UNews - SUZANNE MCINTOSH

Health and Wellness Survey on the horizon

trevor.kenney — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 21:51:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Wellness Committee is once again looking for your feedback on health and wellness initiatives at the U of L.

It has been three years since the initial Health and Wellness Survey of faculty and staff, and the Wellness Committee is inviting everyone to take part in the 2015 survey, which will be available Mar. 16-30, 2015.

“We want to make sure we are up on the latest health and wellness attitudes of our faculty and staff and this survey will help guide the Wellness Committee with programming and activity planning, as well as identify gaps that may exist, therefore aiding in the development of strategies to address what weaknesses may be identified,” says Suzanne McIntosh, manager of Wellness and Recognition.

The initial Health and Wellness Survey proved to be a very valuable tool for the wellness Committee and helped set the course for programming activities over the past three years.

“We learned so much about our employees and their health and wellness wants and needs through that survey that we really hope everyone takes some time to take part in the second survey,” says McIntosh. “The more information we receive, the better we are able to create programming that will enhance our workplace.”

While the recently completed People Plan Survey did touch on some health and wellness topics, the Health and Wellness Survey is specific in nature and much more related to health and wellness activities on campus.

Look for future notices of when the survey is open and how it can be accessed. For those interested in a review of the initial Health and Wellness Survey, it can be found on the Wellness website.

Learning the truth about heart disease

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:17:19 +0000

By SUZANNE MCINTOSH

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in Canada and the United States.

The various forms of heart disease include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart failure and heart attacks. Heart disease accounts for 35,000 deaths per year among women in Canada, and of these deaths, 54 per cent were due to ischemic heart disease, 20 per cent due to stroke, and 23 per cent due to myocardial infarction (heart attacks).

These are sobering statistics that deserve our attention.

So, exactly what is heart disease?

Your heart is a muscle that gets energy from blood carrying oxygen and nutrients. Having a constant supply of blood keeps your heart working properly. Most people think of heart disease as one condition. In fact, heart disease is a group of conditions affecting the structure and functions of the heart and has many root causes.

The positive is that heart disease is both preventable and manageable. While you cannot control your age, gender, ethnicity and family history, risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight are all readily modifiable.

For more information on women and heart disease, visit www.heartandstroke.ca and www.myhealthcheckup.com or call Building Healthy Lifestyles at 403-388-6675.

If you'd like to find out more about your risk of heart disease, register for this semester's Health Check for U session, a 15-minute confidential free screening program. It includes cholesterol and blood sugar level checks, blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference measurements and a follow-up consultation.

Check out your heart's age – take charge of your health and put your Heart into it! To register send an e-mail to wellness@uleth.ca. Past participants are welcome to come back for a second or third screening to see if there have been any changes.

In other Wellness news, mini-massages are available through March, as provided by Lethbridge College Massage Therapy students. Drop in for a 10 to 15 minute massage or register at wellness@uleth.ca. The next session is Feb. 27, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in AH117.

The February Wellness Lunch and Learn session is Thursday, Feb. 16 at 12:05 p.m. in AH100. 3 Secrets to Stress Management will feature a presentation from chiropractor Dr. Pierre Gaulin.

Suzanne McIntosh is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's wellness co-ordinator. This article was prepared with the assistance of Marci Neher-Schwengler RN, Heart Function Clinic/Heart Failure Network, Building Healthy Lifestyles.

Wellness at work can start simply

trevor.kenney — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:02:41 +0000

By SUZANNE MCINTOSH

Thank you to all who attended our 5th Annual Life Balance Fair last month. Thanks also to all of our wonderful exhibitors and the donors of the many draw prizes.

As the fair was celebrating Healthy Workplace Month in Canada, I would like to continue on that theme by highlighting information available on our new Employee and Family Assistance Program provider's website. Homewood Human Solutions has a number of resources available for staff and faculty. The following is a teaser from one of the articles on their site.

Tips for Staying Well at Work

Taking time to relax in the workplace is important, and it doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming. Sometimes even a small investment of time for relaxation can have a big pay off. In fact, the following exercises can create more time than they use because, when you refresh yourself, you are more productive and efficient.

