THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT IN OUR HEALTH SEGMENT THE LATEST ADVICE ON TREATING AND PREVENTING HEART FAILURE.

FIRST ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.

JOINING US IS STATE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR JARED DEMARINIS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU JEFF FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: SNEAKS UP FAST WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PRIMARY AT THE END OF JUNE.

>> YES, IT'S COMING.

AND BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED OUT SOON AS WELL.

BALLOTS GO OUT TO ALL THE VOTERS THAT ARE ON THE PERMANENT MAIL-IN BALLOT LIST AND WHOEVER REQUESTED IT STARTING MAY 9TH AND MAY 11.

IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> Jeff: DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS BUT THE DEAD LINES FOR PEOPLE TO SWITCH PARTIES YOU HAVE TO BE IN WHICHEVER PARTY YOU WANT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY FOR.

>> MARYLAND HAS A CLOSED PRIMARY ELECTION YOU HAVE TO BE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN TO VOTE IN THOSE PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

THAT DEADLINE IS JUNE 2.

SO, YES, THEY HAVE UNTIL 9:00 ON JUNE 2 TO CHANGE THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION TO AFFILIATE WITH A POLITICAL PARTY.

>> Jeff: IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED AT ALL YOU CAN SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY AND PICK UP A PARTY?

>> YES, EARLY VOTING RUNS FROM JUNE 11-JUNE 18 AND PRIMARY DAY IS JUNE 23.

IF YOU ARE NOT A REGISTERED VOTER YOU CAN SHOW UP IN-PERSON REGISTER AND SELECT A PARTY AT THAT TIME.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE MIX LIKE THESE DAYS?

WE HAD THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WAS A BIG SHIFT THERE.

IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO LIKED TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AT THEIR POLLING PLACE, PEOPLE WHO LIKE EARLY SOCIETY RELIGION AND PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE MAIL-IN OR DROP-OFF BALLOTS.

IS IT A THIRD A THIRD A THIRD OR ONE MORE POPULAR?

>> WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE NEW NORMAL THE POST COVID ELECTION AND IT IS HE AFUNNY IN THE GENERAL IN 24 IT WAS ALMOST A THIRD A THIRD A THIRD.

CAN ELECTION DAY BEING THE MOST 1.2 MILLION VOTED ON ELECTION DAY.

ONE MILLION VOTED EARLY AND 800,000 VOTED BY MAIL.

IN THE PRIMARY IN 24, IT WAS 40% VOTED ON ELECTION DAY.

40% VOTED BY MAIL AND 20% VOTED EARLY.

SO I THINK THAT WITH THE SUMMER, JUNE, PEOPLE ARE JUST SCHOOL'S ENDING, PEOPLE HAVE VACATIONS MAIL-IN VOTING IS SAFE AND CONVENIENT METHOD.

THEY AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

I'M EXPECTING MORE IN THE PRIMARY BY MAIL THIS TIME AROUND AS WELL.

>> Jeff: AND PEOPLE WHO VOTE-BY-MAIL SHOULD KNOW YOU CANNOT DROP IT IN THE MAIL ON JUNE 23?

>> YES, THERE IS CHANGES WITH THE POST OFFICE NOW, WITH THE POSTMARK.

SO MAIL BALLOTS HAVE TO BE POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

WITH THIS CHANGE NOW, THAT HAS TO GO TO A CENTRALIZED LOCATION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE POSTMARK THEY COULD BE A ONE-TWO DAY DELAY.

AS YOU GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, WHAT WE RECOMMEND IS USING THE BALLOT DROP BOXES AND THEY ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THAT INFORMATION THERE IS ABOUT OVER THERE'S CLOSELY 300 OF THEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THEY ARE UNDER 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE.

WE JUST DEPLOYED THEM TODAY THEY ARE ALL OUT IN MARYLAND ON MAY 4.

YES, AVAIL YOURSELVES OF THAT AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY GET PICKED UP BY ELECTION OFFICIALS SO THAT IT WILL BE RECEIVED TIMELY.

>> Jeff: I SAW A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES EXPRESSING WILLINGNESS TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO REDRAW THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL MAP WHICH OTHER STATES ARE DOING IN LIGHT OF THE SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS ACT DECISION.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION TO SEE IF YOU JUMPED OUT OF THE CHAIR?

