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Forty New Lives
Presbyterian, HeartBright partner to bring heart-healthy lifestyle to underserved
February 56, 2005
One woman's early incidence of heart disease has the potential to change the lives of at least 40 others in Charlotte, through a heart health program she created with the Presbyterian Center for Preventive Cardiology.
Claire Blocker, Founder of the HeartBright Foundation, has paired her initiative with Presbyterian's clinical knowledge to design a pilot wellness program, "40 Women! 40 Hearts! 40 New Lives!" The aim is to implement lifestyle changes in a group of medically underserved women at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Blocker, outwardly the picture of health, suffered a stroke at age 47 and underwent bypass surgery four years later. Her illness took her by surprise, and she vowed to help boost awareness of risk factors so others might avoid heart disease.
Blocker and her cardiologist, Dr. Daniel Wise of Presbyterian Center for Preventive Cardiology, joined forces to lead the "40 Women!" pilot wellness program.
Initiated in July 2004, the yearlong program began with identification of a target population and screening of candidates. In general, women run a greater risk of heart disease than men, and African-Americans have several lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and tendencies toward hypertension, obesity and high blood sugar, that place them at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
"Dr. Wise and I created the program to provide information to the underserved African-American community that is at risk of cardiovascular disease. This at-risk segment of the population deserves to have awareness, clinical measuring, education and support even when they are unable to afford it," reasoned Blocker.
Blocker had some friends who fit the profile. Those friends, members of the South Tryon Community Church, helped Blocker and Wise bring the ideal to the church congregation. Screening of more than 50 candidates soon began, said Jan Wagoner, director of the Presbyterian center. "We felt we could find funding to do a study on 40 women," she said, so the 40 candidates whose screenings revealed the greatest risk assessments were enrolled in the program. She said the initial screening revealed two or three cases of hypertension or high blood sugar that required immediate attention. From the start, the program may have prevented a stroke, heart attack or diabetic issues.
Wagoner explained the program's course. First, two physicians met the participants for an introductory session, which was followed by weekly education for three months and meetings every other week for another three months. At the half-year mark, meetings were scheduled monthly. Education sessions covered topics such as proper nutrition, sharing of healthy recipes, reading of food labels and avoiding stress. The participants even took a field trip to a super market and got involved in a walking program.
Just past the six-month mark now, participants are feeling results from their altered habits. Sheila Williams of East Charlotte remarked, "It feels good! I can walk up and down those stairs in my apartment without feeling short-winded. I used to get halfway there and then have to sit down, catch my breath and then get up and walk again." She said changing her lifestyle was difficult at first but she realized she had to do it if she wanted to see her children finish school.
Blocker considers this great news. "I receive fulfillment when I see that these women understand what we are teaching, that they are making changes in their lives that affect their cholesterol and glucose numbers, as well as their weight and BMI and blood pressure," she said.
It may be too soon to see significant changes in the data collected, but preliminary indications point to positive results. Blocker says it's an "awesome reward," and she is now looking beyond this pilot program. "Our intent is to grow the program to help others mitigate their risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes through preventative cardiology," she said.
Source: by Linda Singerle
Charlotte Weekly
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