You can use the following three relaxation exercises at work to help you manage your stress, maximize your energy and maintain a healthy and positive attitude at work. None of the exercises takes longer than three minutes, and the shortest is only 10 seconds. Try them and make your own judgment about how helpful they are.

Exercise # 1 - Deep Breathing (a simple but very effective method of relaxation)

• Take a long, slow, deep breath. Inhale through your nose, allowing your diaphragm to fill with air and letting your chest expand.

• Exhale through your mouth. As you exhale, dig deep and allow any stress, anxiety or tension to be released along with that breath.

• Try, as best you can, to empty your head of all thoughts, plans and worries: right now all you need to do is relax.

Allow yourself to exhale negative thoughts along with your breath.

• Repeat these steps several times until you feel calm and relaxed. When you are ready to go back to work, allow your breath to return to normal.

Why does it work?

Studies show the area of the brain that signals the stress response also signals the relaxation response. By breathing deeply for at least 10 seconds you signal your brain to switch from stress mode to relaxation mode, giving your body and mind a break.

This is also a great exercise to help with the afternoon blues. Breathing deeply allows oxygen to reach your brain, which makes you more alert and re-energized. So instead of grabbing another cup of coffee, eating another chocolate bar or taking an aspirin to fend off a headache, take a few seconds and B-R-E-A-T-H-E.

Quick Tips

• Laughing: this is one of the easiest and best ways to reduce stress. Share a joke with a co-worker, read the comics on your break and try to see the humour in the situation.

• Stretching: get the blood and oxygen moving through your body by taking a minute to stretch.

• Grab a healthy snack: this will nourish your mind and body.

• Prioritize: Take charge of your situation by taking 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to prioritize and organize your day.

For more creative relaxation exercises, visit www.homewoodhumansolutions.com/media

Mini-Massages

Lethbridge College Massage Therapy students will provide mini-massages in the month of November. Thursday, Nov. 17, the students are available from 1 to 3 p.m. in AH100, while on Wednesday, Nov. 30, sessions are offered from 1 to 3 p.m. in L1114.

Contact wellness@uleth.ca to sign up. There may also be some walk-in availability!

Wellness Lunch and Learn

On Thursday, Nov. 24, Alcohol, A culture of intoxication OR moderation – how much is too much, personal limits, and the consequences of intoxication, will be presented from 12:05 to 1 p.m. in AH100.

Chris Windle, Addiction Services Lethbridge, Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, will be presenting.

As always, I look forward to any comments, suggestions or questions.

Suzanne McIntosh is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's co-ordinator of Wellness Programs

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

EFAP means more help for families

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:42:30 +0000

It's got a new name, a new provider and a new list of available services, but the focus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's assistance program remains the same – to enhance the wellness of U of L staff and faculty.

Now dubbed the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), the service is available through Human Solutions, an off-campus company that specializes in providing employee assistance and work-health solutions. It means greater access to a broader scope of assistance mechanisms while maintaining the personal and confidential nature that staff and faculty have grown to trust.

"It gives all employees access to help on a 24-hour basis, which is something we never had before," says Barb Thomsen, co-ordinator of pension and benefits. "Whether it be online, through a telephone call or a face-to-face session, our employees will always be able to access help if they need it."

Initially, Human Solutions was looked at as a complementary service to be added to that already provided by Michele Guenter, the U of L's in-house counsellor. When she accepted a position in B.C., following her husband to the west coast, Human Solutions was brought in as the sole provider.

"There was no intent for Michele not to be here," says Thomsen. "We were planning on adding this to Michele's services because her workload was so high as it was, it was difficult for people to get in to see her."

By contracting to Human Solutions, the EFAP offers access to a wider variety of counselling solutions, far more than one person was able to supply in the past.

"There are any number of counsellors available on any different topic," says Suzanne McIntosh, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's wellness co-ordinator. "It's not just stress or mental health issues that we're talking about. Employees can discuss issues such as financial health, pre-retirement planning and even have access to a series of online parenting sessions."