ARE WE TOO FAR DOWN THE TRACK TO STOP AT THIS POINT?

AND BASICALLY, WE CAN MOVE THE PRIMARY TO SEPTEMBER IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE?

SY.

I MEAN WE HAVE A PRIMARY.

IT'S JUNE 23.

CANDIDATES HAVE FILED FOR CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE.

IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMES BACK, MY AGENCY IS READY TO IMPLEMENT WHATEVER LAWS THAT THEY PASS.

AND SO TIME, MONEY AND MANPOWER IS USUALLY ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED.

ONE WHEN IS SHORT THEN THE OTHER TWO HAVE TO GO UP.

BUT WE'RE READY TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE WILL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ELECTIONS FOR THE ELECTIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE SEND US AN E-MAIL LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

DID I SEE A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD BASICALLY TURN YOU INTO THE ARBIT FOR OF WHAT CAMPAIGN ADS ARE TRUE OR FALSE?

>> SO THAT'S ABOUT THE DEEPFAKE THE LAST BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THIS ONE.

SOMETHING I WORKED WITH SENATORS AND DELEGATES FOR A COUPLE YEARS ON.

IT'S TO BATTLE DISAND MISINFORMATION ON THE ELECTION AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TOO.

TIMING ABOUT TIME, PLACE AND MANNER, ELECTION RESULTS, METHODS OF VOTING THAT IF THERE IS A DEEPFAKE OUT THERE TRYING TO BASICALLY DISENFRANCHISE INDIVIDUALS BY SPREADING UNTRUTHS THAT NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMBAT THAT.

BECAUSE AS THESE PLATFORMS HAVE CHANGED THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA POLICIES, IT'S NO LONGER THEY ARE NOT REGULATING THE CONTENT AND SAYING THE ELECTION IS ON JUNE 23.

THEY ARE NOT -- THEY ARE LETTING EVERYTHING GO AND SAYING TO MY AGENCY, OKAY WE'LL PUT YOU IN COMMUNITY NOTES.

I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW I'VE GONE THROUGH THE ANALYTICS AND THE FALSE POST GETS TENS OF THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HITS WHILE MY COMMUNITY NOTE THEN SAYING THIS IS INCORRECT, THIS IS THE TRUTH, GETS BURIED BECAUSE OF THE ALGORITHMS AND I GET A THOUSAND HITS OR A THOUSAND.

SO NOW IT'S COMBATING THIS EVIL WHICH IS DISINFORMATION TRYING TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.

>> Jeff: SO DISINFORMATION IS LIMITED TO MATTERS OF THE ELECTION ITSELF?

YOU ARE NOT THE ARBITER BETWEEN TWO WELL FUNDED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE LOBBING ATTACK ADS?

>> NO, THAT'S THE POLITICAL ARENA THAT IS IN THEIR DISCOURSE.

ALL I PROTECT IS MARYLAND'S VOTERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLS.

>> Jeff: AND THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS DONE THIS BEFORE THERE WAS RUMOR CONTROL EFFORT.

WHAT KIND OF RUMORS DO YOU GET?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S MOSTLY ON MAIL-IN VOTING THAT IT'S NOT SAFE, OR THAT THERE'S ISSUES WITH IT.

BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH MAKING SURE THAT IT'S VERY SAFE AND SECURE.

AND THAT ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR VOTERS.

THE OTHER PART TOO IS WITH THE POSTMARK ISSUE.

SAYING I CAN GET DISENFRANCHISED THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE DROP BOXES AND PUSHING OUT AS MUCH AS THEIR LOCATIONS.

ADDITIONALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET VOTERS MORE INFORMATION AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

AND WE DEVELOPED AN APP FOR VOTERS TO USE SO THEY CAN GO HAVE -- THEY CAN REPORT DISINFORMATION THROUGH THE APP.

THEY CAN FIND THE DROP BOXES AND POLLING PLACE AND UPDATE VOTER REGISTRATION.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS EASY FOR VOTERS TO GET THE CORRECT AND TRUSTED INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: CAN IT BE TOO EASY FOR VOTERS TO BECOME VOTERS?

