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Bermuda Heart Foundation has joined
forces with nearly a dozen businesses to create the
Island's first Cardiac Outreach, Renewal and Education
centre, known as CORE.
Photo by Mark Tatem CORE executive director Simone
Barton, cardiac fitness specialist Susie Noel-Simmons,
and community development manager Tina Evans Caines
stand outside a sign for the new Chancery Lane centre.
The centre is the first of its kind on the Island to
provide all cardiac prevention services under one roof,
including the expertise of fitness specialists,
nutritionists and cardiologist Varinder Singh.
People at risk of developing heart disease can soon get
all the help they need under one roof through a new
cardiac prevention and outreach centre.
Bermuda Heart Foundation has joined forces with nearly a
dozen businesses to create the Island's first Cardiac
Outreach, Renewal and Education centre, known as CORE.
The Chancery Lane, Hamilton centre opened to corporate
partners on Friday and will officially open to the
public in February.
BHF executive director Simone Barton said the centre
will serve people at risk of developing heart conditions
including those who are pre-diabetic, diabetic, obese,
or suffer from hypertension.
It could also help reduce the number of heart-related
deaths on the Island — in 2007 the cause of nearly half
of the fatalities in Bermuda. According to Ms Barton,
people should not be dying at such a high rate from a
disorder that is a largely preventable.
The foundation will be working with famed surgeon and
television personality Mehmet Oz, and the New York
Presbyterian Hospital, to get the facility up and
running. Dr Oz shot a two-minute commercial that will
air during February, observed as Heart Month.
CORE will provide individuals with guidance and support
through a six to eight week, tailor-made programme that
will focus on fitness, healthy eating, education,
cardiac awareness and practice.
With the help of a psychologist, participants will be
able to make a mental shift towards healthy living.
Meanwhile a nutritionist will look at what participants
are eating at home and show them how to make simple
changes to improve their diets.
People will have to be referred to the centre by a
general practitioner, but the programme has been added
as an insurable benefit by Argus, BF&M and Colonial.
Ms Barton said: "Everybody came together to make this
happen and we could not have done it without them. This
was a joint community initiative.
"It showed me that there is a great need for what we are
doing because when I asked for help everyone had a story
to tell. This is a disorder where everyone has a common
denominator everyone has a heart. Everybody knows that
we can make a difference if we get out in front of it."
"It's heart warming, it's amazing and I am exceedingly
proud of what the community has achieved.
"We did it in less than a year; last October we started
the development and this October it was done."
BHF received financial support from Allied World,
Bacardi, XL and Ace and enlisted help from numerous
organisations including OBMI Design, architect Geoff
Parker, carpenter Rick Moniz, electrician Paul Simmons,
Fibre Net Communications Ltd, Bermuda Air Conditioning,
Bermuda Residential and Commercial Trucking and Bermuda
Sign Printer.
They used repurposed office supplies, old doors, used
kitchen sinks and toilets to make the project as
environmentally friendly and cost efficient as possible.
Still the project drained the charity's budget and BHF
are appealing for help from the community to raise more
money to decorate and liven up the space.
"It did take all the funds that we had. There isn't
money for simple things like mirrors or microwaves and
there are no pictures on the walls yet. Our thought and
feeling was that stuff will come. It was more important
that we get the centre open," Ms Barton said.
For more information or to donate call the Bermuda Heart
Foundation on 232-7812.
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11/24/2010 1
Healthy heart centre aims to curb obesity
epidemic |
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Battle of the bulge: Overweight
patients at risk of heart
disease will undergo physical
and psychological tests before
embarking on a diet and exercise
regime designed to reduce their
chances of becoming ill.
*iStock photo |
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James Whittaker
Senior Reporter
A new “rehab centre” for heart disease
patients aims to curb an obesity epidemic that
is killing Bermudians in record numbers.
“Mindless eating” and lack of exercise are
thought to be the main factors behind a
substantial rise in heart disease — one
that now accounts for almost half of the
recorded deaths on the island each year.
The Bermuda Heart Foundation’s new
intervention centre, including a gym and
“healthy kitchen”, will put “at-risk” patients
through an eight-week course to change their
lifestyles.
Celebrity
The centre, which will take referrals from GPs
and has its own resident heart
specialist, will also draw on expertise from a
fitness coach, psychologist and nutritionalist.
It preaches preventative medicine and has been
backed by celebrity Dr. Oz — Oprah Winfrey’s
resident doctor — who has filmed a two-minute
promotional video for the heart centre.
Participants will have a nutritionist visit
their home to look through their fridge and food
cupboards and make recommendations to change
their diet.
They will also undergo a psychological and
physical assessment before beginning a
three-times weekly exercise regime at the
centre’s gym.
Weekly seminars will give instruction on a
variety of subjects including healthy cooking
and personal accountability.
Simone Barton, director of the Bermuda Heart
Foundation, which will operate the new
Cardiac Outreach and Rehabilitation Centre on
Chancery Lane, said the aim is to stop so many
people dying from a preventable disease.
Heart disease is at all-time high levels in
affluent western societies.
Ms Barton added: “It is a global problem across
the developed world. This is a disease that is
98 per cent preventable — if we can get out in
front of it we can make a dramatic difference.”
She has looked at preventative medicine
programmes in the U.K. and New York.
The centre’s new resident doctor, Dr. Varinder
Singh, will be in charge of overseeing the
programme.
Ms Barton said the centre would officially open
its doors in February and could support an
intake of 700 patients annually.
She added: “There are enough patients out there
to keep it viable. One thing that both Dr. Singh
and Dr. Oz talk about is, that if you had the
choice to avoid having your chest split down the
middle, your ribs cracked open and open heart
surgery performed, wouldn’t you take it?”
Support
She emphasized that the centre and its
personalized programmes target people who want
to change.
They have to buy into the concept and will get
all the support they need to change their
lifestyles and manage their conditions.
Ms Barton said: “The most important part is
getting people moving.
