Learn your risk factors for cardiovascular disease

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306

SPRINGFIELD - During February, Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital is encouraging the public to log onto www.prairieheart.com and assess their risk factors for cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death in America.

“Most people who develop heart disease spend years living with ‘invisible’ warning signs. For hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, it progresses silently and painlessly. Sadder still, for a million more Americans, it claims their lives,” said Dr. Charles L. Lucore, Chairman of Cardiology and Co-director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Prairie Heart Institute.

Heart Aware, a newly enhanced heart disease risk evaluation tool available free online at www.prairieheart.com, is designed to help people identify whether they’re at risk for heart and vascular disease. The online questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. Each participant receives a personalized report detailing their modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors based on the Framingham Study, which identifies the common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease. They include:
• Family history
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking

At the end of the questionnaire, participants can choose to receive educational e-mails to assist them in modifying their risk factors. Information on heart-healthy education, nutrition, fitness and smoking cessation is then sent to them periodically.

“Anyone who completes the evaluation and is identified as being at high risk for heart disease is invited to the Center for Living at Prairie Heart Institute for a series of free screenings,” said Bryan Finn, Director, Cardiovascular Services. “After the cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat screenings, staff can determine whether the person should talk to their primary care physician and be referred on to a cardiologist for further evaluation.”

The goal of Heart Aware is to raise awareness about the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and identify and treat those at the greatest risk. Data collected from Heart Aware will be used in a national study on the overall cardiovascular health of America. Led by Dr. William O'Neill, Chief of Cardiology at William Beaumont Hospital, the study will look at the effect education has on influencing individuals to modify their lifestyle and reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.

“Research shows that by simply changing behavior – such as quitting smoking, exercising and eating right – we can greatly reduce our risk for cardiovascular disease. Heart Aware gives people the ability to evaluate whether they’re at risk and then provides valuable information for how to make changes that can catch heart disease before it kills,” said Dr. Holly Novak, Medical Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Prairie Heart Institute.

Everyone who completes the free online assessment and submits their information during the month of February is eligible to win a laptop computer from Novanis.