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.

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 - coronary artery disease

Learning the truth about heart disease

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