“A lot of people have just lived sedentary
lifestyles — it is important to get them moving
again.” |
Bermuda
Heart Foundation to Found the First Dedicated Cardiac
Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre in Bermuda
This fall
the Bermuda Heart Foundation (BHF) is establishing the
first dedicated cardiac prevention and rehabilitation
centre in Bermuda. The Centre for Cardiac Outreach,
Renewal, and Education, or CORE, will be located in
Hamilton and will offer recognized cardiac prevention
programs through outreach, education, and exercise. In
addition, it will provide cardiac rehabilitation and
access to cardiac specialists through a unique
collaboration with Columbia University’s Centre for
Interventional Vascular Therapy under the leadership of
Dr. Jeffrey Moses, Director of Interventional Cardiology
for Columbia University Medical Centre. Columbia
University through its Centre for Interventional and
Vascular Therapy will enhance access to needed
preventive cardiac physician expertise in Bermuda.
The BHF has
been a pioneer and leader in Heart Health advocacy on
the Island with the goal of reducing the number of heart
related deaths in Bermuda. The success of the BHF to
date has focused on raising heart health awareness in
partnership with the corporate community, charitable
organizations and government agencies in Bermuda. BHF’s
collaboration with Columbia University and its
affiliated NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital will aim at
increasing education and awareness of the programs
offered by the Foundation, including state of the art
“best practices” in cardiac prevention services as well
as informing patients of the treatment options available
to them as necessary. CORE expects to make a tangible
difference in this process and in the improvement of
heart health in communities throughout the island.
Simone
Barton, Executive Director of the BHF, recognized that a
strong collaboration with an internationally recognized
academic medical centre along with leading experts in
cardiac disease prevention and treatment would maximize
the Foundation’s chances of success as well as further
the BHF’s mission to educate Bermudians to help reduce
their incidence of heart disease and help them lead
active, healthier lives. As part of her ongoing
research, Ms. Barton met Dr. Lori Mosca in the United
States and was impressed by Dr. Mosca’s practical
approach to the prevention of heart disease. Dr. Mosca
is Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical
Centre and Director of Preventive Cardiology at New York
Presbyterian Hospital (NYP/CUMC) in New York City. For
close to a year, the BHF and Columbia physicians have
worked collaboratively to develop a program that will
provide access to leading heart disease prevention
programs through CORE in Bermuda. At the same time,
Columbia’s leading experts in cardiac care and
rehabilitation will travel to Bermuda on a regular basis
to provide consultations, second opinions and offer
access to treatment options for Bermudians who are
suffering from cardiac disease.
Through
these visits the BHF and CORE will further the success
of CORE’s services and provide access to clinical
consultation services. Columbia’s specialists will be
able to review a patient’s medical history and cardiac
concerns, evaluate risk factors, and support the
prevention programs at CORE by training CORE
personnel. The patient will also be able to conduct or
review any necessary tests like stress tests and
communicate results with his/her GP in order to ensure
continuity of care. If there are needs for further
cardiac evaluation or if a patient already suffers from
cardiac disease, the physician will be able to discuss
appropriate treatment options. Since a physician will
be on Island regularly, patients can continue to
follow-up with the same specialists as needed.
To that end,
Dr. Varinder Singh, the Director of Cardiac
Interventions at the Centre for Interventional Vascular
Therapy has become a fully licensed cardiologist in
Bermuda and will provide coverage at CORE as the
programs develop. The BHF and its CORE program
anticipate that demand will increase as the awareness of
the program grows in Bermuda. New York - Presbyterian
Hospital is expected to work with the BFH to provide
additional resources as they may be required.
About The Bermuda Heart
Foundation and CORE
In 1992
Bermuda Heart foundation was granted charity status and
efforts were promptly forcused on raising funds for the
advancement of local heart care services. Now, nearly
two decades on, BHF has evolved to actively advocating
for all aspects of cardiac care as well as promoting
community heart health awareness and prevention.
Despite their efforts and the endeavors of other
healthcare professionals on the Island, heart disease
continues to be the leading cause of death, with 1 in 3
fatalities being attributed to the disorder. In light of
this epidemic marker, the Foundation recognized that a
new approach must be adapted if they were to
significantly stem the tide of heart disease in Bermuda.
The opening of CORE is a step in a new direction for a
heart healthy Bermuda, where at-risk individuals can
come for guidance and support. The facility will feature
a six to eight week, tailor-made program that will focus
on fitness, healthy eating, education, cardiac awareness
and practice, emotional triggers and cognitive
responses, family support, obesity and diabetes. The
overall ethos behind the program is to provide a
one-stop resource for at-risk and recovering individuals
within the community as well as act as an overall
cardiac educational resource for the Island. We are
very pleased to announce that our physician referred
cardiac care program has been added as an insurable
benefit by Argus, BF&M and Colonial.
About NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City,
is the United States' largest not-for-profit,
non-sectarian hospital, with approximately 2,350 beds.
The Hospital has nearly 2 million inpatient and
outpatient visits in a year, including more than 220,000
visits to its emergency departments — more than any
other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides
state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive
care in all areas of medicine at five major centre’s:
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical
Centre, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia
University Medical Centre, NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan
Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian/The
Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the most
comprehensive health care institutions in the world, the
Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care,
research, education and community service. NewYork-Presbyterian
is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and
is consistently ranked among the best academic medical
institutions in the nation, according to U.S. News Media
Group's Best Hospitals. The Hospital has academic
affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical
colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia
University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For more
information, visit
www.nyp.org.
About Columbia University
Medical Centre
Columbia University Medical Centre provides
international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and
clinical research, in medical and health sciences
education, and in patient care. The medical centre
trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of
many physicians, scientists, public health
professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public
Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of
Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research
centre’s and institutions. Established in 1767,
Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons was the
first institution in the country to grant the M.D.
degree and is now among the most selective medical
schools in the country. Columbia University Medical
Centre is home to the most comprehensive medical
research enterprise in New York City and State and one
of the largest in the United States. Columbia University
Medical Centre is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital, the nation’s largest not-for-profit,
non-sectarian hospital provider. For more information,
please visit
www.cumc.columbia.edu.
New heart disease prevention
programme to be covered by health insurance
By Cathy Stovell
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Diagram of a heart: A new heart disease prevention programme is to begin in
Bermuda and will be headed by
cardiologist Varinder Singh. |
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More people in Bermuda die of heart attacks than other
medical conditions.