THERE IS A SPECTRUM BETWEEN YOU KNOW THE RED STATES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND VOTE.

PROBABLY DISENFRANCHISING SOME PEOPLE IN THE INTEREST OF SECURITY.

AND THEN THERE'S PROBABLY BLUE STATES THAT WILL MAKE IT REALLY EASY TO GET THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

BUT MAYBE CUT CORNERS ON SECURITY.

IF THAT SPECTRUM EXISTS WHERE ARE WE.

>> .

>> SO I DON'T THINK ABOUT CUTTING CORNERS ON THE SECURITY ASPECT OF IT.

BUT WE'RE PROGRESSIVE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING RIGHTS.

AND IT WAS A POLICY DETERMINATION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY ELIGIBLE MARYLANDER HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO THAT RIGHT.

THIS WAS A HARD-FOUGHT RIGHT THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY TALKED TO.

I GO TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT THE 15TH AMENDMENT.

WHERE WAR ONE AND THE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW 18-YEAR-OLDS HAD TO WAIT UNTIL VIETNAM TO GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THESE ARE HARD-FOUGHT STRUGGLES.

MARYLAND'S MADE A POLICY DETERMINATION TO ELIMINATE ALL UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND THE ABILITY TO VOTE.

BECAUSE THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT HERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE NOT SACRIFICING ANY OF THE SECURITY MEASURES THERE.

THESE ELECTIONS ARE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF CHALLENGERS AND WATCHERS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CANDIDATES THEY ARE THERE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE ANYBODY ON THE BASIS OF IDENTITY.

THEY GET TO SEE THE PROCESS.

THEY GET TO SEE THE VOTERS IT'S OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

SO, YES, IT'S I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE WANT TO GIVE MARYLANDERS THE ACCESS WITHOUT UNNECESSARY BARRIERS.

>> Jeff: IS IT POSSIBLE WE HAVE PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND VOTING WHO AREN'T CITIZENS?

>> WE DO QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS OF OUR VOTER ROLLS.

WE WORK WITH OUR STATE AGENCIES, WE WORK WITH MOTOR VEHICLES TO GET AS MANY INDIVIDUALS AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS A POLICY DETERMINATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS WAS AS AN AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WE KNEW THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY NOT BE QUALIFIED OR ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

THEY HAVE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IN THAT SASS SPECIFIC IF THEY WERE REGISTERED, I WOULD SAY, THROUGH A CLERICAL ERROR OR ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS.

AND WE TAKE VERY PRIDE IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR ROLLS ARE UP-TO-DATE AND ARE VERIFIED.

WE ENSURE ITS ACCURACY AND CORRECTNESS.

>> Jeff: LET'S SEE.

VIEWER QUESTION JUDY.

I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I SIGNED UP FOR MAIL-IN VOTING.

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF I DID?

>> GO TO OUR WEBSITE THERE'S VOTER SERVICES PUT IN YOUR NAME AND THE BASICALLY, YOU GET ALL THE INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE REQUESTED A MAIL-IN BALLOT.

AND IF YOU HAVE NOT NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO REQUEST ONE BECAUSE, WE'LL MAIL IT OUT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: IS IT POSSIBLE IF YOU -- IF YOU GOT ONE LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, THE LAST ELECTION ARE YOU AUTOMATICALLY GETTING THE MAIL-IN BALLOT THIS TIME?

>> MARYLAND HAS A PERMANENT MAIL-IN BALLOT REGISTRY.

UNLESS YOU SIGNED UP FOR THAT, YOU HAVE TO RENEW YOUR REQUEST FOR EVERY ELECTION.

IN THE PAST YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO SAY I WANT IT FOR 24 BUT NOT IN PERPETUITY.

UNLESS YOU SAID I WANT IT IN PERPETUITY YOU HAVE TO RENEW.

>> Jeff: THIS IS SYDNEY ASKING I AM A REGISTERED VOTER WITH THE MAIL-IN OPTION WILL I GET A BALLOT AS AN INDEPENDENT VOTER?

>> SO MARYLAND'S CLOSED PRIMARY STATE.

