Health Officials Focusing On 'Critical Numbers' During Heart Month
Quick, can you remember your bank PIN? How about the last four digits of your phone number … or the month and year your go-to credit card expires?
With more and more numbers swirling around in our heads, and as February — American Heart Month — approaches, the Newtown Health District wants residents to be sure and remember a few numbers that are more important than all the rest.
Matter of life and death important, according to Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert. Every February, she turns her attention toward heart health, one of the district’s three top community wellness issues, along with tickborne disease and substance abuse prevention.
“As with any health threat that we’re trying to prevent, it’s about understanding your risk and taking action or changing behaviors to minimize that risk,” she told The Newtown Bee this week. “We know if we take steps to improve and strengthen our heart health, that effort can have a positive cascading effect on our overall health.”
So during February, Newtown will be hearing a lot from the Newtown Health District and its network of partners, from local health professionals to visiting nurse agencies, emergency medical support resources, and the Western Connecticut Health Network, pushing a “Knowing Your Numbers” awareness initiative.
According to the American Heart Association (heart.org), everyone should monitor and know their blood cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight.
“Next time you visit your health care provider, be sure to ask for your critical health numbers to be screened and develop a plan, which may include diet, exercise, and medication, to manage them,” said Daniel W. Jones, MD, and past president of the American Heart Association.
Know Your What?
The numbers are a little easier to remember that they all fall into universal ranges around which heart health is optimized. AHA explains it like this:
*Blood sugar is the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood; anyone prediabetes should have an HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) level of less than six percent.
*Blood pressure is the force of blood against the arteries when the heart beats and rests; it should be less than 130/80 mm Hg.
*Blood cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver; a total cholesterol score of less than 180 mg/dL is considered optimal.
*As far as body weight is concerned, AHA says a body mass index (BMI) of 18.6–24.9, combined with a waistline smaller than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is best for your ticker.
Ms Culbert suggests that increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and quitting tobacco if you use it, help your heart.
“And it also reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity, and enhances your body’s immune system to contend with other illnesses ranging from seasonal influenza to cancer. I’m not saying it’s a cure for [everything], but a healthier body can wage a stronger fight against adversity,” she said.
In addition, Ms Culbert knows that being able to respond to a cardiac event with CPR and a defibrillator can saves lives and heart tissue.
“Incredibly important all year, but we’ll emphasize during Heart Health month, is to take a CPR class with the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps or another Red Cross/AHA sponsored agency,” she said.
A True Sweetheart
The Health District has also obtained a new visual aid, a multidimensional heart model.
“It resembles a real heart versus the cupid one we think of at Valentine’s Day,” Ms Culbert said. “We want people to think about their own hearts, how they look, and what they do. We thought bringing a more realistic model for our display might help people think more realistically about their heart health.”
Community health partners also bring interest and expertise to the table — and there will be many opportunities throughout February for awareness activities, screenings, and support as the district highlights Heart Month.
Those partners are Newtown Visiting Nurse Association, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Kevin’s Community Center, Bethel Visiting Nurse Association, New Milford VNA, Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Western CT Health Network, as well as our numerous Newtown health care providers, gyms and other sports facilities.
The district has been quietly implementing a “Know Your Numbers” awareness program over the past few years for staff at the municipal center, and more publicly at the Annual Health Fair.
In February, the district will be expanding that outreach at targeted venues to improve personal awareness and empower residents with information about their own health status.
“This personal level of detail about indicators can empower an individual with what is going on in their body and steps/actions they can take to sustain healthy numbers or improve marginal numbers,” Ms Culbert said. “We like to remind folks that a screening can be very useful, but does not take the place of a physical exam and a good relationship with a health care provider.”
Keep checking newtownbee.com for more opportunities to “Love Your Heart” during this February’s American Heart Month.
‘Love Your Heart’ Events Scheduled
Each week during February, American Heart Month, The Newtown Bee in collaboration with the Newtown Health District and its partners, will promote a series of “Love Your Heart” events and activities to help all residents take better care of their cardio vascular health.
Scheduled events include:
*NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street (at Fairfield Hills campus), Pre-Game Calorie Blitz — wear favorite NFL team colors — Sunday February 1, 10 to 11:30 am; free to members, $10 for nonmembers, sign up in advance at 203-426-0088.
*Newtown VNA Heart Health Breakfast featuring a talk entitled, “A Christmas Day Gift” by Mary Funk, at Maplewood at Stony Hill, 46 Stony Hill Road, Bethel; Tuesday, February 3, at 9:30 am.
*“Know Your Numbers” screening, Newtown Health District, 3 Primrose Street, Fairfield Hills; Saturday, February 24, 9 to 11 am.
Additional “Love Your Heart” activities will also be coming to:
*Kevin’s Community Center, 153 South Main Street, with walk-in hours Wednesday noon to 5 pm, and Saturday 9 am to noon;
*Newtown Youth & Family Services, 15 Berkshire Road, offering American Red Cross CPR and First Aid (date and time TBA); and
*Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 6 Washington Square (at Fairfield Hills campus).