For staff and faculty who travel out of country, Human Solutions offers an international phone number that can be dialed collect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff, faculty and their families are eligible to receive 12 sessions per participant in each benefit year.

As Thomsen and McIntosh roll out the new service, they are using the opportunity to encourage staff and faculty to look at counselling in a new light.

"You almost have to take the word counselling out of the whole mix," says Thomsen, who sees it more as another support mechanism. "Really, you're just going to go talk with someone. If you look at it that way, it's just a case of somebody helping you or assisting you to look at an issue in different ways."

In that manner, Human Solutions is a valuable resource, says McIntosh.

"Many people don't want to take that step to make an appointment to go and talk with someone, they might feel they are already admitting to a problem," she says. "With this service, just having the opportunity to get more information about a topic might be enough. It doesn't have to always end up as a counselling session and this service allows for that."

They encourage employees to talk to Human Solutions representatives at the Oct. 26 Life Balance Fair in the 1st Choice Savings Centre, or to call 1-800-663-1142 to access help.

GET THE FACTS

• In addition to services provided under the former Employee Assistance Program, the new EFAP provides counselling on single parenting, aging parents, gambling, financial issues and more.

• Family member appointments are available.

• No records are kept at or are accessible by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Confidentiality is strictly maintained.

• For more information on the EFAP, contact Barb Thomsen at 403-329-2379.

This story first appeared in the October issue of the Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Wellness a goal of pilot project with AHS

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:55:08 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is one of six Alberta businesses partnering with Alberta Health Services (AHS) in a program that aims to help the province's two million employed adults maintain their health.

The Workplace Health Improvement Program (WHIP) is designed to give employers the tools and resources needed to help their employees enjoy a good quality of life. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, along with Pepsi Co., Triple M Housing, SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta Oil Tool and Standens Limited make up the six businesses involved in the pilot project.

"Businesses have the ability to positively influence their employees' well-being by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and offering work/home balance," says program co-ordinator Marlynn Kennedy. "For business leaders, the hardest part is knowing how to get started and how to measure the benefits. WHIP provides businesses with the resources and expertise to do that."

Promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles is among the goals outlined in the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by the Government of Alberta and AHS, and supported by the province's stable, five-year funding.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge wellness co-ordinator Suzanne McIntosh says she appreciates the support of AHS as the institution develops a wellness program that uses best practices to instill a culture of health and wellness into all aspects of its community.

"We are always looking to improve on services we can offer our employees," says McIntosh.

Students from the Faculty of Health Sciences (Nursing) program are also involved as part of their community health service rotation.

"Participating in this pilot project will allow us to evaluate our current program by assessing any gaps we may have. It will also help us develop concrete strategies to address and bridge those gaps. This is an exciting partnership and we're looking forward to working with AHS to make it happen here on campus."

As part of the pilot project, AHS workplace consultants will work with the six participating businesses over the next several months.

The consultants present an educational workshop on the importance of workplace health that explains how to develop an effective, custom-made workplace health strategy. Later, the consultants assess the companies' organizational culture, occupational health and safety policies, and the overall health of their employees.

From this assessment, a set of recommendations is developed for each organization, as well as a list of service providers, programs and resources that can help the business improve the health of its employees.

"With just this initial pilot project, we have the potential to improve the health of 5,700 Albertans," says Kennedy.

Heart Smart Challenge nears conclusion

trevor.kenney — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:43:22 +0000

The 7th Annual Bee Heart Smart Challenge is on again, beginning May 1, the program runs through June 13.

The idea is to walk, run, swim, cycle or just be active. Just over a week old, this year's challenge is already off to a great start. One of the twists this time around was the introduction of a Name Your Team contest. Following are some of the best names of the bunch: Anderson Walkers; Bookin' It; Bookmobiles!; Dust Bunny Wranglers; Gong Show; Health Science Heelers; I Can Do Bad All By Myself; KYA; Mahon Tracker; Registrollers; The Wonderous Wellness Walkers; Victorious Secret presents the Markin Chix in Risky Business; Walker's Walkers; WebGeeks.

