UNews - Cardiovascular disease

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.

Dietitian counsels to eat a rainbow

trevor.kenney — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:53:01 +0000

By DIANE BRITTON

Colourful vegetables and fruit pack a powerful nutrition punch. The closer your plate resembles a rainbow, the more nutrients you eat.

Why?
Vegetables and fruit are loaded in polyphenols; antioxidants that help reduce cardiovascular disease. Although there is no recommended amount for daily intake of polyphenols, there is a lot of research behind the 7-10 a day vegetable and fruit recommendation for adults on Canada's Food Guide, some of the main sources of polyphenols in our diet.

Peanuts
Watch your portions of this healthy fat choice containing the polyphenol resveratrol. The maximum daily recommended serving size for nuts and seeds is: 60 ml (or ¼ cup); 10 ml (2 teaspoons) oil; or 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of non-hydrogenated nut butter like peanut butter. Although healthy, a moderate intake is important because these are energy dense foods.

Green Tea
Loaded in polyphenols, you'd be wise to sip green tea more often.

Red Wine
While red wine contains polyphenols that help promote healthy arteries it is important to remember moderation. Health Canada recommends that if you drink alcohol, men should limit intake to not more than two drinks daily and women should limit intake to one drink per day.

Dark Chocolate
Flavonoids found in dark chocolate and cocoa powder may reduce the risk of heart disease. Chocolate is also loaded in fat and calories, so savour dark chocolate in small quantities.

If you're eating seven to 10 servings per day of vegetables and fruit, especially those with a wide variety of colours, you're on the right track to including polyphenols in your diet. Your heart will love you for it!

For individual nutrition appointments call the Health Centre (SU 020) at 403-329-2484. All sessions are $20 for U of L students and employees.

Diane Britton is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's on-campus registered dietitian

Eat a rainbow

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:38:45 +0000

Colourful vegetables and fruit pack a powerful nutrition punch. The closer your plate resembles a rainbow, the more nutrients you eat.

Green Tea
Loaded in polyphenols, you'd be wise to sip green tea more often.

For individual nutrition appointments call the Health Centre (SU 020) at
403-329-2484. All sessions are $20 for U of L students and employees.

Diane Britton is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's on-campus registered dietitian

UNews - Cardiovascular disease

Learning the truth about heart disease

Related Topics

Dietitian counsels to eat a rainbow

Related Topics

Eat a rainbow

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