BUILDING IN THERE IS A SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION IN YOUR COUNTY, YOU WOULD NOT BE GETTING A BALLOT.

>> Jeff: AND JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.

>> THEY ARE PARTISAN ELECTION BECAUSE THEY RUN IT IN THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY NOT FOR INDEPENDENTS.

>> Jeff: GREEN PARTY PEOPLE AREN'T TOO THRILLED WITH THAT.

BEFORE WE GO ARE YOU CHANGING AT LOOKING AT NEW TECHNOLOGY?

>> WE JUST ARE PROCURING A NEW VOTING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE IS THE CONTRACT IS EXPIRED.

WE JUST CERTIFIED EQUIPMENT AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT MET THE EAC STANDARDS FOR 1.0 AND WE WILL HAVE A PATHWAY TO THE MORE CURRENT 2.SO STANDARDS OUT THERE FOR THE 2030 ELECTION.

>> Jeff: WE'RE KEEPING PAPER.

>> WE ARE A PAPER STATE.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IT WAS ELECTRONIC AND WITH A.I., BEING ABLE TO HACK ANYTHING.

>> WE HAVE PAPER EVERYONE FILLS IN THE DOTS AND THEN WE HAVE A TOUCH SCREEN THE BALLOT MARKING DEVICE FOR OUR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES BUT THAT IS A GIANT PENCIL.

SO YOU GO IN THERE AND SELECT YOUR CANDIDATES AND IT HAS A PIECE OF PAPER THAT COMES OUT WITH YOUR CANDIDATES ON IT AND THAT PIECE OF PAPER IS THE BALLOT.

EVERYTHING IS STILL PAPER BALLOTS SO WE CAN RECOUNTED AND REDO ANYTHING YOU WANT WITH.

WE ALWAYS HAVE THE BACKUP OF THE PAPER.

>> Jeff: JARED DEMARINIS VACATION IS OVER AND IS ABOUT TO GET BUSY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR STOPPING BY.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> Jeff: AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr.

NIYA JONES A CARDIOLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN ADVANCED HEART FAILURE AND CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES REMAIN THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF MEN AND WOMEN ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN THAT REGARD?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THE CLASSIC TEACHING WAS MEN TENDED TO BE MORE [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] THE STUDIES DID NOT INCLUDE WOMEN.

SO NOW THAT MORE STUDIES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE WE ARE GETTING A BETTER SENSE AT THAT TIME WOMEN ARE AFFECTED AS WELL.

THEY TEND TO BE AFACTED -- AFFECTED LATER IN LIFE.

BUT WOMEN STILL CAN PRESENT WITH HEART ATTACKS AND WE'VE SEEN WOMEN IN THEIR 30s AND 40s.

>> Jeff: THE ANATOMY IS THE SAME.

THE SAME HEART MORE OR LESS AND THE SAME IMPORTANT ARTERIES SERVING THE HEART?

>> A GREAT POINT.

THE MAJOR ARTERIES ARE THE SAME.

WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SMALL VESSEL DISEASE MEANING THE TINY ARYTDS THAT SUPPLY THE HEART ARE MORE LIKELY TO SPASM IN WOMEN.

WE KNOW THAT PRIOR TO MENOPAUSE ESTROGEN DOES HAVE A PROTECTIVE EFFECT AGAINST HEART ATTACK AND STROKE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WOMEN DON'T TEND TO EXPERIENCE HEART ATTACKS AS EARLY.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS WOMEN OFTEN PRESENT ATYPICALLY, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CRUSHING CHEST PAIN THAT A MAN EXPERIENCES BUT THEY MAY HAVE JAW PAIN OR JUST REAL BAD FATIGUE, AND OFTENTIMES THOSE SYMPTOMS CAN BE OVERLOOKED.

>> Jeff: DON'T OVERLOOK THOSE SYMPTOMS, EMBARRASSMENT AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS BETTER THAN HAVING THE HEART ATTACK AT HOME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AREA THAT YOU FOCUS ON WHICH IS HEART FAILURE AND HEART TRANSPLANTATION.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK?

>> SURE.

HEART FAILURE I SAY IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER WHAT IT MEANS IS THE HEART CAN NO LONGER MEET THE BODY'S DEMANDS AND OTHER ORGANS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE THE HEART IS NOT ACCURATE.