The Island will soon gain a third heart specialist in an
effort to reverse that trend.
Cardiologist Varinder Singh, of Columbia University's
New York Presbyterian Hospital, will head the Bermuda
Heart Foundation's new Centre for Cardiac Outreach
Renewal and Education (CORE).
Slated to open this autumn, CORE will tackle the problem
of heart disease on the Island from a new angle
prevention. It is anticipated this will not only result
in us becoming a healthier population but will also
reduce, or at least help contain, health care costs.
Dr. Singh is the director of Cardiac Interventions at
the Center for Interventional Vascual Therapy at New
York Presbyterian.
The programme will be covered under health insurance.
"Your insurers and Simone [Barton, executive director of
BHF] need to be commended for making this insurable," he
said. "This is not available anywhere in the US or
Europe."
Insured patients with a referral from a primary care
physician will be covered to take part in an eight-week
programme that will run at CORE.
The programme is an integrative one that will include
advice and actual coaching on things like diet and
exercise. The psychological impact or threat that the
disease is having on each patient will also be
addressed.
The centre is due to open in October and will be
situated in the heart of Hamilton. Both Dr. Singh and Ms
Barton feel the easy access will help ensure its
success.
Dr. Singh told Body & Soul he envisions he will be a
resource for patients and medical professionals here.
"We're going to be doing a bit of everything to provide
Bermuda with access to high-level preventive
cardiology," he said. "I will see patients in
consultation and also give CME (continuing medical
education) lectures to GPs in the community."
He explained that CORE will be an integrated facility,
staffed with experts from each of the areas involved in
preventing heart disease. This means in addition to Dr.
Singh there will be exercise trainers certified in
working with patients at high risk for cardiac disease
and those with heart disease. There will also be a
registered dietician, and a psychologist.
"We are committed to making the centre be a very
successful entity," said Dr. Singh. "It's a premiere
niche type of facility for the community where you can
learn about your risk and adjust it. And if you already
have heart disease we can give advice on how to handle
it."
Dr. Singh will initially be on-Island for two days a
month.
"New York Presbyterian is committed. We want this to
work very much. If we continue on this trajectory we
could come as often as once a week but to begin with we
will be there once a month," he said.
Every effort will be made to accommodate those who
cannot come during regular working hours, Dr. Singh
added. At the moment he plans to offer appointments late
Thursday evenings and Friday mornings.
"The session length may vary from 15 minutes to 45
minutes to even one-and-a-half hours," he said.
Dr. Singh anticipates that his visits to the Island will
reduce overall health care costs.
"I see this as having a global economic benefit," he
said. "Instead of you having to leave the Island for
this care, for the first time the expertise will come to
you."
That means a savings on costly airfares, hotels and
other travel-related costs, he said.
Having the facility at home also makes it more likely
that patients will adhere to the programme, Ms Barton
said.
"People need hands-on intervention," she said. "Even
though there's a lot of information out there, in order
to be successful you have to focus on where the person
is. CORE will provide a nurturing environment for
everyone."
Dr. Singh will give a free public lecture on heart
disease on September 17 at 5.30 p.m. on the 4th floor of
the Argus Building. He will also hold a continuing
education lecture with local physicians the following
morning and meet with health insurance representatives
in the afternoon.
EXERCISE MEDICINE
Husband and wife personal trainers offer programmes for
cardiac patients . . .
By Cathy Stovell
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Pro trainers: Devrae and Susie
Noel-Simmons will be the exrcise
specialists at BHF's new CORE centre. |
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Photo by Cathy Stovell |
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Next month, your doctor will be able to write you a
prescription for exercise. Already some physicians write
prescriptions for certain vitamins, minerals or herbal
mixtures, but it's only recently that they have been
able to fill out prescriptions for exercise and have
professionals on-Island that will be able to fulfill
them.
Thanks to efforts of the Bermuda Heart Foundation (BHF),
two trainers have been certified in cardiac phase IV
rehabilitation exercise.
Devrae and Susie Noel-Simmons completed a four-month
programme with St. Catherine's Hospital, at the Wirral,
in Britain.
The husband and wife personal trainers are now members
of the British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitators and
are on the UK register of advanced level exercise
professionals in phase IV cardiac care.
When dealing with heart disease there are four phases of
care. Phases one and two happen in the hospital and are
centred on keeping the patient alive. Phases three and
four are rehabilitative and centre on trying to get the
patient back to living as normal a life as they used to
as possible.
The couple explained in an interview with Body & Soul
that their new certification enables them to carry out
exercise programmes with patients at high risk for heart
disease and 14 other conditions including high blood
pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Doctors will simply prescribe a level of exercise for
their patients and the personal trainers will be able to
devise an actual routine.
According to the couple, until they returned to Bermuda
with this certification a few months ago, doctors had
nowhere on the Island to refer their patients, to help
them regain strength and fitness.
Operating their own private company, International
Fitness Pros, the Noel-Simmons are available to the
general public with their new expertise. But they will
also be an integral part of the BHF's new Cardiac
Outreach Renewal and Education Centre (CORE) slated to
open in late next month.
In that facility they will offer tailor made exercise
programmes for their clients.
According to Simone Barton, Executive Director of BHF,
patients at high risk for heart disease as well as those
with heart disease, will be referred to the programme by
their primary care physicians.
"People will have to be at a certain medical level
before they can even come to us," she said. "They have
to be, that's why you have the four phases of cardiac
care.
"What you do in phase one and two is dramatically
different from what you will do in phases three and
four.
"By the time they are ready for three and four they will
be appropriate for exercising at the level that we will
see at the centre," she added.
Mrs. Noel-Simmons said in getting physician referrals,
she and her husband will also learn of any other
conditions their patients might have.
"If they have any other conditions we can deal with
those in association and make sure that the goals that
have been set for them (each patient) are correct and
safe," she said.
In the case of patients with heart disease, cardiac
workouts are the most important exercise according to
Mrs. Noel-Simmons.
"The best thing for cardiac patients is cardio workout
and then strength training. It's the heart and lungs
that you want to get working," she said.
"But you have to take note of other factors like what
their blood pressure readings are and what their
cholesterol is," she added.
