SCAI, the professional medical society that hosts this website, hopes you will find the information you are seeking right here at SecondsCount.org, but we would also like to share with you some other resources that address cardiovascular health and the care of patients with cardiovascular disease. While we are sharing this information with you as a resource, the information provided on these sites is not endorsed by SCAI, nor do we monitor the quality or accuracy of content on these sites.
Abbott Vascular
A resource for information on the interventional devices developed by Abbott.
Access Medicine
Online medical resource from McGraw-Hill.
Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence
Nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure high-quality patient care and promote patient safety in facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed. ACE sets standards for quality care, establishes requirements for accreditation, and provides peer review of cardiac and endovascular programs.
Adult Congenital Heart Association
Extensive information designed to educate both ACHD patients and healthcare professionals about the special needs of adults with heart defects.
AdvaMed
Medical technology industry association.
AF Stat™: A Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation
A collaboration of healthcare leaders and organizations working to improve the health and well-being of people affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
One of 12 agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ’s mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ was formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Information on sleep deprivation, copies strategies, and more
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
A multidisciplinary professional association comprised of health professionals who serve in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, AACVPR provides an online directory of cardiac rehabilitation programs that can be searched by state. The directory highlights programs achieving AACVPR certification standards.
American College of Sports Medicine
International organization promoting the advancement of health through science, education, and medicine.
American Diabetes Association
Information about diabetes and its symptoms as well as preventive and post-diagnostic lifestyle tips.
American Heart Association
A national nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of heart disease.
American Heart Association Nutrition Center
Information to guide families toward healthier eating.
American Institute of Stress
Institution whose mission is to understand stress and its role in health and illness.
American Kidney Fund
Direct financial support to patients in need, health education, and prevention efforts.
American Lung Association
Information on tobacco use and smoking cessation counseling by nurses, therapists, and smoking cessation counselors. 1-866-QUIT-YES / (1-866-784-8937) or 1-800-LUNG-USA / (1-800-586-4872)
American Podiatric Medical Association
Resource for foot and ankle health information, focused on promoting foot and ankle health, member service, and professional excellence.
American Psychiatric Association
Raising awareness that behavioral health is an essential part of health, that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover from substance use and mental disorders.
American Psychological Association
Expert, ad-free information resources for all aspects of health challenges.
American Stroke Association
A division of the American Heart Association that provides information and support to stroke patients and their families.
American Stroke Foundation
Support for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Asian Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology
APSIC aims to promote interventional cardiology, particularly in the field of coronary intervention, in the Asian Pacific area.
Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.
Nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease in all people of color.
AZ Health Connections
The official U.S. corporate blog of AstraZeneca, which is aimed at fostering conversation about the healthcare world and empowering readers with information.
Bench to Bassinet (B2B)
Launched by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bench to Bassinet focuses on learning more about how the heart develops and why children are born with heart problems. This information will be used to develop new ways to help infants, children, teenagers, and adults born with heart disease. The B2B map highlights centers where congenital heart disease studies are ongoing and information for families considering enrolling their child in a clinical study.
Brain Attack Coalition
Resources from a coalition of professional and government organizations dedicated to providing quality treatment to patients
British Heart Foundation
Britain’s nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of heart health and prevention of heart disease.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
A leading force in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world.
CardioSmart
The patient education and support program launched by the American College of Cardiology.
Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight
CCIIO is the arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for implementing the Affordable Care Act. This site provides consumer support and information on its programs and initiatives, such as its work with state and local governments to comply with new regulations and protect consumers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information on a range of diseases as well as resources to quick smoking
Children’s Heart Foundation
Information about congenital heart defect research and resources for newly diagnosed families.
Children's Hemiplegia & Stroke Association
Help for children who have had a stroke and support for their families
Clinical Trial Results
Comprehensive website featuring summaries of current and past cardiovascular disease clinical trials.
Cordis Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Information about the interventional cardiology devices developed by Cordis Corporation.
Couch to 5K Running Program
A beginner’s guide to getting healthy and initiating an individual running program.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
Advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.
European Society of Cardiology
ESC represents over 70,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. It provides scientific and educational activities, such as the production and continuous updating of Clinical Practice Guidelines, the organization of educational courses and initiatives, pan-European surveys on specific disease areas and the ESC Congress
Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health
Consumer information regarding women’s heart health.
Foundation for Health Coverage Education
Assistance in finding affordable health insurance coverage.
Fruits and Veggies More Matters
An explanation of the USDA’s updated dietary guidelines
Health Power for Minorities
A website dedicated to improving the health of multicultural/racial and ethnic minority populations, or minority populations.
Healthcare and You Coalition
Formed by a group of consumer, patient, and healthcare organizations to provide “easy-to-understand information” about the healthcare law and its impact on consumers.
Healthcare.gov : A Division of The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
The Implementation Center at HealthCare.gov tracks the progress of healthcare reform, provides information on government regulations and guidance related to implementation, as well as reports, downloadable brochures, fact sheets, and more.