SOMETIMES THE HEART IS TOO WEAK AND OTHER TIMES THE HEART IS PUMPING CORRECTLY BUT IT DOESN'T MOVE THE BLOOD FORWARD.

HEART FAILURE CAN RESULT FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD HEART ATTACKS BELONG ACTS AND INFECTIONS THAT ATTACKED THE HEART.

SO IT'S THE COMMON PATHWAY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT OTHER CARDIAC CONDITIONS.

WOMEN ARE JUST AS LIKELY TO HAVE HEART FAILURE AS WELL RELATIVE TO MEN.

BUT OFTENTIMES IT DEVELOPS LATER IN LIFE BECAUSE WOMEN LIVE LONGER SO THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HEART FAILURE DUE TO HYPERTENSION THAT KIND OF THING.

THE GOOD THING IS THAT IT CAN BE TREATED AND IT CAN BE REVERSED.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I WENT INTO THE FIELD AND SOMETIMES I WISH WE COULD CHANGE THE NAME BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOLD THEY HAVE HEART FAILURE.

>> Jeff: IT SOUNDS TERMINAL.

>> AND IT CAN BE DEMORALLIZING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MEDICATIONS NOWADAYS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE 10, 15 YEARS AGO THAT ARE MAKING DIFFERENCES IN HOW LONG PEOPLE SURVIVE.

AND WE SOMETIMES HAVE SEEN IT BE REVERSED.

>> Jeff: WOW.

YOU MENTIONED YOUNG PEOPLE.

WITH HEART DISEASE IN THEIR 30s.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS AN ACCUMULATION OF BAD EATING OR SMOKING OR WHATEVER WEIGHT ISSUES WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE?

>> SO, AGAIN THIS IS AN AREA OF SORT OF ONGOING RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE RISK FACTORS ARE.

BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASE LATER IF THEY HAD HIGH CHOLESTEROL OR DIABETES, I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES OFTENTIMES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR CHOLESTEROL IS THAT IS ONE WE ADVISE IS KNOW YOUR NUMBERS.

WHAT IS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE?

WHAT IS YOUR CHOLESTEROL WHAT IS YOUR SUGAR ARE THEY WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN THAT HAD A HEART ATTACK AND SAID I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS AT RISK.

IF THEY HAD KNOWN FIVE YEARS BEFORE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN INTERVENTION THAT CHANGED THEIR PATH.

>> Jeff: IS THAT NEW?

IS THAT A TREND?

ARE YOU SEEING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE OF OUR AMERICAN LIFESTYLE OR WHATEVER?

>> SO, THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEDENTARY AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT IS IT'S TOUGH WITH BUSY SCHEDULES TO FIT IN A STRUCTURED EXERCISE PROGRAM BUT IF YOU CAN MOVE MORE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND PARK FURTHER AWAY AT THE GROCERY STORE.

TAKE STAIRS INSTEAD OF THE ELEVATOR WHEN POSSIBLE THAT IS PROTECTIVE.

AND THESE WERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE AND OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS GENERATIONS WERE DOING MORE OF.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO HONE IN ON.

ANOTHER RISK FACTOR IS THE FACT THAT MARIJUANA HAS BEEN LEGALIZED.

WE USED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT TOBACCO WAS THE BAD ACTOR AND THEY SHOULDN'T SMOKE CIGARETTES AND THOUGHT MARIJUANA WAS OKAY.

NOW MORE PEOPLE ARE SMOKE TO GO IT ALSO INCREASES YOUR RISK OF HEART ATACK AND STRONG.

>> Jeff: I WONDER IF YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE LAST TALKING POINT, PARDON ME, I WANTED TO DISCUSS WAS THE GO RED FOR WOMEN PROGRAM THAT YOU ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> GO RED FOR WOMEN WAS STARTED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 20 YEARS AGO DESIGNED TO EMPOWER WOMEN.

A LOT OF THE STATISTICS CAN BE SCARY AND POTENTIALLY DEPRESSING.

BUT THE IDEA HERE IS THAT IF YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE AND KNOW WHAT YOUR RISK FACTORS YOU ARE CAN BE PROACTIVE ABOUT CHANGING THEM.

