You and your heart

✍ Scribed by Carl A. Blashko; John G. Paterson

• Book ID: 104645915
• Publisher: Springer US
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 471 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0165-0653
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00154642

✦ Synopsis

This article is focussed on a heart disease prevention program which used a mass media approach to facilitate changes in lifestyle of the population. A radio station, 930 CJCA, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada aired five consecutive 1 1/2 hour open-line programs in which several aspects of heart disease were addressed by health experts. A public health meeting was held afterwards. Approximately 500 persons attended, 430 of whom filled out questionnaires and were interviewed by telephone six months later. Over half of the respondents made substantive lifestyle changes to reduce heart disease; approximately one-quarter had checked for evidence of diabetes; two-thirds had their blood pressure checked within the six month follow-up period. People in this group seemed to exercise more and smoke less. The importance of utilizing the mass media to alter lifestyles of the public is documented. Most authors agree that primary prevention programs are needed to enhance the general health of the popt~lation.