Healthways Silver Sneakers Fitness Program for Older Adults.
A health, exercise, and wellness program helping older adults live healthy, active lifestyles
Healthy Dining Finder
A guide to American restaurants and a resource for the healthiest menu selections. Provides accurate nutritional information for menu selections.
Heart Rhythm Society
HRS is an international nonprofit organization that promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and provides readers basic and clinical scientific developments devoted to arrhythmias, devices, and cardiovascular electrophysiology.
Heart to Heart
A veteran broadcast journalist in Washington, DC, C. Bruce Johnson wrote Heart to Heart after he survived a massive heart attack at age 42.
The Heart Truth
A national heart disease awareness campaign for women, supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
HEARTISTRY- the art of caring for your heart
An interactive education program for patients referred for an evaluation for device therapy.
Hearts in Harmony
Information for heart survivors about the physical and often overlooked emotional aspects of recovering from a heart event.
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Health Reform Source
News and information at both the state and federal level.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
A not-for-profit organization that provides information, support and advocacy to patients, their families and medical providers.
The Internet Stroke Center
Directory of stroke centers; life after stroke video series; care giving; resources to help children understand; extensive suggestions for home care
Interventional Cardiologists Institute
ICI is an educational tool and resource designed for interventional cardiologists. It provides access to case studies, meetings, sponsorships, and educational programs designed to optimize the cardiologists' overall didactic experience and assist in maintaining proficiency in a rapidly growing field.
Let’s Move; America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids
A comprehensive initiative launched by the First Lady dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation.
Life Wide Open
Information for patients who have received the Cypher drug-eluting stent by Cordis.
LifeBeat
Information and advocacy provided by Boston Scientific to help people living with heart conditions live full active lives.
Medicare.gov
Updates, tools, and information about Medicare.
Medline Plus
A search site provided by the National Institutes of Health.
Medtronic
Information about the medical devices developed by Medtronic Corporation.
Mended Hearts, Inc.
A national nonprofit organization that provides support and education to heart disease patients, families, and caregivers.
Mended Little Hearts
A support program for parents of children with heart defects and heart disease. Offering resources and a caring support network as families find answers and move forward to find healing and hope.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners & The Center for Insurance Policy and Research
Offers information about healthcare reform and links to each state's insurance commission for specific information on coverage in specific regions and options for finding affordable care with or without federal and state assistance.
National Cancer Institute
Fact sheet on harms of smoking and benefits of quitting.
National Conference of State Legislatures
A bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths, and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Heart disease information for patients and their families, including the DASH Diet.
National Human Genome Research Institute
Established in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy to map the human genome. Its role has been expanded to apply genome technologies to the study of specific diseases and to study the genetic components of complex disorders.
National Institute of Mental Health
Dedicated to research focused on the understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Stroke awareness; information on clinical trials
National Institute on Aging.
A national organization promoting health, fitness, and wellness for older adults.
National Institutes of Health
The government database of clinical trials searchable by key word and location
National Institutes of Health, National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
Compiles research, education, and information on sleep disorders
National Kidney Foundation
Nonprofit health organization dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney disease, and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
National Medical Association
The NMA promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent.
National Mental Health Association
Nonprofit organization focused on advocacy, public education, and the delivery of programs and services, dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives.
National Quality Forum
A nonprofit organization that operates under a three-part mission to improve the quality of American healthcare by (1) Building consensus on national priorities and goals for performance improvement and working in partnership to achieve them (2) Endorsing national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on performance and (3) Promoting the attainment of national goals through education and outreach programs.
National Stroke Association
Provides education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and support for all impacted by stroke.
NeedyMeds.org
A comprehensive database of free and low-cost prescription medicine programs, as well as a prescription discount card, disease-based patient assistance resources, a database of state resources that help people apply for prescription assistance, and federal guidelines for determining Medicare and Medicaid eligibility.
Nicotine Anonymous
A nonprofit 12-step fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives.
P.A.D. Coalition
Coordinated by the Vascular Disease Foundation, the Coalition is an alliance of leading health organizations, vascular health professional societies, and government agencies united to raise public and health professional awareness about lower extremity PAD.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Assists qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. Also features a free and low-cost medical clinic finder, information about prescription savings cards, information about Medicare and Medicaid/state child health insurance programs (CHIPs), and information about medication coupons.
PedHeart Resource
Clinical descriptions of heart defects, treatment information, tutorials, and PDF patient handouts. Slides and image libraries also available.
Personalized Medicine Coalition
The mission of the PMC is to build the foundation that underpins the advancement of personalized medicine as a viable solution to the challenges of efficacy, safety, and cost.
PFO Research Foundation
The PFO Research Foundation seeks to educate the public about patent foramen ovale (PFO) and support research into the condition’s related disorder.
Preeclampsia Foundation
A national non-for-profit patient advocacy organization, the Preeclampsia Foundation reduces maternal and infant illness and death due to preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by providing patient support and education, raising public awareness, catalyzing research, and improving healthcare practices.
