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PROTECT YOUR HEALTH
The facts about heart disease and stroke
High Blood Pressure
Millions of Canadians at risk of
cardiovascular disease
Over 4.7 million people still smoke
 Over 60% of Canadians are above a healthy weight
 19% have high blood pressure

“Ninety percent of Canadians have at least one risk
factor for cardiovascular disease – which makes it
more important than ever for the Heart and Stroke
Foundation to support research into the root causes
of the heart disease risk factors AND discovery of
successful strategies to prevent the development of
these risk factors.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation Researcher
Dr. Sonia Anand MD PhD FRCPc
Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Topics for today
How the heart works
 Warning signs of heart attack
 How the brain works
 Warning signs of stroke
 Risk factors, high blood pressure
 What the Heart and Stroke
Foundation is doing

How the Heart Works
The heart
Is a muscle the size of a clenched fist
 Is located behind the breastbone
 Pumps about 100,000 times a day
 Pumps about 7,600 litres of blood per day

Anatomy of the heart
Atherosclerosis
Plaque
Heart attacks
Blood flow through coronary arteries is blocked
 Vital blood supply to heart muscle is cut off
 About 70,000 heart attacks each year
 Victims can often recover if treated immediately

Warning signs of a heart attack
Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest
pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain,
burning or heaviness)
Discomfort in other areas of the upper
body (neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, back)
Warning signs of a heart attack
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea
Light-headedness
Warning signs of a heart attack
If you are experiencing any of the warning signs of a
heart attack ….
 Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number
IMMEDIATELY
 Stop all activity
 Take your normal dose of nitroglycerin (if
prescribed)
 If you are experiencing chest pain, take one dose of
160-325mg of ASA.
 Rest until the EMS arrive
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Most important factor in reducing pre-hospital
deaths from cardiac arrest
 CPR courses teach lifesaving skills
 The Heart and Stroke Foundation collaborated on
Resuscitation Guidelines in the US and Canada

“It only takes a few minutes to save a life.
CPR and defibrillation if administered early
can triple or quadruple a person’s chance
of survival.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher
Ian G. Stiell, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine,
University of Ottawa
Distinguished Professor and University Health Research Chair,
University of Ottawa
Automated external defibrillator (AED)
Automatically analyses heart rhythm
 Delivers controlled shock if needed to restore
normal heart rhythm
 Now found in public places such as sports arenas
and airports
 For course information, please call
1-888-HSF-INFO

How the Brain Works
The brain
A stroke is…

An injury to a part of the brain caused by
interruption of blood flow
“Research has shown us that when blood flow is
reduced, the brain tries to protect itself by releasing
certain chemicals. In the short term, these chemicals
can be protective but if blood flow is not restored
quickly, they can actually contribute to brain damage.
These insights have opened up new possibilities for
developing drugs to protect the brain—agents that
we call neuroprotectives.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation Researcher
Yu Tian Wang, PhD
Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and
Yukon Chair in Stroke Research
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Ischemic strokes
Hemorrhagic strokes
Warning signs of a stroke
Stroke can be treated. That’s why its so important to recognize
and respond to the warning signs.
Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden
numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if
temporary
Trouble speaking – Sudden difficulty speaking
or understanding or sudden confusion, even if
temporary
Vision problems – Sudden trouble with vision,
even if temporary
Warning signs of a stroke
Headache – Sudden severe and unusual
headache
Dizziness – Sudden loss of balance,
especially with any of the above signs
React immediately
If you experience any of these symptoms, Call 9-1-1
or your local emergency number IMMEDIATELY
Risk Factors for
Heart Disease
and Stroke
Risk factors you can’t control
Age
 Gender
 Family history
 Ethnicity
 Prior stroke or TIA

What you can do to lower your risk
Know and control your blood pressure
 Know and control your blood cholesterol
 Manage your diabetes
 Maintain a healthy weight
 Eat a healthy diet
 Limit alcohol consumption
 Be physically active
 Be smoke-free
 Reduce stress

Know and control your high blood pressure
High blood pressure has no visible symptoms
 Should be checked at least every two years by
a healthcare professional


Visit heartandstroke.ca/bp
What is high blood pressure
“Blood pressure measures how
hard blood pushes against the
blood vessel walls.”
Copyright 1996 Tim Peters and Company, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Blood pressure has TWO numbers

Top number = pressure when heart contracts
(systolic)

Bottom number = pressure when heart relaxes
(diastolic)

Example: healthy BP = 120
80
Classifications of hypertension
Category
Optimal
High blood pressure
High normal
Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP), 2012
Systolic
Diastolic
<120-129
<80-85 mm Hg
140
90 mm Hg or higher
130-139
80-89 mm Hg or higher
High blood pressure can:

