September is National Heart Awareness Month, which this year will highlight that heart disease and strokes kill more women worldwide than cancer, HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB combined.  “There is still the perception that heart disease only affects middle-aged men, and this is precisely why during Heart Month we are correcting this dangerous misconception and will focus on recognition, prevention and treatment of the disease in women,” says Michelle Kearney, communications director at the Heart Foundation.
 

The other message in this month’s campaign will be the growing problem of obesity in children.  The rate of overweight children in South Africa is 12%, not far off the rate in the United States of America at 14%.  Childhood obesity is mainly caused by unhealthy eating habits, but is also linked to the fact that children today are a lot less active than in the past.

 

Last year, the Heart Foundation launched an educational programme: Edu-Heart.  This programme is designed to encourage the tuck shops and vendors at school to provide healthy choices and educate the children on the importance of healthy nutrition.  Says Kearney, “Let’s open up our hearts, and look after our future generations by giving them a healthy start to a long and prosperous life”.

 

The foundation’s Children’s Programme has reached a million disadvantaged children since it was launched in 1997.  This year, the Heart Foundation of South Africa celebrates 25 years of helping consumers keep their hearts healthy for a longer and more active life.  The foundation’s Heart Mark – which has been promoted for 15 years – can today be found on a range of foods on the supermarket shelf, showing consumers which brands are healthier.

 

For more information, visit the Heart Foundation’s website: www.heartfoundation.co.za or contact them on Tel : (021) 447 4222.

Woman are Focus of heart awareness month

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