The goal of the challenge is to promote an increase in activity and improve health through walking, running, swimming, cycling or other physical activity. Establishing a lifelong habit of physical activity doesn't just happen automatically. Making movement a part of everyday life is an intentional act. Let's make the conscious decision to be active everyday – but have fun while doing so!

How do you record your activity?

Walking/Running – Each step you take all day, every day counts. You can either record your distance or your steps. Prizes will be awarded for both.
Swimming – Each 50-metre lap you swim is counted.
Cycling – Cycling is measured either in time cycled or kilometres cycled. You can record one or the other. Again, prizes will be awarded for both.

Time spent performing another physical activity includes examples such as lifting weights, yoga, pilates or hiking, just to name a few.

You can enter your steps, laps, km or minutes weekly or daily on the Bee Heart Smart website (https://www.uleth.ca/hum/wellness/walking/).

If you haven't entered yet, you can enter or join a team at any time during the challenge. Enter as a team or an individual – the Bee Heart Smart site is open now on the Wellness website and Notice Board.

The Anderson Walkers (Katharine Winter, Cindy Matheson and Joyce Eves) are the Early Bird winners for this year (registrants who entered prior to April 21).

We also have some Busy Bee Champions to help keep us motivated. Look for entries from President Mike Mahon (the Mahon Trackers), Vice-President Finance Nancy Walker (Walkers' Walkers), and Kevin McFadzen (KYA) from Sport and Recreation Services (just try to beat his cycling minutes).

Also new to the challenge this year are weekly contests. They are as follows.

Week 2 (May 8-14) – Take the Stairs!
Week 3 (May 15-21) – Walk in the Great Outdoors, with presentations and walks led by the Helen Schuler Nature Centre
Week 4 (May 22-28) – Nutrition for Physical Activity
Week 5 (May 29 to June 4) – Fitness Funnies Contest
Week 6 (June 5-13) – Walk in to Work Out, Park and Walk

The U of L Bookstore, Sport and Recreation Services and AUPE donate prizes for the Bee Heart Smart Challenge. Thanks also to the U of L Wellness Committee.

Quick Facts about physical activity:

• A 30-minute walk burns about 150 calories. If you walked every day for six months, you'd burn off five pounds.

• Physical activity causes the body to use up glucose, thereby helping to keep blood sugar levels in a normal range. This explains why regular exercise is so critical, not only in preventing diabetes, but also in enhancing the health of people already living with the disorder.

• Regular physical activity helps control weight, reduces body fat, improves the body's response to insulin and strengthens the heart, making it one of the best things you can do to support your health.

• With so much time being spent on the job, practicing healthy habits in the workplace has become just as vital to overall health and well-being as living well at home. In order to keep moving on the job, get up to walk and stretch every 20 minutes. Physical activity stimulates blood flow, relaxes muscles and reduces stress.

I hope to see you keeping your heart healthy this year…and having fun while doing so!

Suzanne McIntosh is the Wellness co-ordinator for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Bee Heart Smart Chellnge in full swing

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 20:30:47 +0000

The 7th Annual Bee Heart Smart Challenge is on again, beginning May 1, the program runs through June 13.

How do you record your activity?

Time spent performing another physical activity includes examples such as lifting weights, yoga, pilates or hiking, just to name a few.

You can enter your steps, laps, km or minutes weekly or daily on the Bee Heart Smart website (https://www.uleth.ca/hum/wellness/walking/).

Also new to the challenge this year are weekly contests. They are as follows.

The U of L Bookstore, Sport and Recreation Services and AUPE donate prizes for the Bee Heart Smart Challenge. Thanks also to the U of L Wellness Committee.

Quick Facts about physical activity:

• A 30-minute walk burns about 150 calories. If you walked every day for six months, you'd burn off five pounds.

I hope to see you keeping your heart healthy this year…and having fun while doing so!