Increase risk of stroke

Increase risk of heart disease

Damage kidneys and eyes

Cause impotence

Disrupt circulation
Risk factors you can’t change

Age

Family history

Ethnic background
 South Asian
 Aboriginal Peoples
 People of African Descent
Risk factors you can change

Take your blood pressure medication as prescribed

Understand and monitor your blood pressure

Be smoke-free

Maintain a healthy weight

Maintain a balanced diet

Get active

Limit alcohol intake

Manage stress
How often should I check
my blood pressure?
Category
Frequency
Optimal
At least every two years by a
healthcare provider
130-139
85-89
Every year or as recommended by
your doctor
Above 139
89
Check often – your doctor will tell
you just how often
If using a home blood pressure monitor:

Ask doctor’s advice

Record results and show to doctor

Select monitor endorsed
by Hypertension Canada

Ensure correct cuff size

Check monitor for accuracy

Learn and use proper measurement
technique
“White coat hypertension”


A few people have high blood pressure when they visit the
doctor’s office but have normal blood pressure when they
go about their usual daily activities.
Regular monitoring is required, as many people with WCH
may develop high blood pressure over time.
Preparing to take your blood pressure:

Wait 2 hours after a big meal or heavy exercise

Wait 30 minutes after exercising, smoking or drinking caffeine

Don’t measure if you are in pain or upset

Be in calm warm environment

Empty your bladder or bowel

Sit quietly with your arm and back supported for 5 minutes
prior
When taking your blood pressure:

Do not speak

Be seated

Keep back supported

Keep legs uncrossed

Keep feet flat on the floor

Ensure arm is supported

Place cuff on bare arm,
3 cm above fold of elbow,
at heart level
Know and control your blood cholesterol
Ask your doctor if you are at risk and should
be tested
 Can be lowered by reducing your fat intake and
being physically active
 May be controlled with medication

Manage your diabetes
Damages blood vessels, causes circulation problems
 Reduce risk of diabetes by healthy diet, activity,
weight control
 Control diabetes to reduce your risk of heart
disease and stroke

Maintain a healthy weight
Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by
enjoying regular physical activity and healthy eating
 Small weight loss can significantly reduce risk
 Visit heartandstroke.ca/healthyliving

“With over 60% of Canadians being over-weight or
obese, we are faced with a serious public health
problem.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation Researcher
Bruce A. Reeder MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
University of Saskatchewan
Eat a balanced healthy diet
Enjoy a variety of foods from the four food groups
 Choose lower fat dairy products, leaner meats and
watch your portion size
 Find delicious recipes and helpful cooking tips at
heartandstroke.ca/recipes

Reduce dietary salt

Choose fresh foods

Prepare home cooked meals

Season foods with herbs, salt-free spices, lemon, vinegar,
garlic and onion

Limit intake of salty condiments

Avoid salty processed foods

Look for products with the Health Check™
symbol
Limit alcohol consumption
Women—no more than 2 drinks/day to a maximum
of 10 drinks/week
 Men—no more than 3 drinks/day to a maximum of
15 drinks/week

These guidelines do not apply if you are driving a vehicle,
taking medications or other drugs that interact with alcohol,
pregnant or are trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding,
making important decisions, doing any kind of dangerous physical
activity, living with alcohol dependence or mental or physical
health problems, or responsible for the safety of others. I
f you are concerned about how drinking may affect your health,
talk to your doctor
Be physically active
Adults aged 18-64 should accumulate at least
150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity
aerobic physical activity per week in bouts of
10 minutes or more
 Be active most days of the week
 Consult a healthcare professional
before starting an activity program

Be smoke-free

Smoking cessation programs improve the
chances of quitting

Visit heartandstroke.ca for tips on
quitting successfully
“After you quit smoking, your risk of heart attack
begins to decrease within just two days. Within a
year it’s cut in half. And within 10 to 15 years, your
risk of heart disease is almost the same as a
non-smoker’s.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher
Paul W. McDonald, PHD
Professor and Chair, Health Studies and Gerontology
University of Waterloo
Reduce stress
Recognize sources of stress
 Consider relaxation exercises
 Ask for help from family, friends, or a
healthcare professional

What the
Heart and Stroke
Foundation is doing
The Heart and Stroke Foundation
at work in your community
World class research
 Advocating for social change
 CPR/AEDs
 Promoting healthy living

Interested in volunteering?
Visit heartandstroke.ca
 Call 1-888-HSF-INFO
 Contact your local area office

Visit heartandstroke.ca and sign up today!
What can YOU do?
Learn about your risk factors and how to reduce
their impact
 Know the warning signs of heart disease and stroke
and what to do
 Learn CPR
 Become a volunteer
 Sign up for He@lthline
 Visit heartandstroke.ca

Thank you!