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CEO's Outlook
 Well
I ended last time with a look at a recent publication and a
recommendation to go out and buy a copy of The Joys of Healthy
Cooking. Very importantly from the Foundation’s point of view in
Part 1 it covers exceptionally well all the nutritional points
that we are trying so hard to get across to those with heart
problems.
Indeed to quote: “Heart disease causes
more deaths than any other disease in most Caribbean countries".
The major risk factors for heart disease
are:
Other factors which increase your risk of
heart disease are:
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Not enough exercise
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Obesity
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Alcohol abuse
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Family history
How to be heart smart
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Keep at a healthy weight.
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Exercise regularly
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Eat only a little of all fatty foods.
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Eat fewer foods which are high in saturated
fat and cholesterol.
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Eat more foods which are good sources of
fibre like peas and beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grain
foods. The type of fibre found in these foods may help lower
blood cholesterol.
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Eat fish at least two or three times per
week.
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Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol, or
none at all.
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Cut down on salt and other foods which
contain sodium.#
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Stop smoking!”
Given our TV media campaign, Heart Smart,
earlier this year the last part of the quote fits in very well
with what we are trying to achieve.
Communications
I do hope you like the new look Heartline
following our assimilation of stoke. Please do let us have your
views so that we can incorporate them in future.
Wednesday July 5 saw the publication in the
Daily Nation of the first of our full page specials entitled
“HSFB Pulse”. This will appear monthly on the first Wednesday of
each month courtesy of Banks Holdings.
I trust you saw details in the press in June
of the launch of our Essay and Poster Competition “How Young Is
Your Heart?” . The Minister of State in the Ministry of
Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Cynthia Forde in her
introduction said healthy living was pertinent to longevity;
therefore children should be encouraged to eat foods, high in
nutritional value from an early age to meet their daily
requirements. She pointed out the ministry was determined to
make what the School Meals Department offered more attractive
and appetising for the children in an effort to keep them away
from junk food.
Minister Forde lauded Guardian Life and the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Barbados Inc. for "coming up with the vision for
bringing the competition to the fore". She said the Education
Ministry was happy to be partnering with the private sector in
this type of venture.
The competition culminates during the week of September 17 to
24, when the world observes World Heart Day. It is open to
children aged five to eight in the poster category, and children
aged nine to 11 in the essay category. Entries must reach the
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados by August 30.
The updated version of our websites is nearing completion as I
write and should be launched on or before September 1.
Stroke
“A person is said to have suffered a stroke
or a “Passover” when symptoms indicate that the cells in a
particular area of the brain have suddenly ceased to function.
The individual may lose the use of only a part of the body (e.g.
an arm or leg or both). Strokes occur either when a blood vessel
becomes clogged thus hampering blood flow to the brain (ischemic
stroke) or when a blood vessel ruptures causing blood to leak
into the brain (haemorrhagic stroke).”
This is the opening paragraph of the first
of a new series of leaflets which are/will be available from the
Foundation.
Co-incidentally as I was writing this I
received from the UK charity “Researching Into Ageing” a booklet
celebrating 30 years of their work which included a very
interesting article on stroke which I think is worth quoting
from.
“The major advances in stroke have been
largely in prevention, through understanding the risk factors.
In the 1980’s it was established that cigarette smoking is a
major risk factor for stroke and that stopping significantly
reduces risk. It also became clear around the same time that
treating high blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke.”
“While stroke can strike at any age, people
over 65 are particularly prone, making this a key area for
research funding.”
“One of the future challenges of stroke is
better education. This is urgently needed to get people to
recognise the early symptoms of stroke so that they know when to
seek help, giving them access to the new treatments.”
Adrian J L Randall
Chief Executive Officer
August 2, 2006
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