Suzanne McIntosh is the Wellness co-ordinator for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Lunching & learning

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:26:34 +0000

This month, I would like to highlight and recognize a group of individuals that works very hard here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Susan Vanderaegen, Chris Groves, Joanne Gedrasik and Sharon Kanashiro are all caretakers from our Facilities department. They have faithfully attended most, if not all, of the Wellness Lunch and Learn sessions since 2009 (when I first started working here). Recently, they persuaded another caretaker, Ed Sandzewicz, to join them, saying, "Ed either comes along or he gets left behind!"

I have been very impressed with their dedication and interest in health and wellness issues and I wanted to highlight their reasons for attending the sessions and what they are getting out of them.

Reasons for attending

• "The Wellness Lunch and Learn sessions are interesting and informative. The opportunity to learn something new is appreciated. Sometimes the information or topic is something you know or knew at one time, but have forgotten, and the lunch and learn helps bring it into focus again."

They also added that, "It's also a nice break at the end of the work day," as the majority of our caretakers are up and working to keep our campus clean before the rest of us are even awake.

What they like

• The group indicated that it enjoys the speakers and the variety of topics and that the sessions open their eyes to new ideas.

Positive lifestyle changes

• Having attended a number of sessions, they have been able to make some positive changes in their own lives. They are also passing on their knowledge and good habits to their families. Another benefit is that because they are attending or participating at work, they can be supportive to each other when maintaining or improving healthy habits.

These individuals have demonstrated that they care about their health and well-being and are interested in doing what they can to improve or maintain a balanced lifestyle. I would like to say thanks to Ed, Sharon, Joanne, Chris and Susan – we on the Wellness Committee are glad the information is getting out to you and hope that we can continue to support your interest and quest for that healthy life that we all desire.

If you haven't been out to a Lunch and Learn session, chat for a few minutes with these regulars and you may be persuaded to attend one as well. The next Lunch and Learn is Wednesday, Apr. 13 at noon in Andy's Place (AH100). Digesting the Nutrition Label is the topic with campus dietitian Diane Britton presenting on how to decipher those mysterious food labels.

It's time to register for the 7th Annual Bee Heart Smart physical activity challenge. In 2010 we had 15 teams registered and 125 individual participants. Our goal for 2011 is to make it the biggest even to date. You don't have to be the fastest runner or walker, and you don't have to record the most steps to be a winner – participation alone may get you a prize!

The Challenge starts May 1 and runs through June 12 and you can enter as an individual or a team on the Bee Heart Smart website (www.uleth.ca/hum/wellness/walking/). Prizes this year will be awarded for early bird registration (before Apr. 15) and for best team name.

Suzanne McIntosh is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's wellness co-ordinator

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Maintaining a pain-free environment

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:21:24 +0000

One aspect of wellness is the ability to perform your duties in an ergonomic environment, free of pain. Unfortunately, there are occasions when we suffer injuries, some of which come as a result of repetitive activities related to our jobs.

Last month, RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) Awareness Day took place, bringing to light the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that sometimes accompany work-related activity. It is a very serious matter that can severely limit productivity in the workplace. According to Statistics Canada, 2.3 million Canadian adults annually experience an MSD serious enough to limit their normal activities: and the majority of these injuries are caused by work-related activity. Issues such as tendonitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are some common examples of MSDs.

Common symptoms of MSDs include aches, pain, burning, numbness, swelling and loss of joint movement and strength in the affected area(s). These symptoms can progress into chronic disorders, after which no amount of physiotherapy or surgery can completely correct.

The good news is that the majority of MSDs are preventable. Contact the Wellness office (403-332-5217) for an ergonomic assessment, or to establish a Get Fit at Work - Stretch and Strengthen session for your team or department.

March is Nutrition Month, and in keeping with this theme, a number of nutrition Lunch and Learns have been scheduled for March and April. We are lucky to have Diane Britton, the
U of L's registered dietitian, on hand to share her experience.

On Tuesday, Mar. 22, Eat Smart, is the title of the Lunch and Learn event. Bring your lunch and learn how a few small changes in food choices can improve your nutrition. Then, on Wednesday, Apr. 13, Digesting the Nutrition Label will be presented. Both events run over the lunch hour, noon to 1 p.m., in Andy's Place (AH100).

