Healthy Heart Day

Healthy Heart Day in Thunder Bay

February is heart month and to bring awareness to the importance of heart health, Northern Hearts and the Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre collaborated to organize Healthy Heart Day in Thunder Bay on Saturday, February 11. The daylong event featured presentations from various health professionals covering many aspects of heart health including diet, exercise, obesity, and medication management. Dr. Christopher Lai, a Cardiologist offered information on obesity and its impact on heart health while Natasha Loncarevic, a Pharmacist with Shoppers Drug Mart, McIntyre Centre, offered an overview of heart health and reviewed the common medications used to treat heart disease.

Ivan Ho, a Dietitian with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, presented information on various aspects of diet and nutrition with an overview on how they can impact your heart health. Katherine Chisholm, a Registered Kinesiologist with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, discussed the benefits of exercise and how it can be a major tool to combat the many risk factors associated with heart disease.

Frank Rizzuto, a volunteer with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre, and a cardiac arrest survivor, talked about his experience and offered encouragement and advice to all those in attendance.

The day also featured an energizing exercise session by Lisa Mork-Geurts that had the 100 attendees on their feet and participating. Jim Greenaway and Andrew Cuglietta from Superior North EMS offered information on CPR and Defibrualtor usage along with emergency response protocols in case of a suspected heart attack. They also offered an overview of their role in the Community Paramedicine Program which helps support people in their place of residence.

The day also featured a blood pressure clinic and information displays including 211 Services. It was officially 211 day (February 11) and Leah Hupe, a Community Resource Specialist with 211 was available to assist the participants with accessing the many social services available within the city and region.

The organizers recognized and thanked the event sponsors, Shoppers Drug Mart McIntyre Centre, and IG Wealth Management. Based on the positive feedback received by the participants, the organizers are considering making Healthy Heart Day an annual event in Thunder Bay.