"The programme at CORE will be customised for each
person. You cannot blanket this treatment because there
are almost always other special factors involved.
"The person might have to go for an angioplasty or
coronary bypass and they may be trying to avoid those
things.
"All those conditions are serious, some more serious
than others, and how we approach them from an exercise
point of view, will differ slightly," she added.
Although only patients deemed by their physicians to be
fit for exercise will be sent for the eight-week
programme, Mrs. Noel-Simmons said both she and her
husband expect to use heart monitors on many of the
patients.
"What we will need to do is work with people at a
certain target heart rate range once they get to that
range," she said.
Bearing in mind that certain medications may mask the
heart rate, she said working with heart rate monitors
will be important.
But the couple will not only work with patients with
heart disease, stressing the prevention end of cardiac
care, they will also see people at high risk of
developing the disease.
"If we can get to people ahead of time who are possibly
at risk whether it's hereditary or by some other means,
then we can get to solve the problem or at least curb it
before it starts," said Mr. Noel-Simmons and exercise
physiologist and personal trainer for more than 20
years.
With a family history of heart disease, diabetes and
hypertension, Mr. Noel -Simmons is no stranger to the
impact these conditions make on the everyday lives of
Bermudians.
At the age of 35 he had heart surgery to mend a valve in
his aorta, the main artery from the heart that pumps
blood to the body. "When I had aortic valve surgery they
told me that was it," he said.
"My rugby career was over, my personal training career
was done and any athletics I wanted to do was done. I
told them they obviously had never lived in Bermuda and
that the costs required to live dictated that I had to
work.
"There was no question about that. It was the only way
for me to survive," he added.
"I was back up and running and playing rugby within six
months of having major heart surgery. "
Proud of his own fight and determination he strongly
believes that other locals simply need to be supported
in order to succeed.
"It's a daunting thing if someone tells you, you have
heart disease, you have high blood pressure or your
sugar is high," said Mrs. Noel-Simmons. "Sometimes
people need to have their hand held and have someone say
'don't worry we'll help you sort this out'."
The couple feel that they, along with the other support
staff in the new CORE facility, can act as a caring team
and make a real difference in the health of many locals.
Heart Month 2010 Wrap Up
Heart Month would not have
been possible without the support of the Following
organization
XL Foundation
Oil Group of Companies
MontpellierRe
Ace Foundation
MarketPlace
Hott 1075
Argus
M3 Wireless
Butterfield and Vallis
New York Presbyterian
Zurich International
Special thanks to Dr. Oz –
his interview on Hott 107 5 in support of the Bermuda
Heart Foundation was so popular that it aired six times.
Read More...
Obesity blamed for heart deaths
Most leading causes of death in Bermuda are related to
lifestyle factors
Obesity and inactivity are the biggest killers in Bermuda.
Bermuda Sun – March 26,
2010
Poor diet and lack of exercise are the root cause of
almost half the deaths on the island each year,
according to a new study. The Bermuda Health Council
report details a dramatic increase in heart disease and
strokes, which now account for 47 per cent of deaths
annually, compared with 31 per cent in 2003.
"The rate of growth in heart disease is very
significant," said Dr. Jennifer Attride-Stirling, chief
executive officer of the BHC. "It's been rising
steadily.
"We don't need a lot of surveys to tell us that Bermuda
has a problem with obesity, but what this shows is the
impact that it is having on the death rate," said Dr.
Attride-Stirling.
The figures, based partly on a breakdown of the 417
recorded deaths in Bermuda in 2007, show that heart
disease outstrips all other factors as the number one
killer in Bermuda.
Diseases of the circulatory system (heart disease and
stroke) killed 195 people in that year. Other leading
causes of death were cancer (104) and diabetes (22).
"Most leading causes of death in Bermuda are related to
chronic, non-communicable conditions caused by life
style factors such as inactivity and poor diet,"
concludes the Bermuda Health System Profile 2009,
published yesterday.
The startling statistics demonstrate that years of 'get
off the couch' campaigns have fallen on deaf ears as
sedentary lifestyles become more entrenched than ever.
Simone Barton, director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation,
said: "We've been pushing this message for years. It is
like osmosis, people hear it, they vaguely understand
what we are talking about and it goes right out the
other ear."
She said 'mindless eating' was a huge problem across the
developed world, particularly in wealthy countries like
Bermuda.
No exercise
"A lot of us just don't exercise. We sit at our desk all
day, we go to our car, which is parked as close to our
job as humanly possible, we drive home, we eat an
unhealthy meal, we feed our family, do the dishes and go
to bed."
The report collates the most recent surveys, statistics
and infrastructure changes to provide a snapshot of how
Bermuda's health system operates, which ultimately fuels
policy decisions.
The latest figures on obesity, from a 2006 study, show
that 64 per cent of Bermudians are dangerously
overweight.
Now health professionals fear our ballooning waistlines
could be leading to a rise in heart disease and diabetes
among younger people.
"We are not surprised by the reported significant level
of obesity in Bermuda," says Gerald Simons, President &
CEO, The Argus Group. "We have been concerned for
several years about this growing trend. That is why we
launched the Argus Wellness Programme in 2005 and the
Argus Challenge last year.
"As Bermuda's oldest health insurance company we are
reminded every day of the fact that many of the
conditions from which Bermudians suffer - heart disease,
diabetes and cancer - are caused by lifestyle choices."
Anecdotal evidence suggests that heart conditions,
previously believed to be diseases that only affected
the elderly, are hitting younger adults in the prime of
their life.
Dr. Attride-Stirling said further studies would
breakdown stats into age demographics in a bid to
confirm this.
The Bermuda Heart Foundation is already moving to change
its approach amid fears that the message is not getting
through.
The charity is in the process of setting up a 6-8 week
'intervention' programme to alter the habits of 'at
risk' individuals.
Doctors will be able to refer patients showing signs of
obesity, hypertension or a number of related conditions
to a new prevention centre, where they will be put
through a reform programme.
Ms Barton said they would be assessed on physical
exercise and diet as well as their psychological
capacity to change their behaviour.
Group sessions will include healthy eating cooking
classes, exercise and information and education on
preventing heart conditions and associated diseases.
