#BetterTogether: Love Your Heart, a Valentine's Day special

Ninety percent of Americans who into cardiac arrest out of a hospital actually die because they don't immediately receive CPR. 

You can be that life-saving someone. CBS2's John Elliott found out just how easy it can be. 

From checking pulses to placing puppies, our friends from Northwell Health and Best Friends Animal Society teamed up with the American Heart Association Tuesday for our #BetterTogether: Love Your Heart event. 

It was a heartwarming opportunity for CBS employees to review the critical numbers they need to stay heart healthy, and even learn about the health benefits of pet adoption. 

Learning hands-on CPR was the most important task of the day

Watch John's lesson in the video above. It's so simple, but so important. 

CBS2's Dana Tyler took to Twitter to demonstrate the lesson she received. 

If you're looking to learn more about CPR, you can do so from the experts at the American Heart Association. 

Just CLICK HERE for more information. 

We're hosting a special health fair Tuesday, where our colleagues are learning hands-only CPR, how to use an AED device, and other life-saving techniques. 

Black women and men bear the highest burden of heart disease, followed by Hispanic women, largely due to risk factors like diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and pregnancy-related complications.

Most schools and public spaces are now equipped with automated external defibrillators that can be a vital tool while you wait for help to arrive. CBS2's John Elliott learns how to use one live on the air.

As CBS2's Dr. Nidhi Kumar explains, pet owners actually lead happier and healthier lives. 

We hear from health experts who say women can turn their heart health around in just six weeks with some lifestyle changes. 

We have some four-legged friends in the studio as we talk about the health benefits of adopting dogs. 

After her 17-year-old son Dominic collapsed and died of cardiac arrest in 2009, Melinda Murray-Nyack made it her mission to prevent this from happening to other families. 

CBS2's Dr. Nidhi Kumar says 80% of cardiac events are preventable, and screenings help address issues before they become a problem. Genes, lifestyle and risk factors, like high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, all play a part. 

"So to give you an idea of how powerful screening can be, you take high blood pressure. If you reduce your blood pressure just 10 points, you're going to reduce your cardiac risk over 20% and cut your risk of stroke over 30%," she said. "That's powerful stuff."

Dr. Kumar says people 20 and older should have their BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose screened at least every two years, along with a lifestyle check. 

CBS2 wants you to Love your Heart this Valentine's Day, so we're teaming up with the American Heart Association and Northwell Health to raise awareness about heart disease under our #BetterTogether campaign. 

Heart disease is statistically the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States, but there are steps you can take to save a life and protect your own health. 

We put together a special health fair Tuesday for our colleagues at the CBS2 Broadcast Center, where John Elliott and others are learning hands-only CPR. 

"Bystander CPR has a significant impact on lives saved, and you just have to get in there and help," Sarah Gillen, president of Emergency Skills Inc., told Elliott. 

For some patients, the many forms of heart disease can be confusing. 

Dr. Nidhi Kumar is On Call for CBS2 to help explain the differences and why exercise is beneficial for all. 

First, she covers heart attacks, coronary artery disease and heart failure. She also talks about so-called broken heart syndrome. 

CLICK HERE for her full interview.

A Westchester woman is raising awareness about heart disease after facing an emergency condition that sent her to the emergency room, but until that day, the working mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle, never saw it coming.

Margarita Pineiro shared her story with CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis from her home in White Plains, hoping it helps others.

CLICK HERE for the full story. 

For American Heart Month, a school in Waldwick, New Jersey is making sure students are screened to prevent sudden cardiac arrest.

It's made possible by the parents of a teen who didn't have that opportunity. 

On Aug. 25, 2008, Sheila and James Fisher were celebrating their son's 13th birthday before he collapsed at football practice and tragically died. 

CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis shares their story here. 

Doctors now recognize women's risk for heart disease increases significantly at menopause. 

In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. More women die from heart disease than all other forms of cancer combined. 

Dr. Nidhi Kumar is On Call for CBS2 to explain why menopause makes women so vulnerable and how to stay heart healthy. 

She also weighs in on daily Aspirin regimens and hormone replacement therapy.

CLICK HERE for her full interview.

Nothing prepares a parent for the loss of a child, and George and Debra Kayal know that all too well. 

In 2019, they tragically lost their son Marcus to sudden cardiac arrest. Now, they're making sure his name won't ever be forgotten. CLICK HERE for the full story.

CBS2's Chris Wragge spent the morning at his alma mater, Mahwah High School, to raise awareness. CLICK HERE for his Class Act visit.

A family's annual trip to the Big Apple forever changed a young woman's life when she went into cardiac arrest minutes after sitting down for dinner in the Theater District.

Brittany Williams had no pulse for eight minutes, but she lived to share her story thanks to the help of strangers.

CBS2's Vanessa Murdock shares their story here. 

After going into cardiac arrest on the field and making an incredible recovery, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is now teaming up with the American Heart Association to help save lives.

He says there are three simple steps:

• Go to heart.org/3 to watch a short video and learn hands-only CPR
• Donate to the AHA to fund CPR awareness and education  
  
• Challenge three friends to do the same 

CLICK HERE for more information.

New York law requires schools to have automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in case someone experiences heart problems. But the law doesn't apply to private schools. 

As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported last fall, one mother is on a mission to make sure every school has the life-saving equipment. 

CLICK HERE for the full story.