says, "It takes two to tango." What happens between doctor appointments—taking medications correctly, a low sodium diet, physical activity—is central to managing heart failure.

Marie Galvao, NP, Montefiore Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapy, stresses that "everyone should know their numbers," including blood pressure, ideal weight, and blood glucose level, and watch for changes over time. Lifestyle adjustments aimed at controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, and even moderate weight loss, all reduce the risk of heart failure. For patients with heart failure, the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care provides stateof- the-art treatment, with individualized care ranging from optimal medication management to surgical options including, if needed, small implanted devices to regulate heartbeat, mechanical pumps, all the way to heart transplant.

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Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers secured $178 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2019, the largest annual total in the institution's history. The funding supported major research studies on Ebola and HIV, as well as research focusing on neuroscience, genetics and improving health among minority groups. "Despite an increasingly competitive environment, our researchers have reached new heights this year, clearly demonstrating their leadership and excellence across a wide range of fields," says Gordon F. Tomaselli, MD, the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, Einstein, and Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Montefiore Medicine. This year's notable grants included $23 million to study diseases affecting people living with HIV, $3.7 million to study how antibodies protect against tuberculosis, and $22 million to lead an international consortium developing antibody-based therapies against lethal viruses.

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We Beat Together, Montefiore's 2020 American Heart Month theme, kicked off a month of activities with events presented by the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care. The Heart and Mind Together Fair was presented in partnership with To Your Health! Associate Wellness, while the Montefiore Mile gave participants the chance to get in their steps looping through the halls of Moses. An array of events are scheduled all month for associates, many of which are open to the public, including heart-healthy tasting tables, chair massages, health screenings and interactive activities.

Visit www.montefiore.org/heartmonth to see what's coming up next!