Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit

Heart disease includes diseases that involve the heart such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, angina, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, and congenital heart problems.

Heart disease accounts for the death of more Canadians and Ontarians than any other disease. In 2002 (the latest year for which statistics are available), cardiovascular disease accounted for 74,626 Canadian deaths. Thirty two (32%) of all male deaths in Canada in 2002 were due to heart diseases, diseases of the blood vessels and stroke. For women, the toll was even higher, 34% of all female deaths in 2002 were due to cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, three-quarters of the population has one or more of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Locally, both Hastings and Prince Edward counties have heart disease rates significantly higher than the provincial average. This impacts individuals, families, the community and the province.

In a 2002 survey of residents in both counties, only 7.5 % of those surveyed identified smoking, unhealthy eating and physical inactivity as risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Risk factors for heart disease that can be controlled include:

Unhealthy eating
Excessive alcohol consumption
Physical inactivity
Smoking
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Stress
Women’s unique risk factors (such as menopause, estrogen, pregnancy, birth control, etc.)

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease that cannot be controlled include:

Age
Gender
Family history
Ethnicity
History of stroke or mini-stroke

However, altering unhealthy lifestyle behaviours can prevent heart disease. By making a few changes, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases (such as stroke, cancer and diabetes). Ways to do this are to:

Be active – Follow Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. Be active for 30 to 60 minutes a day for better health. Choose activities you like. Reduce periods of inactivity. Take breaks from watching TV or working on the computer. Stretch or go for a walk. Include activities that increase:

Endurance (e.g. walking, running, biking)
Flexibility (e.g. yoga, pilates, stretching)
Strength (e.g. climbing stairs, raking, lifting weights)

Eat healthy – Healthy eating will help you feel good and perform at your best. Follow Canada’s Food Guide:

Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.
Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day.
Drink skim, 1% or 2% milk or fortified soy beverage each day.
Choose meat and alternatives such as beans, lentils and tofu often.

Be smoke-free – Choose smoke-free living. It will protect you and your family. If you can’t quit smoking:

Try to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.
Make your home and car smoke-free.
Ensure that the places where your children spend time are smoke- free.

Limit alcohol use – Episodic heavy drinking (5+ drinks on one occasion) increases the risk of heart disease even when overall consumption is low to moderate.

Alcohol consumption on a low level has a protective effect for women and men 45 years and older. However, heavy irregular drinking can increase your blood pressure and contribute to the development of heart disease.

To lower your alcohol related risk of heart disease:

If you drink, it is recommended that you follow the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDG) developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (see link below).
If you don't already drink, don't start for health reasons.

For more information on healthy living, please visit the LifeWorks website (see link below).