Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Northern Michigan

Tuesday, July 10, 2012  7&4's Melissa Smith who is the chairperson of HeartChase Traverse City, sat down with fellow board member, Lori Zemsta to talk about why she's taking part in the event for the second year.  Zemsta was diagnosed with heart disease and also lost her father to a heart attack when she was just nine years old.  For her, it's a person mission to get men and women to take heart disease seriously.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012  February is heart disease awareness month for women, so every Tuesday, 7&4 News is highlighting what you need to know to beat the odds and stay healthy.  Tonight we meet one woman who is heart attack survivor and is encouraging other women to get screened for the number killer.

Friday, February 03, 2012 

Thursday, August 25, 2011  It's an event that 7&4 News has been previewing for the past few weeks and that's because it's the first ever event of its kind taking place right here in northern Michigan.  Heart Chase promotes a heart healthy lifestyle and it taking place September 17th in Traverse City.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011  During Fun in the Sun Sports with Tim Brick, 7&4's Melissa Smith previewed this year's first annual HeartChase.  The brand new initiative through the American Heart Association is aiming to promote heart disease and stroke awareness through outdoor activities and a healthy lifestyle.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011  During June's Matters of the Heart we meet a Traverse City woman who simply listened to her body when she felt something was wrong.  Betty Herkner-Hardy says she ultimately had surgery for leaking heart valves and now she has more energy than ever.

Monday, May 23, 2011  In this week's Matters of the Heart we meet one woman who not only has a heart condition but also suffers from diabetes.  The connection between the two diseases is the subject of this week's Matters of the Heart.

Monday, March 14, 2011  In this month's Matters of the Heart we meet Angela Stieg from Osceola County who suffers from diabetes and coronary heart disease.  Dr. Jill Vollbrecht an endocrinologist from Munson Medical Center says the connection between the diseases are more common than you might think.

Monday, January 10, 2011  Sleep apnea happens when a person's breathing passage remains open during sleep, but the person stops making efforts to breathe.  So, the person starts to gasp for air or snore.

Monday, December 13, 2010  In this month's Matters of the Heart, 7&4's Melissa Smith and photo-journalist Bob Rhodes show how the Zonta Club of Traverse City is stepping up to raise awareness for heart disease.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010  In a statement, Cheney said he had been experiencing increasing congestive heart failure and after consultations with his doctors, he had received an implantable pump to improve heart function.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010  It is the number one killer of women.  In fact, more women will die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009  Obama says $5B in stimulus grants from NIH will help research cures for cancer, diseases

Tuesday, December 16, 2008  The number of people dying from heart disease or stroke has gone down nearly 30 percent since 1999