Small, sustainable changes make it possible to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 80 per cent.
It's hard to argue with the startling facts. Every seven minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke, and 90 per cent of Canadians have at least one major risk factor. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of hospitalization in Canada and is second only to cancer as the leading cause of death.
But you don't have to remind Whitby, Ont., resident Brian Campkin. In 2007, at the age of 46, he needed life-saving triple-bypass surgery. His heart condition was only discovered after his wife urged him to see his physician when he complained that he was short of breath.
After several rounds of tests, doctors found that three of his arteries were almost 100 per cent blocked; he was a ticking time bomb. Sadly, his father died of a heart attack in 1991, so he knew he was fortunate.
"Canadians need to realize that they can make small changes in their everyday routines that can have a lasting impact on their future."
- Dr. Beth Abramson
is a cardiologist and the director of the Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre and Women's Cardiovascular Health at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto
The good news, not only for Mr. Campkin, but for most Canadians, is that up to 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. Vascular diseases – including diabetes, stroke, hypertension and heart disease – are the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Canada.
Dr. Beth Abramson fights this battle every day. She has treated thousands of patients in her role as a cardiologist and as the director of the Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre and Women's Cardiovascular Health at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. It also prompted her to author a new book called Heart Health for Canadians, to help educate people before it is too late.
"Unfortunately, many people believe heart disease can't happen to them. We lead such busy lives, and too often we don't make the time to incorporate physical activity into our everyday routines," says Dr. Abramson.
What we do and what we know are often two very different things, she adds. We know that eating healthier foods, exercising, quitting smoking and reducing stress is the formula to better health; however, there continues to be a disconnect between our intellectual understanding and our behaviour.
"Canadians need to realize that they can make small changes in their everyday routines that can have a lasting impact on their future," she stresses.
BRIAN CAMPKIN
was just 46 when he was diagnosed with three blocked arteries.
(PHOTO: Supplied)
"While there are real obstacles to people adopting these healthy changes in their lives, the key to prevention is setting realistic goals, establishing routines and finding fun, active things that you can do with friends, like playing sports, gardening or walking your dog," says Dr. Jack Tu, a senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) in Toronto. "If you do, there is a far greater likelihood that you will stick to it long term."
It's difficult because we establish these habits and dietary preferences in our childhood, so parents in particular need to make good choices for themselves and their kids, creating an environment that is conducive to a healthier lifestyle, adds Dr. Tu. "Sadly, many people have to suffer a cardiac event or see a close family member have a heart attack or stroke before it really hits home."
Fortunately for Brian Campkin, he took his experience seriously, for himself and his family. He started eating healthier, got back to playing competitive tennis and lost 20 pounds.
"What triggered the change for me was when I started re-evaluating my life goals," he reports. "I want to be there for my wife and three daughters."
He has already achieved several of his goals: in 2011, he walked his eldest daughter down the aisle, and just a few weeks ago he met his first grandchild, Landon. "I needed a wake-up call, and when I realized what was at stake, that I was given a second chance at life that my father wasn't, I decided that I was going to make the most of it," he says.