Renfrew County residents at higher risk for stroke, report reveals
Posted Feb 5, 2010 By Theresa Fritz
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Tweet ThisEMC Lifestyle - The numbers are in and things don't look that good for Renfrew County when it comes to being at risk of heart attack and stroke.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation released its annual report Jan. 25. Entitled 'A Perfect Storm of Heart Disease Looming On Our Horizon', the report warns of an impending heart disease crisis in Canada.
"In a very short time, the face of heart disease in Canada has changed to include groups that have historically been immune to the threats of heart disease," said Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "But the combination of new groups at-risk of heart disease and the explosion of Canadians indulging in unhealthy habits across Canada have accelerated the impact of these threats, which are now converging and erasing the progress we've made in treating heart disease over the last 50 years."
The report notes that between 1994 and 2005, "rates of high blood pressure among Canadians skyrocketed by 77 per cent, diabetes by 45 per cent and obesity by 18 per cent - affecting both younger and older Canadians." As well, those between the ages of 35 to 49 are seeing an increased risk for all of these conditions - major factors for heart disease.
Provincially speaking, residents in Renfrew County have a higher than average risk factor for stroke than other areas in Ontario.
Statistics indicate that 50.2 per cent of Renfrew County residents are overweight or obese, 25 per cent smoke, 47 are physically inactive and only 41 per cent eat five or more vegetables and fruit per day. As well, 18.3 per cent of Renfrew County residents have high blood pressure.
The report highlighted new at-risk populations for heart and stroke across the country. They include young Canadian adults in their 20s and 30s, women between the ages of 35 and 45, Baby Boomers (aged 50-64), some of Canada's growing ethno-cultural communities and Aboriginal peoples. This group, the report notes, are experiencing a full-blown cardiovascular crisis.
"Adding to the perfect storm, troubling disparities persist between provinces and territories. More than 50 per cent of the population in every province and territory in Canada are at an unhealthy weight. In the majority of the provinces and territories, less than 50 per cent of the population is getting enough physical activity to maintain their health. With respect to smoking, all the provinces and territories achieve a passing grade, except Nunavut," the report stated..
For a more detailed look at the report, visit www.heartandstroke.ca.
