Latinos targeted by heart campaign

AstraZeneca, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and LULAC Join Forces to Promote Needed Heart Health Education in Hispanic Communities
PRESS RELEASE

WILMINGTON, Del., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today kicks off the 2009 JUNTOS CONTRA LA ATERO campaign, featuring the Artery Explorer -- a state-of-the-art, multisensory, motion simulator that helps people visualize atherosclerosis (athero), the progressive build-up of plaque inside the arteries. For a second year in a row, AstraZeneca has partnered with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to bring the Artery Explorer and education materials to Hispanic communities throughout the country.

"Education is the most important tool we have in helping our community understand the health issues that concern us the most," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of The Alliance. "We look forward to another successful year in reaching even more families with valuable information on atherosclerosis."

Designed to help bring awareness and understanding of athero and encourage people to take steps to protect their arteries, a national, bilingual education movement called JUNTOS CONTRA LA ATERO/ US AGAINST ATHERO was conceived over two years ago. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of the leading cause of stroke and heart disease -- atherosclerosis, and help people fight athero with knowledge.

"The JUNTOS CONTRA LA ATERO initiative has helped positively affect the Hispanic community by raising heart health awareness and visually bringing to life the physical effects of a silent disease," said Brent Wilkes, national executive director of LULAC. "Our mission is to help AstraZeneca spread the word and rally our community to take a more proactive role in maintaining family heart health."

Heart disease is the number one killer of Hispanic Americans, claiming the lives of 28.6 percent of the more than 122,000 Hispanics who die each year.(1) Additionally, athero typically has no signs or symptoms until an artery becomes severely narrowed or completely blocked. At this point, people often suffer a heart attack, stroke, or other serious, potentially fatal, health problems.

Inside the Artery Explorer, participants travel through the winding path of the human circulatory system as the arteries become narrow and blocked with plaque. Along the way, people are confronted by common risk factors for athero, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking. The experience, which is narrated and illustrated in Spanish, culminates with a head-on collision with a blood clot; memorably demonstrating how athero can lead to heart attack and stroke.

For more information about athero, visit www.LaAtero.com. To receive additional information, be sure to click the link for the AteroInformados program, an ongoing educational series packed with information about athero, tips for staying active and eating healthy, and questions for your doctor. AstraZeneca will also make a $1 donation, up to a total of $25,000, to the National Latina Health Network, a non-profit organization that addresses critical health concerns affecting Latinas and their families. The Web site also features a video of the journey through the arteries for those unable to experience the Artery Explorer in person.