Contact: Nicole Napoli, nnapoli@acc.org, 202-375-6523

WASHINGTON — Through its CardioSmart patient initiative, the American College of Cardiology is hosting a contest to find six individuals who are living well with heart disease and can inspire others to take charge of their heart health.

The second annual “I Am CardioSmart” contest will honor individuals with one of six conditions: high blood pressure, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, congenital heart defect, previous heart attack or coronary artery disease. Each winner will be featured on CardioSmart.org and receive a $100 iTunes gift card.

One grand prize winner will be selected from the six winners, based on the number of “likes” each story receives on the CardioSmart Facebook page. The grand prize is a trip for two to Washington in March 2014.

“Many patients are leading extraordinary lives after heart disease and by sharing these stories, we hope to not only celebrate their triumphs, but comfort and inspire others in a similar situation,” said CardioSmart Chief Medical Expert JoAnne M. Foody, MD, FACC, medical director of the Cardiovascular Wellness Center and Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Winners will be selected based on their personal stories of living life to the fullest while dealing with heart disease, including how they work with their doctors and care team to stay on top of their heart conditions, lifestyle changes made to improve heart health, challenges faced, their support system and their personal motto.

CardioSmart is the patient education and support program developed by the ACC. Its mission is to help individuals prevent, treat and manage cardiovascular disease.

To enter the “I Am CardioSmart” contest visit www.cardiosmart.org/iamcardiosmart. The entry deadline is Nov. 25.

The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The College is a 43,000-member medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The ACC provides professional education, operates national registries to measure and improve quality of care, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit www.cardiosource.org/ACC.

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