Locals took part in the Roanoke Regional Heart And Stroke Walk to support the American Heart Association.

Losing an hour of sleep as daylight saving time kicks in can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day _ it also could harm your health.

A Roanoke animal clinic is partnering with the American Heart Association to make sure pets and their owners are well taken care of.

The American Heart Association is asking the community in Southwest Virginia to come together this weekend for the Roanoke Heart Ball.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

February is American Heart Month, and Kroger is celebrating by offering customers the opportunity to donate to the American Heart Association.

February is American Heart Month and the American Heart Association is using the month to highlight heart health and reclaiming your rhythm after the pandemic.

The American Heart Association provides way to keep your heart healthy this winter.

Outside temperatures don’t have to be in the triple digits for your heart to put in overtime to keep you cool.

Wearing red is just the start in the battle against saving lives from cardiovascular disease. According to AHA, 80% of cardiovascular disease, which includes stroke and heart disease, is preventable. While Go Red for Women Day puts a spotlight on the ladies, men are also very much impacted by cardiovascular disease. There are some risk factors you can’t control, like family history of heart disease, age and gender. Click here to check out an online tool to show how prevalent heart disease and stroke is in your community.

It can be in the morning, afternoon, at night before bed, or heck, even at 3 a.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke’s annual walk to benefit the American Heart Association could not happen as normal this year due to COVID-19, but people still supported the cause from a distance. The city’s virtual heart walk, in which small groups walked their own courses at their own pace, took place Saturday morning. “It’s great seeing how so many people from so many walks of life come together for the same purpose,” said Jim Lull, who chaired Roanoke’s heart walk committee this year. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 650,000 Americans die of heart disease every year.

LYNCHBURG, Va. In the midst of a pandemic, the mission to raise awareness about heart attacks has not changed for Lynchburgs American Heart Association. More than 300 people took to social media Thursday to be a part of the organizations virtual Heart Walk. The event originally planned for April was canceled because of the coronavirus. Organizers said people posted pictures of themselves with their dogs taking a stroll through their neighborhood or local trails. The goal is to raise $125,000 for the Lynchburg area to help with research.

ROANOKE, Va. - A Roanoke man is preparing to be honored at the American Heart Association's 26th annual Heart Walk in Roanoke this weekend. Ben Higgins was born with a congenital heart defect that's led to a valve replacement and the removal of 5 inches of his aorta. Higgins, the Heart Walk red cap survivor spokesperson, said he's able to live a normal life, which he's dedicated to helping others at friendship rehab and organizations that he credits with saving his life. You can support people like Higgins at the Heart Walk Saturday morning. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

"Dog ownership was associated with a 24% reduction in all cause mortality," said Kramer, an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Toronto. The meta-analysis found an even bigger benefit for people who had already had a heart attack or stroke. Heart attack survivors living alone who owned dogs had a 33% lower risk of death compared to people who did not own a dog. That's especially important after a major illness, such as a heart attack or stroke. And I think that maybe dog ownership is part of that."

Ralph Northam announced that he is considering a ban on e-cigarettes -- and health organizations across the commonwealth are urging him to take action. The groups are calling for Northam to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes. They're also urging him to levy a $1.80 comparable tax on all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes. "The youth e-cigarette epidemic is nothing short of a public health emergency that must be urgently confronted," the statement reads. "Most kids initiate tobacco use with flavored tobacco products, making the removal of flavored e-cigarettes a critical step in addressing the epidemic and preventing tobacco use," the statement continues.

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association says broken heart syndrome may be linked to cancer. Broken heart syndrome is a real thing, though it's also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. And now, new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association says broken heart syndrome may be linked to cancer. The study, published on Wednesday, found that one in six people with broken heart syndrome also developed cancer -- and they were more likely to die within five years after their diagnosis, compared to those without broken heart syndrome. For people who have either cancer or broken heart syndrome, this isn't necessarily a cause for alarm.

The American Heart Association created the heart-check mark as a means to certify foods and extend a stamp of approval to healthier choices on the grocery store shelves. Products with the mark must pass the group's criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol. In order to receive AHA certification, a food manufacturer must supply the dietary and nutrition information for the product. The heart-check mark is an indicator of very specific components in the foods that apply for certification. Remember, the mark does not take into account any heart unhealthy components that may be present in the products.