Windsor-Essex organizations encourage heart health
A heart attack comes with no warning as Renee Demers found out.
One day last year Demers experienced discomfort in the upper part of her chest. The next day the pain got worse. She started to sweat and felt faint before having her husband call an ambulance.
“Very scary and I was not attributing that to a heart attack,” she explained.
The 59-year old survived and graduated from the Cardiac Wellness Centre Wednesday morning.
“I think I missed one day in six months so I'm just pushing myself. I was never an exerciser but it's important to continue it outside of here,” she said.
Referrals to the Cardiac Wellness Centre program are a 50-50 split between man and women, but men make up 70 per cent of the program attendees.
A new report may shed light on why the disparity.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is highlighting significant inequities in women's heart and brain health care that is affecting racialized and Indigenous women, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community and those living with low socioeconomic status.
In 2019, 20 per cent more women than men died of heart failure and 32 per cent more women died of stroke than men according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
This is why local health experts says it's important to pay attention to your heart health.
“Angina is not pain,” said Dr. Robert Wilson who helped launch the Wellness Centre more than 20 years ago. “It's tightness. It’s pressure or ‘I just feel weak.’ Those are things your doctor should know about.”
Carly Bell, operations manager, encourages people to engage in some type of activity every day.
“If you’re sitting there watching your favourite show, you’re sitting on the couch, every commercial pick up some hand weights or start moving your feet and arms. Get that blood pumping,” she said.
Bell says many factors bring a person through their doors but adds, there are many things a person can do to avoid visiting the Wellness Centre.
“Staying active. Keeping a healthy diet. Quitting or reducing smoking,” she said. “Just being in those yearly checkups with your doctor.”
There lots of local initiatives to help this heart month.
Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare has the Follow Your Heart to the Ciociaro Club fundraiser. Buy a meal any day this month and proceeds will help benefit the Cardiac Wellness Centre.
Antonino's Pizza is once again slinging their heart shaped pizza's leading up to Valentine's Day to support heart care in the region.
“With some of the funds that we've raised has gone toward getting I believe another catheterization machine and so we see the money actually helping in the community,” owner Joe Ciaravino said.
The United Way is hosting their IMove event encouraging everyone to engage in 200 minutes of activity between February 20th and March 5th.
“We have some grey days. We have some cold days,” said Andy Bothamley, vice president of finance and operations. “It's hard to want to get outside and do some exercise but it's much for our health when we do that.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
Vancouver's all-star goaltender won't be in net Tuesday evening, the Canucks' coach has confirmed to TSN.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.