Erin Pinder, a registered dietitian with Building Healthy Lifestyles, contributes to a monthly newsletter and her latest submission offers sound advice.

"We all know that we could make some changes to eat healthier," says Pinder. "There are a few fundamental steps you can take to achieve this. Many people in North America rely heavily on pre-made, pre-packaged foods. We are often unaware of where our food actually comes from. Many children are very surprised to find out that our baby-cut carrots grow in the ground! This month, make a special effort to get in touch with nature and local food sources. Often, the closer the food is grown to your home, the fresher and more nutritious it is. If you have children, get them involved by taking them shopping for foods at your local farmer's market, at grocery stores that supply local produce and meats, or by planting a garden this spring."

Wellness Workshop
Stress Busters – Tuesday, Mar. 15 (Noon to 1:30 p.m., Andy's Place AH100)
Join Lynne Hunter-Johnson in learning useful strategies for resilience while experiencing stress.

Suzanne McIntosh is the Wellness co-ordinator at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.
Contact her at suzanne.mcintosh@uleth.ca, wellness@uleth.ca
or 403-332-5217 for more information.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

New program tests health levels

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:09:37 +0000

How is your health? Do you have any idea how healthy you really are, or do you just wait until something's wrong?

We've got a new program for students, staff and faculty at the U of L called, Health Check for U. Health Screening is one way to increase your knowledge and, if necessary, get some tips on how to make small changes to improve or maintain your health.

The program is in two parts, with the levels detailed below:

Health Check for U - Level I
Fasting Cholesterol Testing

It's important to know your cholesterol numbers. The Vascular Risk Assessment group will be offering a mobile testing clinic that is available to any ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ department to provide a short cholesterol information session and then test cholesterol and blood glucose levels. The information session takes 30 minutes, with each individual health check taking 10 minutes. For a total of 40 minutes, you can invest in your health.

Health Check for U - Level II
Vascular Risk Screening

This very important program gives you an idea of your vascular risk. It will test your blood pressure and relate it to your weight, height and waist circumference. A fasting lipid and glucose profile will then be developed using a Cholestech machine. The data is then entered into the CV Health Manager, giving you a printout that details your 10-year cardiovascular risk.

The program also includes a one-on-one follow-up education and nutritional information session.

Again, a small time commitment will yield valuable information and help you make smart health choices down the road. The actual screening takes just 15 minutes, followed by the 30-minute follow-up session the next day.

Contact wellness co-ordinator Suzanne McIntosh (suzanne.mcintosh@uleth.ca, wellness@uleth.ca, 403-332-5217) to schedule a Health Check for U Level I or II session or if you would like more information.

How important is it to take control of your own health? Read this excerpt from an article in the latest Building Healthy Lifestyles newsletter.

February is heart month and since heart disease is the leading cause of death for Canadians, now is a good time to take a look at some facts about heart health.

Most people think of heart disease as one condition. But in fact, heart disease is a group of conditions affecting the structure and functions of the heart, and has many root causes. Coronary artery disease, for example, develops when a combination of fatty materials, calcium and scar tissue (called plaque) builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary arteries). The plaque buildup narrows the arteries and prevents the heart from getting enough blood.

You can prevent and manage heart disease in large part by controlling the known risk factors that could lead to it. These risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, mismanaged stress, physical inactivity and being overweight.

It is important to know and take control of your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, to reduce and manage stress, and to follow up with your doctor regularly and listen to their advice.

For more on heart health tips and strategies, visit www.heartandstroke.ab.ca.

Suzanne McIntosh is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's wellness co-orindator

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - SUZANNE MCINTOSH

Health and Wellness Survey on the horizon

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Learning the truth about heart disease

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Wellness at work can start simply

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EFAP means more help for families

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Wellness a goal of pilot project with AHS

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Heart Smart Challenge nears conclusion

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Bee Heart Smart Chellnge in full swing

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Lunching & learning

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Maintaining a pain-free environment

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New program tests health levels

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