February 17, 2006
In recognition of February as Heart Health Month in Canada, Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald today announced more than $375,000 in funding to allow Manitoba Health to develop strategies that address the risk factors associated with heart disease.
“Cardiovascular disease is a devastating illness but fortunately steps can be taken to reduce risks,” said Oswald. “Manitobans need to be encouraged to take action to improve their heart health.”
Oswald said the strategies, funded from the Wait Time Reduction Fund, will focus on a number of initiatives including:
developing guidelines for health-care professionals and health educators pertaining to primary and secondary prevention of heart and vascular disease;
a partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba to develop a public-education heart health strategy that focuses on the prevention of heart disease and stroke, targeted to the workplace and vulnerable groups such as older workers and newly-retired Manitobans;
addressing the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke (obesity, physical inactivity, diet, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol) through workplace partnerships;
targeting baby boomers (aged 45 to 60) who have displayed a high incidence of being overweight and obese and who are at high risk for developing heart disease;
developing heart health outreach programs for senior resource centres, housing complexes and primary health-care centres; and
partnering with regional health authorities and communities to ensure community relevance and program delivery of heart health strategies.
“The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba looks forward to partnering with Manitoba Health, Manitoba Healthy Living and other partners in the prevention of heart disease and stroke,” said Debbie Brown, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. “We will continue to encourage all Manitobans to follow the five steps to heart healthy living which include: be physically active, know and control your blood pressure, eat a healthy diet, reduce your stress level and be smoke-free.”
Many of the risk factors for cardiovascular problems may also lead to chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. Therefore, heart health strategies may help prevent not only cardiac surgery but also cancer treatment and diagnostic testing, thus reducing wait times for all of these services. In addition, treatment of chronic diseases, which include heart disease, costs the health-care system in Canada billions of dollars every year.
“The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s annual report on Canadians’ health indicates rates of obesity in baby boomers have climbed by 60 per cent when compared to 10 years ago,” said Oswald. “Being overweight or obese are major risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. If we can get Manitobans to take action on improving their heart health, it will have a huge impact on our health system, now and into the future.”
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