VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 2

As we welcome the month of February, we’re reminded that it’s Heart Month—a time to focus on heart health, raise awareness, and take action for a healthier future. With South Asians being at a higher risk for heart disease, it's crucial for us to educate ourselves, share knowledge, and take proactive steps toward caring for our hearts. Therefore, in this month’s newsletter, we are spotlighting two outstanding organizations dedicated to promoting heart health.

In addition to individual efforts, it's critical to recognize the ongoing changes in policies that aim to improve public health. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that focus on reducing disease risks within the South Asian community by continuing to advocate for the highest of health standards. Together, we can work toward creating a healthier future for all.

Let’s make this February the start of healthier habits and deeper engagement with the vital research that can improve our hearts—and our lives! Stay tuned for more updates, expert advice, and community stories throughout the month.

✅ Access SAPHA’s Cardiovascular and Diabetes Toolkit to learn more!

💥 ICYMI: SAPHA South Asian Research Hub

Last month, we announced the launch of our new

South Asian Research Hub!

This platform will serve as a central resource for the latest research on South Asian health, wellness, and more. Through the hub, you'll have access to important insights, past studies, recently published studies, and opportunities to learn about valuable research that can shape the future of healthcare in our community.

The Research Hub currently houses over 11,500 studies, links to the

MASALA Study, SAAPRI Reports, and the opportunity for you to provide us with feedback.

✅ Click here to explore the research in our hub and leave us a review!

🫀American Heart Association: 

Boston Cardiologist Shares Key Strategies to Combat Heart Disease

Dr. Pradeep Natarajan, Director of Preventive Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, spearheaded the discussion for the American Heart Association, outlining key strategies to prevent heart disease through lifestyle adjustments, early detection, and personalized medical treatments.

✅ View the webinar here

🫀Organization Spotlights

The Society for South Asian Heart Research (SAHR) is an organization focused on advancing research, education, and awareness about cardiovascular diseases in South Asian populations. The Society aims to address the unique risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment needs for heart disease in South Asians, who are at a higher risk of heart-related issues compared to other ethnic groups. 

SAHR promotes heart health by conducting scientific studies, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and organizing educational events to improve the cardiovascular health of South Asian communities worldwide. It also advocates for better healthcare policies and the inclusion of South Asian-specific data in heart disease research.

 ✅ Learn more about SAHR's outreach efforts here



After 28-year-old Rohan Rajeev’s tragic 2022 passing from cardiac arrest, the Rohan Rajeev Foundation was founded with the aim of preventing avoidable tragedies through heart health education and CPR training. Based in Research Triangle, North Carolina, this 501(c)(3) organization aims to create a world where everyone is prepared to act in a cardiac emergency.

RRF shares that CPR training can double survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest, but 40% of adults don’t feel they can perform CPR.

By partnering with EMS and by providing free bystander CPR trainings and workshops in the Research Triangle area, RRF works to ensure that CPR training is available to communities, especially those that are typically undertrained in delivering CPR. 

Click here to donate to RRF: https://www.rohanrajeev.org/donate

Click here to volunteer with RRF: https://www.rohanrajeev.org/volunteer 

🚨 How to Perform CPR

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) can help save lives in emergencies. 

Here's a quick guide on how to perform it on adults and older children:

Step 1: Check responsiveness: 

Tap and shout to see if the person responds. 

If there is no response, call emergency services (911).

Step 2: Open the airway:

 Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.

Check for breathing: If no breathing or only gasping, begin CPR.

Step 3: Chest compressions:

Place your hands on the center of the chest.

Press down hard and fast (2 inches deep, 100–120

compressions per minute).

Rescue breaths (if trained): After 30 compressions, give 2 breaths,

ensuring the chest rises.

Continue:

Repeat cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives, or the person starts breathing.

To see CPR in action, check out this tutorial from Mass General Brigham on CPR in adults and in infants.

For untrained individuals, focus on chest compressions until professional help arrives.

CPR knowledge is essential and could save someone’s

life—consider getting certified!

Since 1961, the Davis Putter Scholarship Fund (DPSF) has been providing scholarships to radical organizers pursuing higher education—whether that’s at a trade school, community college, 4-year university, graduate school, law school, medical school, or PhD program.

DPSF is proud to be one of the few scholarships that support both undocumented and currently incarcerated students.

The average grant is $7,500, with awards going as high as $15,000.

Applications are due April 1, 2025.

✅ Read more about past DPSF awardees and apply here

If you are of South Asian descent, you have a 2-4x increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes in comparison to the general population. The OurHealth study is being conducted to better understand the genetic influences behind this disparity. 

OurHealth invites you to partake in this research initiative in hopes of creating a database that will serve as a stepping stone in advancing healthcare treatment for South Asians. 

Your participation would involve filling out a series of surveys that pertain to your lifestyle, personal health, and family health history. Upon completion of these surveys, you will be asked to submit a saliva sample for genetic analysis. 

This information will remain confidential and protected according to Institutional Review Board-approved protocol methods such as encryption and password-protection. None of your information will be sold for profit of any kind.

For more information, please contact the OurHealth study team 

by email at ourhealthstudy@mgb.org, or by phone at 617-724-1240.

 ✅ Sign up to become a participant today on the OurHealth website and help drive transformative cardiovascular research! 

✅ View the SAPHA and OurHealth "Dil Se" webinar here

Research Institution: Cleveland State University-Department of Psychology

This study has been approved by CSU’s Institutional Review Board. 

If you are eligible, you will participate in a remote interview via video call and complete online questionnaires. 

As a thank you for your time, you will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.

✅ To sign up or learn more, please fill out the interest form here 

Research Institution: University of Buffalo-Department of Psychology

✅ To get started, please visit the consent form and survey here 

👉🏽 Follow us on social media for updates on our upcoming 

Cancer Prevention Month webinar and more!

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