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
PCNA is the leading nursing organization dedicated to preventing cardiovascular disease through assessing risk, facilitating lifestyle changes, and guiding individuals to achieve treatment goals.
Produce for Better Health Foundation
A resource for information about fruits and vegetables and incorporating them into every occasion.
Quit Tobacco. Make Everyone Proud. (Military Only)
Educational campaign for the U.S. military, sponsored by the Department of Defense. Get information about tobacco cessation; develop a personalized plan for quitting, create a personal or public blog, communicate with live trained professionals available 24/7.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network
An organization committed to raising Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) awareness by ensuring health resources worldwide have the most accurate, and well-researched arthritis information available.
RxAssist.org
Comprehensive resources for finding and applying for prescription assistance programs, a searchable database of programs offered by states and pharmaceutical companies to help offset (or eliminate) the costs of medications for those who qualify. Also features help understanding federal guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid, guidance in deciding which Medicare program is right for you. RxAssist.org also offers its own drug discount card for people who don’t have prescription insurance.
ShareCare
Interactive social platform providing consumers with information they can trust and connecting them with industry experts and other knowledgeable consumers in order to educate, empower and continue the conversations of health. Leading physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, authors, healthcare companies and nonprofits connect, interact and share their collective expertise encouraging consumers to ask, learn and act upon questions of health.
Sister to Sister: The Women’s Heart Health Foundation
A foundation devoted to women’s health and getting information, finding support and taking action.
SmokeEnders
A self-study kit that includes seven weeks of seminars on audio tapes, interactive workbook and counseling services.
SmokeFree.gov
1-800-QUIT-NOW / A step-by-step guide to quitting; live chat (online instant message) with a counselor; telephone counseling.
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
SCAI is the primary professional association for physicians who diagnose and treat conditions such as cardiovascular disease, congenital/structural heart conditions, stroke and peripheral artery disease through catheter-based procedures including angiography, angioplasty and stenting. SCAI hosts this website, SecondsCount.org, as well as free regional “Know What Counts” educational events that promote awareness of cardiovascular disease and healthcare issues.
Society for Vascular Medicine
A professional organization founded to improve the integration of vascular biological advances into medical practice and to maintain high standards of clinical vascular medicine.
Society for Vascular Surgery
SVS is a not-for-profit professional medical society composed primarily of vascular surgeons that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research, and public awareness.
Society of Interventional Radiology
National organization of physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals dedicated to improving public health through disease management and minimally invasive, image-guided therapeutic interventions.
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Society whose mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.
SparkPeople
A diet and health website focused on getting people started on a healthy lifestyle and a weight loss plan.
Speak from the Heart
Video feeds from real patients telling their angina stories. Angina facts versus myths challenge, angina animation, and a personal assessment for patients to complete and share with their cardiologists.
StentPlus+
Information for patients who have received a drug-eluting stent.
The Stop and Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide
Form and instructions to receive a free electronic copy of the Stop & Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide.
StopAfib.org
A patient-to-patient resource to help you control your atrial fibrillation so it doesn't rule your life.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association
Nonprofit organization focused on sudden cardiac arrest. SCAA identifies and unites survivors, those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, as well as others who are interested in being advocates on SCAA issues in their communities and beyond.
TCTMD
Educational resource on interventional cardiology.
theHeart.org
Cardiovascular disease news and information for health professionals.
Time to Talk Cardio
Program to help patients and healthcare professionals make the most of their conversations by building communication skills to help better manage heart health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Science-based guidelines for Americans aged 6 and older for physical activity.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health
A site devoted to women’s health issues.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Contains the definitions of nutrient claims as allowable per the FDA and an explanation and guide to the food nutrition label required to be on all food items.
USDA Choose My Plate
Basic meal planning according to the food groups. Provided by the USDA and replaces the food pyramid.
USDA Nutrient Database
A resource to identify the nutritional date of manufactured food.
Vascular Disease Foundation
Nonprofit organization focused on vascular diseases with the sole purpose of providing public education and improving awareness about vascular diseases.
Way2Quit
Information about tobacco effects and tips and steps to help with smoking cessation.
WebMD
Health information website.
Women in Government
A national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of women state legislators that provides leadership opportunities, networking expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues.
Women In Innovations
“WIN” is a global initiative with a dual mission to encourage and facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment of women with cardiovascular disease and foster thae professional development of female interventional and invasive cardiologists in practice and in training.
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
A patient advocacy group whose mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease, and to advocate for their benefit.
World Health Organization
International organization focused on global public health issues.
Your Personal Guide: Angioplasty - Straightforward Answers to Common Questions Every Patient Asks by Allen Jeremias, M.D., FSCAI, and Susan S. Bartell, Psy.D.
Inside Your Personal Guide Angioplasty you'll find answers to the most common questions that heart disease patients and their families ask about stents and angioplasty. You will discover: the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, how and why you developed heart disease, what you can do about it now, exactly how a stent works in your body, and clear, simple ways to live a healthy lifestyle.