HOSA Take On Big Problems

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, contributing to strokes, heart failure, and arterial diseases.
As part of HOSA, Kaylee Ro (’25) and Smera Bharadwaj (’25) are working to raise awareness about cardiovascular health. Their project focuses on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to their project statement, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and exercising are the best preventative measures against the disease.
Healthy diets lower the chance of blood clots. High consumption of unsaturated fats, often found in processed and fast foods, can lead to plaque buildup, narrowing arteries and increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. Blood clots stop the heart’s blood flow, causing heart attacks, strokes, and extremely painful swelling. Additionally, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule helps stabilize blood pressure. Ro (’25) and Bharadwaj (’25) state that “Teens aged 14 18 need 8-10 hours of sleep” and that not getting enough will cause an increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Finally, exercise strengthens the body and keeps “oxygen-rich” blood pumping.
Explaining the motivation behind their project, Ro (’25) says, “[we] realized that cardiovascular health was something that wasn’t really discussed within many schools or organizations…”. She further explained in her project pitch, “Both Smera Bharadwaj and I (Kaylee Ro) have witnessed the effect of cardiovascular diseases in our families and communities. Complications from high blood pressure to heart attacks have created many unfortunate circumstances for numerous families in our community…We believe that prevention should start at an early age…”
For more information or to support their initiative, visit their Instagram account: @heart_wellness_channel