Heart screening can change lives
Issue date: 1/31/10 Section: Health
Special to the NNPA from the Insight News
(NNPA) - Lavonne Carson knew that she was at risk. With a history of heart disease and diabetes in her family, Carson knew instinctively that if she wanted to maintain a full and healthy lifestyle, she had to be more aware of her health, in particular, her heart health. Carson had good reason to be worried. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Over 300,000 women died from heart disease in 2006. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death among African-American women. In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that in Minnesota African-American women die from heart disease at a 30 percent higher rate than White women. Because of Carson's risk of heart disease and diabetes, she enrolled in the SagePlus program offered through the Minnesota Department of Health.
SagePlus provides free heart health screening and lifestyle change counseling to eligible women. Carson, a patient at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis and a previous participant in Sage, was able to set up a SagePlus appointment at the clinic where a nurse measured her blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol level and body mass index (BMI). SagePlus covered Carson's screening as well as the office visit she had with a lifestyle coach who reviewed the results from her tests. Carson, an active 56-year-old, was encouraged by what she heard from the lifestyle coach. "My results were okay, but they told me that my blood pressure was higher than it needed to be and I needed to bring it down," she said.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, prevents the blood from flowing freely to the heart. When blood flow is restricted from entering the heart, heart disease may follow. Other factors including obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and high cholesterol can also increase a person's risk of heart disease and stroke.
(NNPA) - Lavonne Carson knew that she was at risk. With a history of heart disease and diabetes in her family, Carson knew instinctively that if she wanted to maintain a full and healthy lifestyle, she had to be more aware of her health, in particular, her heart health. Carson had good reason to be worried. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Over 300,000 women died from heart disease in 2006. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death among African-American women. In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that in Minnesota African-American women die from heart disease at a 30 percent higher rate than White women. Because of Carson's risk of heart disease and diabetes, she enrolled in the SagePlus program offered through the Minnesota Department of Health.
SagePlus provides free heart health screening and lifestyle change counseling to eligible women. Carson, a patient at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis and a previous participant in Sage, was able to set up a SagePlus appointment at the clinic where a nurse measured her blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol level and body mass index (BMI). SagePlus covered Carson's screening as well as the office visit she had with a lifestyle coach who reviewed the results from her tests. Carson, an active 56-year-old, was encouraged by what she heard from the lifestyle coach. "My results were okay, but they told me that my blood pressure was higher than it needed to be and I needed to bring it down," she said.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, prevents the blood from flowing freely to the heart. When blood flow is restricted from entering the heart, heart disease may follow. Other factors including obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and high cholesterol can also increase a person's risk of heart disease and stroke.
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