IT'S NATIONWIDE AND ALLOWS PATIENT VOICES TO BE ELEVATED.

AND WOMEN GET TOGETHER AND TELL THEIR STORIES AND HOW TO INSPIRE OTHER WOMEN WHO MAYBE DEALING WITH A NEW DIAGNOSIS.

>> Jeff: LET'S FOCUS ON WOMEN.

AND THE SUITLE DIFFERENCES IN SUITEDLE DIFFERENCES IN SYMPTOMS YOU TALKED ABOUT.

IF YOU ARE A MAN THEY TALK ABOUT THE FEELING OF ANLE FANTD SITTING ON YOUR CHEST.

FOR WOMEN, WHAT IS IT?

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, GO TO THE URGENT CARE, DRIVE YOURSELF TO THE ER OR CALL 911?

IF THE SYMPTOMS ARE SUBTLE IT'S TOUGH.

>> KNOW YOUR BODY AND KNOW WHAT IS UNUSUAL FOR YOU.

I THINK TIMES PEOPLE ARE KIND OF TAKEN ABACK WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND TRY TO IGNORE IT.

IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED BEFORE TELL SOMEONE.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

IF YOU CAN DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER A PHYSICIAN WHO KNOWS YOU.

>> Jeff: BOY, THOSE ARE HARD TO FIND.

>> THAT CAN BE HELPFUL AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHAT ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS?

SOMEBODY FOLLOWS THAT ADVICE AND GETS THEIR CHOLESTEROL, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

>> WELL,.

>> Jeff: DO YOU WANT A CALCIUM SCORE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE 2026ACCHA GUIDELINES WERE RELEASED IN MARCH SO THEY GIVE A LOT OF GUIDANCE AND PEOPLE CAN FEEL FREE TO LOOK AT THOSE ON-LINE.

THERE ARE TAKEAWAYS THEY HIGHLIGHT NOT JUST FOR PHYSICIANS.

PATIENTS AND PEOPLE AT RISK AND LOVED ONES SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THEM TOO.

ONE THING THAT CAME OUT OF IT THERE ARE OTHER MARKERS BESIDES CHOLESTEROL THAT CAN HELP RISK RATIFY.

WE KNOW THAT CHOLESTEROL DOESN'T ALWAYS TELL THE WHOLE STORIES OTHER BLOOD TESTS CAN HELPFUL.

CALCIUM SCORE SOMETHING OUT THERE IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A SPECIFIC CONTEXT AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BUT SOMETHING YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR ABOUT.

OCCASIONLY WE DO CARDIAC CT'S AS WELL.

>> Jeff: HOW IMPORTANT IS FAMILY HISTORY IN HEART DISEASE?

>> FAMILY HISTORY IS AN ELEMENT GENETICS ARE NOT DEFENDANT ANY.

SO, AGAIN YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH AND IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY YOU CAN ACT ON IT.

BUT, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO FOR IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU WILL DEVELOP HEART DISEASE.

>> Jeff: I HAVE A MINUTE.

BUT'S COME BACK TO HEART FAILURE AND YOUR MESSAGE THERE WHICH IS YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW MEDS AND THERE'S HOPE.

>> THERE'S HOPE.

AND DON'T GET ME WRONG SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE OF FAMILY HISTORY OR GENETIC CONDITION THEY PROGRESS TO NEEDING A HEART TRANSPLANT BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF OF THAT COURSE.

HEART FAILURE IS AN EVOLVING FIELD.

>> Jeff: ON THE TRANSPLANTATION FRONT, YOU NEED DONORS AND YOU NEED PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIVING DONORS FOR HEART TRANSPLANTS.

>> THAT IS FOR SURE.

IN CONTRAST TO RENAL AND LIVER TRANSPLANTS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE ON THAT?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE AWARE OF?

>> IT IS A PERSONAL CHOICE IF IT'S IN YOU TO CONSIDER BEING A DONOR I WOULD MAKE SURE IT'S ON YOUR LICENSE AND TALK TO YOUR LOVED ONES WHAT THEY WANT IN THAT SITUATION.

>> Jeff: Dr.

NIYA JONES CARDIOLOGIST UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EDGE AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]