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Canadian women urged to make heart health their top resolution for 2009
The Heart Truth campaign launches interactive tool to help women lower their risk for heart disease and stroke
January 2, 2009 | The Heart and Stroke Foundation is urging Canadian women to place their heart health at the top of their list of New Year's resolutions. To kickstart the resolve, The Heart Truth campaign today launched Heartbeats, a tool to help women keep heart health as a top priority throughout 2009.
Heartbeats provides women with a year-long dose of weekly lifestyle tips via text message, email, or RSS feed. Each tip is incremental and achievable for women of all health and fitness levels. As each lifestyle change is incorporated, women will see their health and energy levels improve over the year.
"Women today lead busier lives than ever, and we know that our own health often slips down the priority list," says Bobbe Wood, President & CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon. "Heartbeats helps women make a commitment to their heart health, giving them support, and a little push they sometimes need to keep on track with their goals."
Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death for Canadian women. But women can significantly reduce their risk - by as much as 80 percent 1- by making simple lifestyle changes. While heart healthy lifestyle changes are not complicated, it takes encouragement and discipline to transform intentions into habit. And that's the impetus behind Heartbeats.
Canadian women who sign up for Heartbeats at www.thehearttruth.ca before March 2, 2009, will be automatically entered into the Heart of Fashion contest, to win a return flight for two to Toronto, two nights at a luxury hotel, spending money and two VIP tickets to the celebrity-studded Heart Truth Fashion Show during L'Oreal Fashion Week.
"Heartbeats encourages women to take small steps that add up to big gains in heart health," says Wood. "And our blog site and discussion forum encourage women to share the truth, connect and support each other on their journey to heart health."
Because heart attack and stroke share many of the same root causes, a number of prevention efforts give women additional health benefits by protecting them against both heart disease and stroke.
Lifestyle changes that make the most significant impact on a women's heart health include: quitting smoking-or never starting; exercising 30 minutes each day; eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruit each day; limiting consumption of saturated and trans fats and salt; and knowing, controlling, and talking to their doctor about their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
About The Heart Truth campaign
While one in three Canadian women die of heart disease and stroke, most don't know that it's their most serious health concern. 2 The Heart Truth campaign educates women about identifying their risks and warning signs of heart disease and stroke. The Heart Truth provides women with the tools they need to take charge of their heart health. The campaign is especially relevant for women 40 to 60 years old, whose risk increases as they age.
The Heart Truth campaign gratefully acknowledges the support of founding sponsor, Becel, and contributing sponsors Dempster's, Ocean Spray, Pfizer, Rogers Consumer Publishing, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Providence Heart + Lung Institute at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver without whom the program would not be possible.
About The Heart and Stroke Foundation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
Sources:
1 How to make sure the beat goes on protecting a women's heart, Johnson PA, Mason JE - Circulation, 2005; 111: e 28-33
2 Harris/Decima Televox National Telephone Omnibus, December 2007
Visit www.thehearttruth.ca to sign up for Heartbeats, enter the Heart of Fashion contest, learn more about The Heart Truth campaign or download high res images and video.
For media interviews, please contact:
Jolene Titus
Communications Manager
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
Tel: 902 423-7682 ext. 315
[email protected]
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