The Citizen, 2007-02-22, Page 6It can strike anyone atanytime. It knows noboundaries. It targets nospecific age group, norgender, nor race.
And every year in Canada
close to 74,000 people will
die because of it.
Cardiovascular disease
remains the leading cause of
death. “This is the most
difficult message to get out to
people,” said Nancy
Bomasuit, area manager for
Huron-Perth-Woodstock-
Ingersoll branch of Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
“It will kill more than all
cancers combined,
particularly women. In this
region, six are hospitalized
every day due to heart-related
illness. That’s pretty
staggering.”
Yet, in the 50 years of the
Foundation’s existence
Bomasuit notes that there
have been more and battles
won in the fight.
“It is not an old-man
disease. We know that now.
This has no bounds. But while
we can’t alter our DNA, we
can change our lifestyle.
Research has shown that wecan improve our odds throughdiet and exercise.”The funding for heart andstroke research has come backto society “10 fold”, saidBomasuit. “If we didn’t havethe research we wouldn’t
understand that smoking,
poor diet and a sedentary
lifestyle can all contribute to
cardiovascular disease.”
Bomasuit is often surprised
to see that while the
information is there, people
aren’t always ready to listen.
“I have been at health fairs
and people will walk right by
without asking any questions
or even reading the
information. I am so
surprised, because right there
I have all the things they need
to know to take a step forward
to better health.”
However, she
acknowledges that making
those changes can be difficult.
“I’m a reformed smoker. I
understand how difficult it
can be. And a common
comment I often hear is that
even though a parent has had
a stroke they won’t quit
smoking. Or someone has
been warned they need to lose
weight, but continue to eat
improperly.”
Denial about the heart
attack or stroke is also a
common reaction. “It’s one of
the symptoms of heart and
stroke. People will say they
can’t be having a heart attack,
that it’s just gas.”
Despite this, though, there
is no doubt that heart and
stroke research has been
successful. According to
information from the
Foundation since 1956 the
death rate from heart andstroke has decreased by 70per cent. The Foundation boastsproven results in stroke carethat includes speedingrecovery and reversing theeffects.
“There are new clot busting
drugs available,” said
Bomasuit. “t-PA has huge
effects on reversing stroke if
the patient is treated in time.
That’s big news on the
significance of lessening the
burden of stroke, which
affects 300,000 Canadians a
year.”
As noted heart disease can
attack anyone. “Initially the
surgery developed to deal
with blue baby syndrome was
research developed by Heart
and Stroke.”
As well, Bomasuit adds,
surgery can be performed in
utero to repair damaged
hearts. “Often babies died of
heart problems before we
could help. Now we can save
their lives before they’re even
born.”
New technology allows for
monitoring of heart patterns
over days without
hospitalization.
“We can now zap heart
arrythmia to regulateheartbeat and have reducedthe risk of open heart surgeryrecovery. In addition to education andtreatment, the Foundation isalso attacking the problem ina leadership role by
influencing and affecting
change.
Automated external
defibrilators have been placed
in many public places and
Heart and Stroke has taken
the lead in CPR education and
developing guidelines.
Recently, said Bomasuit,
the focus has been on
childhood obesity, with
specific sections on their
website to help parents and
teachers.
High blood pressure is
another focus.
“The list is endless,” said
Bomasuit. “Over the years the
Federation’s been in existence
we have a huge track record
of achievement.”
To learn more about heart
and stroke disease, attend the
awareness day this Saturday
at Suncoast Mall in Goderich
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “It will
cover the game from
prevention to where rehab can
step in and help.”
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007.Heart disease knows no boundaries
On Sunday, Feb. 18 Donald
and Ivan Dow greeted
worshippers and handed out
the Service of Worship at
Knox United Church,
Belgrave.
Rev. Ethel Miner Clare
welcomed the congregation
followed by the singing of
God of the Sparrow and Shall
We Gather at the River,
accompanied by Elizabeth
Procter.
Special celebrations and
concerns were that Ben
Procter’s curling team won at
the Wingham Golf and
Curling Club. Chris Shiell
was celebrating his 13th
birthday.
The senior choir sang A
Song of Commitment.
The children gathered in the
front pew for their time after
the singing of Jesus, Friend of
Little Children.
Rev. Ethel Miner Clare told
them that this was a special
Sunday. It was the celebration
of baptism for Kaden James
Griffith, son of Michelle and
Jarret.
Baptism is a way of saying
thank you to God. The parents
make a promise that they will
bring the baby up knowing
God loves them and will
always be there for them, just
as the church is also there for
them.
The story was based on
Luke 17 and was entitled One
Gave Thanks. Ten men were
very sad because they were
sick with leprosy. They were
so sick they had to live away
from their families and
friends.
One day the men found out
that Jesus was coming their
way. They decided to go and
meet him. Jesus told them to
go to the priest and let him
take a look at them. The priest
could tell them if they were
well. He could tell them if
they could live with their
families again.
They started on their way to
see the priest while the men
were walking they began to
notice that they were looking
better and feeling better. In
fact, they were all well.
They hurried on to see
the priest, all but one.
One man remembered
something; he remembered to
go back to Jesus and say
Thank You.
We are thankful for all the
good things that God has
blessed us with such as
families, friends, good water
and our homes.
Joyce Vincent, clerk of
session presented Kaden
James to be baptized.
Michelle and Jarrett were
presented with a candle to be
lit at special times in Kaden’s
life and also gave them a
certificate and book.
Ken Procter and Andrew
Procter took up the offering.
The flowers in the church
were from the funeral of Ruth
Johnston.
The closing hymn was He’s
Got the Whole World. After
grace was sung, lunch and a
time of fellowship followed in
the basement.
On Wednesday (Ash
Wednesday) Feb. 21 Bible
study will be held at the
church from 9:30 a.m. - 11
a.m.
Bible Study will be held
also on Thursday, Feb. 22
from 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The church will be open for
prayer on Thursdays during
Lent from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Song of Faith will take
place on Sunday, Feb. 25.
www.agr.gc.ca/renewal
A Web site has been launched for producers to access new information
on Farm Business Advisory and Skills Development programs. This site
also offers easier access to application guides and forms.
Increase your profitability and find new opportunities to help you:
Assess your farm
Develop a financial Action Plan
Develop a succession, marketing, business or other specialized plan
Take training to expand your skills
Determine the feasibility of value-added opportunities on your farm
Visit www.agr.gc.ca/renewal or call 1 866 452-5558.
For other programs available to producers
visit www.agr.gc.ca/programs
ATTENTION PRODUCERS
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
NEWS
FROM BELGRAVE
Dows greet at Knox United Church
THE EDITOR,
On Saturday, Feb. 15 the
Blyth Legion Ladies
Auxiliary had the pleasure of
bringing Elvis to Blyth. The
Blyth Festival and the Legion
branch helped with door
prizes.
We hope that all who
attended the show had a fun
night out, with Dan Granger,
who made the trip to Blyth
just to be Elvis for us. If you
missed it, see you next
time.
Yours in Comradeship,
Brenda Finlayson,
Secretary
Blyth Legion Ladies
Auxiliary.
Letter to the editor
Aux. hopes all
had good night
A story, council revisits
bridge debate, carried
inaccurate information. In a
recorded vote, county
councillor Neil Vincent of
North Huron did not oppose a
bylaw allowing the agreement
to be cemented.
North Huron reeve
corrects information