Heart Walk Gets Oklahomans Moving to Fight Cardiovascular Disease [by Nellie Kelly Communications Director American Heart Association] coronary artery stents or will need months away from the office to recuperate from a heart attack or a stroke.
Someone dies of cardiovascular disease every 39 seconds. Heart disease also kills more women than any form of cancer combined. Congenital heart defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.
It's no exaggeration to say heart disease and stroke are both a national health crisis and a national financial crisis.
One of every three adults in the United States has some form of heart disease today or has had a stroke. Together, heart disease and stroke kill more than 813,000 Americans a year. Almost 65 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, and this number continues to grow. Because of risk factors like obesity and diabetes, these illnesses are affecting Americans at much younger ages than ever. Some experts predict that today's children are not expected to live as long as their parents, which would be the first time in history that an entire generation's life expectancy drops. Beyond the health impact is the financial impact of these illnesses. Health problems cost corporate America nearly $226 billion annually in productivity losses. The cost of treating heart disease and stroke is expected to triple in the next 20 years. That means at least one of every three employees will need expensive ongoing therapy for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure or some other condition. Or they will need even more costly interventions like
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April/May 2013
The Oklahoma State Department of Health gives letter grades to several health measures. The State Department of Health gives Oklahoma a D on our state's health report card for heart disease deaths. For stroke, Oklahoma gets an F because our stroke rate is so much higher than the rest of the country.
encourages any kind of physical activity, including walking, swimming, biking and gardening. However, walking has several advantages. First, it has the lowest dropout rate, and the best exercise is the one that a person will stick with the longest. Second, it is a very social activity, so people can walk with their friends, neighbors, children, pets or co-workers. Third, there is no equipment or gym membership fee necessary, thus lessening the financial burden to families. The 2013 Heart Walks will be at 8 a.m. April 20 at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City and at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. Both are 5K, noncompetitive events.
Fruit & Vegetable Consumption, F.
Both walks are free and open to the
No Physical Activity, also an F.
public.
Current Smoking, F.
Many walkers choose to raise money that goes toward American Heart Association research programs. Teams are now forming so walkers can raise money beforehand then come to the Heart Walk to celebrate. To start your team in honor of a loved with heart disease or stroke or simply to support a cause that affects everyone, log on to www.okcheartwalk.org or www.tulsaheartwalk.com, then click “Register.�
The good news is that 80 percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable through diet and exercise changes. The American Heart Association has launched a health and wellness program called My Heart. My Life to guide and influence healthy eating, being physically active, and ultimately improving the health of Americans. The focal point of My Heart. My Life is the Central Oklahoma Heart Walk, which brought 12,000 Oklahomans to Bricktown last year, and the Tulsa Heart and Stroke Walk, which brought 10,000 Tulsans to the Blue Dome District, to exercise. The American Heart Association
American Heart Association 2227 E. Skelly Drive, Tulsa, OK 74105 or 5700 N. Portland Ave. #203 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Office 918-712-4011 Cell 918-550-2728 Fax 918-745-2043 okhealthandfitnessmagazine.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Heart disease is the greatest health threat to Americans, and the problem is worse in Oklahoma than in many other states.