"When you look at those stats, it is just amazing. That
is what is driving us right now. We do not have to die
from what is largely a preventable disease," she said.
For more information on the scheme or to donate funds
contact simonebarton@bdaheart.bm.
Bermuda Heart Foundation is a registered Bermuda Charity
#352
Jumping at the chance to get fit
By Jessie Moniz
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Learning the ropes: Kim
Raymond (centre)
shows her skip rope skills
during a skipping
workshop held at CedarBridge
Academy. It is
part of a Jump Fit Campaign put
on by the
Bermuda Heart Foundation and
attended by
teachers who will introduce it
to students.
Photo: Tamell Simons
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As a child, Canadian
Elizabeth Way was a blur with a jump rope, skipping more
than 200 times in a minute to break a speed record at
the age of 11.
Today, at the age of 31,
she has made it her life's mission to use her jump rope
as a lifeline for the world's children who are in danger
of becoming the first generation to have shorter
lifespans than their parents, due to inactivity and poor
eating habits.
She was on the Island
this week to introduce residents to the Jump2bFit Rope
Skipping Fitness and Activity Programme for the Bermuda
Heart Foundation.
The programme teaches
"non-skippers" the skills to enjoy jumping rope, and
also more advanced jumping rope skills needed for
competition.
The idea of Jump2bFit is
to improve fitness, and possibly create a few new
champion jump-rope artistes.
"I started jumping rope
when I was five years old," said Mrs. Way. "My mother,
Susan Kalbfleisch, was a physical education (PE) teacher
so physical activity was always a big part of my life.
"We always had all the
fun PE equipment at our house."
Mrs. Way never thought
as a kid 'I want to jump rope as a career'.
"It just worked out that
way," she said.
"Once I started varsity
athletics in high school, I was more interested in
jumping rope in terms of keeping me fit to do other
sports, rather than on a competition level."
Today she often jumps
rope with her 61-year-old mother, and her four-year-old
daughter Eleanor. "Kids don't play anymore, they just
stand around on the playground," she said. "Jumping rope
is an activity that goes well on the playground."
Mrs. Way was part of the
development team for Jump2bFit in Canada, the United
States, Europe and Asia in 2002. She is also the author
of 'S3 = Skip, Strength, Stretch' released earlier this
year.
"Jumping rope is a
heart-healthy activity which is why it is being promoted
by the Bermuda Heart Foundation and around the world as
a fitness activity for kids and adults," said Mrs. Way
who is from Hamilton, Ontario.
"Jumping rope can help
to maintain an efficient cardio vascular system, and
build and maintain bone density. It is considered a
medium impact activity that has the same metabolic
calorie burning value as running. Many people are
surprised to learn that it is also medium impact, rather
than high impact, on your knees."
She also said that
jumping rope could be a great equaliser, because it is
inexpensive – all you need is a jump rope and some
sneakers, and it can be done indoors or outdoors,
regardless of the weather.
"Studies have shown that
when taught properly, it can provide a boost to a
child's self-esteem," said Mrs. Way. "Children can gain
confidence and improve their skills rapidly."
She said she has been
teaching fitness for over 15 years, and seen it help to
turn sedentary overweight kids into more active college
students.
"It can be a gateway
activity," she said. "It gets them moving and they can
do it by themselves or with their friends. They can
become more coordinated and do other activities.
Skipping can be used to work on speed and endurance."
Simone Barton, executive
director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation said there is
now worldwide interest in jumping rope competitively –
from Hong Kong to Scotland and England and Jamaica.
"Where is Bermuda?"
questioned Ms Barton.
"It is such a simple,
no-brainer type of thing we can introduce into the
schools which will have a huge benefit."
Ms Barton said in terms
of health, Bermuda has to start with its young people.
"Obesity with the youth
of Bermuda is growing epidemically," said Ms Barton. "If
we don't get a handle on it we are only making things
worse later."
She said we have to be
proactive in terms of being heart healthy. "It doesn't
necessarily mean winning a marathon," she said.
"Skipping is an activity, not just for the youth but for
the whole family. It is a simple activity that the
family can bond around."
Ms Barton's dream is to
eventually see Bermudian kids competing in the
International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF) World Jump
Rope Championships held biannually. The 2010
championships will be held in England. "Maybe the first
couple of years they could go just to participate," said
Ms Barton.
She said that Mrs. Way
was world-renowned for her teaching ability, and had
helped to bring competitive rope jumping to Japan a few
years ago.
"She started it ten
years ago with their cardiac department," said Ms
Barton. "This programme has grown. Now those students
are participating in the world championships. The
Japanese are going to try next year to try to break the
world record in jumping. To her credit she is the one
that started that. The jump rope phenomenon is huge
through the world and now it is landing on Bermuda's
shores."
Mrs. Way has two
daughters, Eleanor, four, and Veronica, 18 months. "In
their mind they are skipping champions," said Mrs. Way
with a laugh. "They are little, but it is important to
get them moving and do it with them."
She said research has
found that it is primarily the mother's activity level
that influences children to be active or sedentary.
"When my daughters were babies I would jump rope for 10
minute stretches while they slept," she said.
She owns Atec Marketing
Limited which sells jump ropes and other supplies such
as training manuals and jump rope teaching kits. "My
father, Andrew, started the company," said Mrs. Way.
"Through my mother's work as a physical education
teacher, she found that the ropes were always breaking.
My father was an engineer and thought he would make a
better skipping rope."
She said the jump ropes
her company sells have shatter proof handles, and last a
long time. "A lot of ropes you find in toy stores or
sports stores are expensive but don't last a long time,"
she said. "But ours are not expensive. We couldn't get
any quality resources for the jump ropes so we started
manufacturing them."
While in Bermuda, Mrs.
Way spent a day working with teachers during teacher
training at CedarBridge Academy. She also spoke at an
open house at the Bermuda College so that the general
public could have fun and learn some jump rope skills.
Private schools interested in the Jump2bFit programme
can contact the Bermuda Heart Foundation at
info@bermudaheartfoundation.bm
or go on their website at
http://www.mybermudaheart.bm/
or telephone 239-2052.
