NWA Heart Walk spotlights how heart disease can strike at any age

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 14, 2026 — The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, will host the 2026 Northwest Arkansas Heart Walk on Saturday, April 25, at Orchards Park in Bentonville. The event underscores a message many still don’t expect to hear: heart disease and related conditions do not discriminate by age. This year’s walk, chaired by local business leaders Josh Rupe of Post Consumer Brands and Kaitlyn Shadiow and Will McDonald of Walmart, will unite participants from across the region to raise funds, celebrate survivors and empower more people to learn lifesaving skills. One of those survivors is 24‑year‑old Caroline Henry, a Heart Walk executive leadership team member whose experience illustrates just how often heart‑related conditions affect young adults. Henry first began experiencing unexplained tachycardia — a heart rate that raced even at rest, accompanied by palpitations, dizziness and extreme exercise intolerance. “My heart rate would just constantly beat fast,” she said. “I had palpitations. I had decreased exercise tolerance… and just a plethora of other symptoms.” At the time, she was an active, otherwise healthy student. “I was in college and active and relatively healthy, and that’s kind of all the doctor saw,” she recalled. After seeing multiple specialists in Arkansas and Oklahoma, she was told no clear cause could be found. “I kind of just lived with my symptoms.” But her symptoms escalated dramatically last year. After a frightening episode at work that sent her to the emergency room with an extremely high heart rate and blood pressure, Henry re‑established care with a cardiologist in Northwest Arkansas. Finally, in November, she received a diagnosis: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). According to the American Heart Association’s Support Network, POTS is a blood‑circulation disorder in which a person’s heart rate increases by at least 30 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing, without a corresponding drop in blood pressure. This rapid heartbeat can cause dizziness, fainting, palpitations, chest discomfort, fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentrating — symptoms that often interfere with daily life. AHA Support Network resources note that POTS is diagnosed only after ruling out orthostatic hypotension and other conditions, and it can significantly limit exercise or even simple upright activity due to rapid heart rate and fainting episodes. Symptoms can also follow a relapsing and remitting pattern, improving and worsening over time. While anyone can be affected, the AHA Support Network notes that POTS is especially common among women in their teens, 20s and 30s. It’s a reality Caroline never imagined she’d face. Learning her diagnosis brought both clarity and new emotional challenges. “There’s no cure for POTS… so it’s been about figuring out what works best for me,” Henry said. “Now it’s all about knowing that I will have a lifelong chronic illness and dealing with the mental side of that. Because at the end of the day, I am 24. I still have a lot of life to live.” But understanding what she was facing also inspired her to speak out. “It’s been oddly cathartic to know what my diagnosis is,” she said. “If I can educate others and help others, it just makes me feel so much better. I love bringing awareness — and I hope I help someone by sharing my story.” The Heart Walk is known for its family‑friendly, community‑wide environment, welcoming survivors, caregivers, corporate teams, children and pets. The event features the beloved Hounds with Heart pet parade and offers opportunities to learn hands‑only CPR, connect with local health resources and celebrate those living with cardiovascular conditions. For Henry, the walk is a chance not only to raise awareness about POTS but also to remind people that heart‑related conditions extend far beyond older generations. “People think about heart disease and stroke and they think about it being a grandma or grandpa’s disease,” she said. “They don’t think that heart disease truly affects people of all ages.” The walk is supported by Life is Why sponsor The Emerson Group, platform sponsor Purina and signatures Freshpet, Post Consumer Brands, Washington Regional and Your Pet’s Kitchen. Companies and individuals interested in participating can contact Lauren Wheeler at Lauren.Wheeler@heart.org or visiting the website at NWAHeartWalk.org . # # # About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than 100 years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org , Facebook or X by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries Cyd King: cyd.king@heart.org For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) heart.org and stroke.org