I have often wondered if there was any coincidence between February being Heart Month and Valentine’s month as well. Either way, the West Boylston Wellness program designates February as Heart Month.
Taking care of your heart is probably one of the most important things any person can do. Do you know how these controllable risk factors affect your risk of heart disease and stroke?
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol
- diabetes
- being overweight or obese
- physical inactivity
It’s essential that you measure your risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it in the near future. The American Heart Association has a tool to help you assess your risk of having a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease in the next 10 years. It will also check to see if you may have metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that greatly increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, including stroke and diabetes. This Risk Assessmentcan be use by people age 20 or older who do not already have heart disease or diabetes. It can be found on the internet at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3003499.
Locally, I will be asking all municipal employees to wear red on February 5, 2010 to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement. Join The Heart Truth on National Wear Red Day to help spread the critical message that "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear; It's the #1 Killer of Women." Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing their favorite red dress, shirt, tie, or can purchase a Red Dress Pin or tie tack pin to wear that day. For more information please click on [Link]http://www.westboylston-ma.gov/Pages/WBoylstonMA_Healthy/grfw-feb10.pdf
Leon A. Gaumond Jr. Town Administrator |