The Bermuda Heart
Foundation is also interested in working with other
organisations such as churches and youth groups. "We
have already been approached by one church that would
like to set up jump stations," said Ms Barton. "One
person we were talking to was saying that back in the
day you would walk down the street and see someone
jumping rope, but you just don't see it anymore. We are
trying to get that going again."
Even small children can benefit
Even a child as young as
two can benefit from jumping rope with supervision.
“Keep in mind that you
wouldn’t expect a two-year-old’s co-ordination to be
very good,” said Mrs. Way.
“You could lay the rope
on the floor and have them jump back and forth over it,”
she said.
“They could clap to get
the rhythm, or you could skip with them.
“At this stage you just
want to get them interested and active.”
A war is declared on heart disease
in Bermuda
By: Cathy Stovell
The Bermuda Heart Foundation has declared war on heart
disease in Bermuda, and the 'general' leading the battle
is the charity's Executive Director Simone Barton. Ms
Barton is passionate about the issue and can drive home
her point in two minutes or two hours, whichever you
prefer whichever is going to cause you to make the
necessary changes.
The charity has announced plans to open a cardiac
prevention and intervention centre as a means of
lowering the incidence of heart disease in Bermuda. That
is its 'attack' plan. But heart disease is a formidable
foe. It's the leading cause of death by illness on the
Island, accounting for one in three of all deaths.
The Foundation plans to launch its 'attack' sometime
next year and 'soldiers' are already being specially
trained for the task two exercise therapists went for
training in Liverpool, England, and will return in
January when they will be deployed to oversee and
administer prescriptive exercise (where doctors write
prescriptions for the exercises to be given to their
patients).
Ms Barton has also
secured a clinical dietician and said Dr. Marion
Watlington will serve as the in-house physician. Still
needed are clinical therapists to carry out the
counselling sessions and also still needed is a base
from which to work although the Foundation is hoping to
secure Tourmalina, on Richmond Road, for that purpose.
And then there's the cost according to Ms Barton $3
million is needed. And she said the charity will seek
the funds from everyone, not just the corporate
community. She said the charity intends to introduce a
new 'I Pledge' campaign shortly. "'I Pledge' will be
something that you sign onto that allows you to make a
monthly donation," said Ms Barton. "You'll be able to
make your monthly donation in any amount you like. It
can be $5 or $1,000." That money will be used to keep
the facility up and running in the beginning years. "The
centre pledges to be self sufficient within three
years," she added.
"The fact that heart disease is the number one killer in
this country and we do not have a facility where people
can come and get educated is not right," Ms Barton said.
"The hospital does a great job of diabetes education but
when I look out in the community I think 'who is
stopping it'? "You cannot tell people diet and exercise.
I was doing screenings and telling people 'your blood
pressure is high and you have a touch of sugar', and
they'd look at me with a blank stare and go about their
business and I know they just didn't get it," she said.
The more screenings she did the more she realised that
people did not understand.
"They hear it, they see it, they receive it but it
hasn't hit them on a deeper level where it's going to
cause them to take action," added Ms Barton. "I'm not
looking to step on anyone toes from diabetes or the
hospital. What I want to do is take a pro-active stance
to change our health perspective around so that I am not
screening people and feeling exceedingly bad when they
walk away from me and I know that they don't understand
and I don't have things in place to say 'we have free
courses on. Come to the centre let's work it out
together.'
The prevention and intervention centre will operate as
phases three and four for patients with heart illness.
Phase one, acute care and phase two sub acute care will
take place at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
Patients will then be sent to the prevention centre
where they will receive, education, training, private
sessions and group counselling in a six to eight week
programme.
For more information or
to donate funds contact Simone Barton at the Bermuda
Heart Foundation tel: 300-4278 or email:
simonebarton@bdaheart.bm
Taking The Heart Smart Message To The Streets
By
Cathy Stovell
It is a message that will hopefully go straight to the
heart and it will all be thanks to a group of talented
college students who are helping other young people.
Six students, while on an internship with Deloitte &
Touche, ACE and the Bank of Bermuda, conducted a
research project on obesity for the Bermuda Heart
Foundation.
And the result will be a new campaign called 'Rock the
Heart' aimed directly at teenagers aged 14 to 19 to try
and reduce the level of obesity among young people.
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Tattooed: Interns Adrian Binns, Ashleigh Simons
and Ryan Cabral bare their Cup Match allegiance
with the Rock Heart tattoos - available at
Harbour Nights tomorrow.
Photo: Henry Thomas. |
Statistics from the Department of Health show that one
in three teenagers in Bermuda are obese, yet
disturbingly results from
surveys conducted by the students showed the majority of
teenagers did not feel they were at personal risk of
heart disease.
Kennette Burgess, spokesperson for the college students,
said: "We found this a problem because they felt that
being young, they could not be affected, and this is not
true."
Deloitte & Touche, ACE and Bank of Bermuda host an
internship programme where college students work in
various areas of the corporate sector, doing a two-week
rotation at each company.
As part of the programme they have to do a community
project which involves working with a local charity.
Bermuda Heart Foundation applied because it wanted to
implement a campaign for teenagers and was successful in
securing the interns' help.
The six interns; Adrian Binns, Kennette Burgess, Ryan
Cabral, Logan Davis, Chris Parker and Ashleigh Simons,
had seven days to develop a heart health awareness
campaign to reach the 14 to 19-year-old age group.
Ms Burgess said the team worked collaboratively on each
aspect of the project and presented a full marketing
proposal to the Foundation.
She said her team developed two surveys to get
information from teenagers, with the surveys being
distributed in both the public and private schools.
As well as discovering that the majority of teenagers
did not feel they were at personal risk of heart disease
they also used the survey to determine where teenagers
got their information and what types of events and
practices they enjoyed.
The 'Rock the Heart' campaign includes a heart-shaped
tattoo done in Cup Match colours which will be launched
tomorrow at Harbour Nights.
The intern team also produced a full campaign for "Rock
the Heart" which includes radio, web and print ads,
events and surveys.
They also suggested a family fun health day with various
sporting activities and a morning walk to kick off the
day, as a major event.
Kara Smith, Bermuda Heart Foundation's Development
Director, said the team's work was "superb and
invaluable".
She said the Foundation will adopt all the
recommendations in its 2010 plan.
