News

SIMCOE, ON, SEPT. 2, 2009 – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is urging residents aged 55 plus to participate in a free, four-week educational series on stroke prevention in October.

The series, Step up to a Healthier you, will be held in Delhi and Caledonia. A similar series was held in May in Dunnville and Simcoe and “was a great success,” said Anna Glowala, the Health Unit’s Health Promoter for Stroke Prevention. “We had a lot of positive feedback from participants.”

As in May, the October series will cover such topics as what is a stroke, managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing physical activity levels, reducing stress, strategies for making healthy food choices, and tobacco-use prevention. People should call the Health Unit to register for the series, which will be held as follows:

Delhi United Church, 105 Church St., W.: Oct. 6, 1 to 3:30 p.m.; Oct. 13, 1 to 3 p.m.; Oct. 20, 1 to 3 p.m.; Oct. 27, 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Caledonia Branch 154, Royal Canadian Legion, 29 Caithness St., E.: Oct. 8, 6:30 to 9 p.m.; Oct. 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Shirley Westerhuis, a participant in the Dunnville series in May, spoke highly of the classes.

“I signed up for the classes to learn about strokes, but after completing the four-week educational series, I really appreciated the opportunity to try some new exercise techniques. I recently joined the local aquafit program, something that I would have never considered if it wasn’t for those classes.”

Another participant, Bonnie Mack, decided to sign up for the educational series just as a refresher, “but it ended up being more than that. I learned a lot. I would recommend the classes to anyone who may be interested.”

Jill Steen, Program Coordinator for the Health Unit’s Population Health Team said “participants really liked the topics that were covered in the classes and especially enjoyed the variety of speakers that were asked to participate in the series. Between Simcoe and Dunnville, we had over 50 people registered for the classes, a number which exceeded our expectations.”

“The classes will be interactive, easy to follow and can help you build on important skills and resources necessary for reducing your risk factors for stroke,” Glowala noted. “Looking at some of the statistics from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, it is alarming to read that more than 50,000 strokes occur each year in Canada. The new stroke prevention program we are offering is an excellent opportunity for our adult population to learn lifestyle practices leading to healthier, longer lives.”

For more information, or to register for the educational series, contact Anna Glowala at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, 519-426-6170 Ext. 3257 or 905-318-6623 Ext.3257 or e-mail[email protected].

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Media Contact:
Anna Glowala
Health Promoter for Stroke Prevention
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
519-426-6170 Ext. 3257 or 905-328-6623 Ext. 3257
or[email protected]