You’ve heard the statistic: “Heart disease and stroke take one in three Canadians before their time”, says the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC). Here’s another: up to 80 per cent of cases of premature cardiovascular disease are preventable. Most of us know we can prevent, delay and treat cardiovascular disease with healthy lifestyle choices.
Achieving that healthy lifestyle is another story.
If you find it hard to fit regular exercise and healthy eating into your hectic schedule, you’re in good company. Time is the biggest obstacle standing between us and a healthier lifestyle, reports a 2011 survey of over 2000 adults conducted by the Environics Research Group on behalf of the HSFC.
For example, nearly half of respondents claimed their busy schedules don’t leave much room for regular exercise. Their workdays are too long, and other obligations like family get in the way. Nearly one third of workers blamed long commute times too. More than 40 per cent of respondents felt healthy meals take too long to prepare.
In addition, many respondents found they just couldn’t keep up those healthy habits. Four out of 10 respondents said in the past they’ve made an effort to get more exercise but weren’t able to sustain their routines. A third of all respondents experienced the same problem with eating a healthier diet.
“The challenge of finding time is a reality for most working Canadians, or those with competing obligations,” says Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the HSFC in a November 2011 press release.
“If we don’t make the effort to find time now to do the things that will give us the greatest health benefits, we’re going to run out of time altogether,” she notes.
Unfortunately, many people don’t make changes until they face a health crisis — but there are things we can do right now to sneak some healthy living into our routine.
Easy things you can do for your heart
– Learn about your risk factors. Almost everyone has at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and 40 per cent of people have three or more risk factors. Take ten minutes to try the My Heart & Stroke Risk Assessment to see how you’re doing — it will tell you what you’re doing right and where you can improve.
If scary numbers motivate you, Consumer Reports’ online calculator can estimate your chance of having a heart attack within the next decade.
- Schedule a check-up. Do you know your cholesterol levels or blood pressure? Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes? These risky issues don’t have obvious symptoms so they’re often caught through routine screening. Pick up the phone and schedule your appointment, even if it’s months in advance.