She added: "They came up with a 'Rock the Heart'
awareness campaign that included the tattoos in Cup
Match colours as a way to connect with that demographic
as well as raise our charitable identity.
"The quality of work these students were able to produce
in such a short period of time is definitely remarkable.
"Their approach was organic and holistic in the way they
executed the task, which ultimately resulted in a top
notch product that we are not only able to use but mark
as a standard," she said.
"It has been a rare occurrence for me to ask for
something and receive exactly what I wanted," said Ms
Smith. "But that is what these students were able to
achieve and we are very pleased as this report is
exactly what we needed."
Ms Smith said: "Their work has enabled the Foundation to
gain real insight to the way heart health is considered
and approached within this demographic.
"As heart disease is, in most cases preventable, Bermuda
Heart Foundation champion prevention as much as
possible, thus the youth are crucial when it comes to
raising awareness and advocating for heart health.
"If we cultivate a culture of prevention toward heart
health then we can begin to stem the tide of heart
disease that is currently claiming one in three deaths
on the Island."
Tattoo Designed by: Antonio Belvedere,
NiteStream Graphics, 504-3490
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The Royal Gazette
Published: January 30. 2009 12:00AM
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Foundation's project is one from the heart
EVERY day one person is flown off the island to
hospitals in the U.S. as a result of
cardiac-related illnesses. Heart disease - it's
the number one killer of Bermudians that is
silently wreaking havoc on the island's fragile
health care system. Starting Sunday, the Bermuda
Heart Foundation begins its Heart Smart Month,
the annual month-long awareness campaign. Also
making a new beginning is the organization’s new
Executive Director, Simone Barton, a savvy
independent businesswoman who is breathing new
life into the charity. Ms Barton sat down with
Mid-Ocean News reporter Lindsay Kelly and
photographer Mark Tatem to talk about heart
healthy activities planned for the month and the
future direction of the Foundation.
Q. When did you start as the Executive Director
of the Bermuda Heart Foundation?
A.
I started with the Heart Foundation in
mid-September. I'm the new kid on the block.
Q. What led you to become involved with the
Heart Foundation?
A.
My core skill set is that of an event designer
and producer. I've always run my own businesses.
Simone Barton & Associates has done everything
from fashion layouts for Macy's and
Bloomingdale's, commercials for Doritos and the
2006 summer catalogue for Eddie Bauer.
I was thinking about future employment
possibilities and one of my clients introduced
me to two of the Heart Foundation Board Members
that were interviewing candidates. After
speaking with them I realized that their needs
matched my strengths. And, I'm a firm believer
that you should 'pay it forward'. Bermuda has
been very good to me and my family. We all
should all feel very blessed for living here. So
when you get an opportunity like that of the
Heart Foundation, which allows you to pay it
forward, you've got to take it, full barrels
loaded.
Q. Heart disease is Bermuda's number one killer,
what does the term heart disease really mean?
A.
The term heart disease encompasses all the
issues related to the clogging of the arteries
surrounding the heart. Over a period of time,
the damage that we do from the way we eat and
not exercising begins to take a toll on the
valves of the heart. Additionally, a lot of the
heart disease issues that we see here stem from
diabetes. Most of our clients at the Heart
Foundation are diabetics since a lot of that
patient population will suffer from
heart-related illness eventually. If we can
handle diabetes, especially Type 2, then we are
also handling the issues of heart disease. This
is not to say anything about heart disease that
is attributed to genetic factors, which is
harder to avoid and needs to be monitored. But
other factors, particularly lifestyle factors,
can be positively affected through awareness and
education.
Q. Tell me about the goal of Heart Smart Month.
A.
Even though we are doing a number of activities
this month, we are focusing on continuing our
awareness campaigns throughout the year. We're
trying to get across that it's not Draconian
measures we are taking about in order to make
effective and healthy changes in our lives.
We really want to focus on prevention and in
doing so we always say one small step today will
lead to a greater, healthier tomorrow. If you
just take a couple baby steps a month that will
lead to a couple steps a week, which will
eventually lead to a couple steps a day. It's
simplistic in nature but I find that often times
people get overwhelmed with a lot of
information.
People are told that "you have to exercise, you
can't eat this or you can't do that" and when
you approach it from that perspective, most
people generally will be turned off.
So I don't want to underscore the extreme
importance of exercise and health awareness but
I do want to focus on the fun side. It doesn't
have to be complicated.
Q. Is Bermuda's heart disease statistics
different from anywhere else in the world?
A.
The statistics are similar across the world;
we're all facing similar challenges. And, it's
partly because we've strayed away from the
simplistic nature of life. We don't walk as much
as our predecessors did; fast food is too cheap
and too readily available. Our generation has
progressed and our standard of living is more
elevated than our parents' generation but our
parents had it a bit easier because they got up
and walked to the store, kids walked to school
instead of jumping on the bus or being driven,
someone had to hang the wash on the line. It's
not a simple way of life anymore.
Q. Heart Smart Month has 19 activities this
month. Tell me about what is going on.
A.
We kick off the month with our first ever Heart
Smart Mystery Walk at the Botanical Gardens this
Sunday. The walk is based on the game of Clue.
We're taking Clue and bringing it to life.
The premise is that you don't have to run a
marathon; this walk is not a race but it will
take you to from one end of the park to the
other in an interesting, outdoor environment
where exercise is made to be fun. It's not your
normal walk at all. It's a unique and different
event - the first time that something like this
has gone on for the public in Bermuda. For those
that don't register a head of time, there will
be a pre-registration at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the
Jack King Building.
Q. What else is going on in February?
A.
On February 6, we're beginning our
call-to-action programme called "Let's Go Red"
to focus on awareness of heart disease. You
cannot change unless you know the correct
information. Even though heart disease is the
top disease on the island, when you ask people
what is the top disease they'll say a lot of
other illnesses first before they say heart
disease.
So on that day, we're asking people to wear some
form of red to bring awareness of the fact that
heart disease is the number one killer here in
Bermuda.
We have also planned a number of informative
sessions called "Matters of the Heart" given by
the Cardiac Resource Group every Monday night at
the King Edward Memorial Hospital that vary from
heart nutrition, heart health exercises and
diabetes and heart disease.
We're also hosting healthy cooking classes and
what's good about these classes is that many
people want to eat better but just don't know
what to cook or where to begin. A lot of people
think that a healthy meal consists of boiled
chicken and carrots and it's not. Chef Michael
Hammond from the Hospital, does a phenomenal job
of teaching people that healthy food is just a
call back to the basics that is not laden in
butter and fats. It's all about good, clean,
fresh food that is really very tasty, simple to
prepare and great for the family.
Q. I heard about the Jump Fit event. That sounds
fun - what is it about?
A.
Jump Fit will be held at the Bermuda College on
February 21. I'm calling for anyone who used to
jump rope as a kid or plays jump rope with their
children now. Anyone that can turn a rope should
come out and have a good time. We'll be playing
music and it's open to men, women and children.
It's one of the easiest, cost effective
exercises that are out there. It gets the heart
rate going, builds tone and flexibility, and
improves cardio and stamina. We are also going
to have an instructor there to teach anyone who
is interested about the form of jump rope that
boxers use in their training.
Q. The Foundation is offering free health
screenings too?
A.
Yes, free screenings are going on all month. The
good thing about these screenings is that people
and companies can see tangible results from it.
For example, we did a free screening session at
a company and we sent six employees to the
doctor to get a further examination.
At another office of 30 people, we sent two
people to the doctor. If we can prevent just one
employee from suffering a future heart attack,
that's possibly saving a life and saving that
company thousands of dollars in health care
costs. Our activities can be equated to a
tangible dollar amount.
Q. What is your ultimate goal for the Heart
Foundation?
A.
Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness of heart
disease in Bermuda, lower the percentage of
people dying of heart disease and to elevate the
numbers of people that go and do something about
their health.
One of the insane things that I come across is
that someone will say: "I know I have diabetes
but I don't take care of it" or they say: "I
know I have high blood pressure but I won't take
my pills on a regular basis". And, they give you
a myriad of reasons of why they don't.
But I often just ask one simple question: "if
you had the choice of an amputation or
monitoring your blood sugar, which one would you
choose?" Or: "If you had the choice between a
heart attack and little pill that you take every
day, which one would you rather have?"
It's so simple to become aware of your health.
January 30, 2009, Hamilton, Bermuda
—
The Bermuda Heart Foundation
launches their “Let’s Go Red – Together we can make
a difference campaign with a powerful image of
support for Bermuda’s number one killer heart
disease. The Premier Dr. Ewart Brown; Governor Sir
Richard Gozney; Health Minister, Nelson Bascombe;
Bermuda Heart Foundation’s Chairman, David Mutch and
Executive Director, Simone Barton are leading the
way into Heart Smart month by calling on Islanders
to become aware of the risks for heart disease and
become proactive in creating a healthy heart
community.
"Let’s Go Red” –
what does it mean? We are familiar with terms such
as “Painting the town red,” “Red in the face,” or
even “caught red-handed.” Red, in all of these
phrases refers to blood. However, “red” in these
terms also suggest action, or that the activity is
something of significance. With this in mind, the
Bermuda Heart Foundation has latched onto the
significance of red and the grandeur of the heart.
Their message to the community is to “take action”
against the factors that promote heart disease, and
develop healthy living. The campaign kicks off
Sunday, February 1st, 2009 with the first
Heart Smart Mystery Walk that will see the game clue
bought to life. On February 6th, the
Bermuda Heart Foundation asks everyone to wear red
to Raise Heart Health Awareness. It’s simple to do,
gentlemen can wear a red tie like, and ladies a red
sweater like our leaders [in this photo].
During the
month of February, the Bermuda Heart Foundation has
planned a series of innovative events open to the
community, including educational workshops and
presentations, free screenings. To demonstrate that
health conscious activities can also be fun, cooking
classes and even an old school jump rope event have
been put on the programme! A calendar of events may
be found in the local papers and on the website,
www.mybermudaheart.bm.
Heart healthcare is not just a 28-day challenge, it
is a lifetime responsibility. Hence, 2009 will be
the commencement of the Be Heart Smart movement, and
the Bermuda Heart Foundation will be creating new
programmes available year round, that promote
awareness and advocate healthy living.
Awareness that you or
your loved ones may already be victims of heart
disease just might have you seeing red! So join the
Bermuda Heart Foundation in the fight against the
things that puts us at risk. Be a champion of heart
disease prevention…
Let’s Go Red –
Together we can make a difference.
October 9,
2008 (The Royal Gazette)
The
Bermuda Heart Foundation (BHF) has appointed a new
Executive Director.
Read More...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Cardiac Diagnostic Unit:
The renovations to this once two-room department have
allowed the hospital to service more patients, more
efficiently. This new unit houses a full reception area,
5 diagnostic suites and 3 offices.
Telemetry Monitoring:
The purchase of this equipment allows patients’ heart
rhythm to be monitored by doctors and nurses while
recovering on a general ward. The telemetry system can
detect heart rhythms that might complicate patients’
recovery. The hospital currently has the capacity to
monitor 10 patients at any one time.
Defibrillators:
These life saving devices allow patients to be rescued
when they experience life-threatening rhythms. The
Bermuda Heart Foundation purchased this equipment for
nurses to use for patients escorted on overseas flights.
In February 2007, The Bermuda Heart Foundation purchased
5 more defibrillators and given to local organizations,
including one to a church.
In addition to facilitating the acquisition of cardiac
equipment, The Bermuda Heart Foundation has also
provided the community with various activities to
promote health.
Free Community Screenings:
The Bermuda Heart Foundation offers free blood pressure
and blood sugar screenings to the public. To schedule a
free screening for your office email us at
info@bermudaheartfoundation.bm
Lectures & Presentations:
The Bermuda Heart Foundation has sponsored various
lectures on heart health geared to both the general
public and also to local healthcare professionals. Local
and international experts have been invited to
participate.
Educational Grant:
The Bermuda Heart Foundation have been the executors of
the Frank and Edna Gamble Scholarship which awards a $10
000 grant to a student pursuing a career in heart
health. This scholarship is awarded yearly. In addition,
the BHF has provided support to local health
professionals wishing to attend overseas conferences on
heart health.
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