AFMC to promote American Heart Month in February Published Jan. 30, 2013 Air Force Material Command Wellness Support Center WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and the importance of heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; approximately one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke. You can take action for your health and lower your risk of developing heart disease by: · Maintaining a healthy weight · Monitoring your blood pressure · Limiting the amount of dietary fat, cholesterol and alcohol you consume · Exercising regularly · Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke · Managing stress · Knowing your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose Civilian Health Promotion Services will be conducting heart-healthy activities during American Heart Month to help prevent heart disease and increase awareness of heart healthy lifestyle habits. Activities include: · Heart-healthy education classes for awareness and prevention · Cardiac Risk Profile Wellness Screenings to monitor for risk factors (for Department of Defense civilians only) · The Heart and Sole walking initiative for physical activity At Hanscom, heart healthy classes will be held across the base throughout the month. Classes are open to everyone. CHPS asks that anyone interested call or email ahead of time to register. To register, call 781-225-6377 or email CHPSHanscom@foh.hhs.gov. Classes include blood pressure education. One class will take place Feb. 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Health and Wellness Center, Building 1540. The second will take place Feb. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Building 1630 first floor conference room. The final blood pressure education class takes place Feb. 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Health and Wellness Center. Cholesterol education classes will also be offered. The first takes place Feb. 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Health and Wellness Center. The next class occurs Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in the Building 1305 Brown Conference Room. The final cholesterol education class for the month takes place Feb. 26 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Health and Wellness Center. Cholesterol screenings, open to GS and WG civilians only, will take place throughout the month, as well. Walk-in screenings are scheduled every Thursday from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Health and Wellness Center. Other scheduled cholesterol screenings include: - Feb. 5 at the Hanscom Conference Center Bedford Room from 7 to 9 a.m. - Feb. 11 at the Fitness Center lobby from 3 to 5 p.m. - Feb. 12 in the Building 1614 lobby 7 to 9 a.m. - Feb. 12 at the Fitness Center lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Feb. 19 at the Fitness Center lobby from 1 to 3 p.m. - Feb. 20 at the Hanscom Conference Center Bedford Room 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also during the month of February, Air Force Materiel Command will be promoting the Heart and Sole Walking Initiative. This initiative involves the use of the AFMC Wellness Support Center website, www.afmcwellness.com, and the Pedometer Walking Program. The goal of the initiative is to log steps into the Pedometer Walking Program five days a week during the month, for a total of 140,000 steps. Participants who complete this task will receive a travel fitness kit. The Heart and Sole walking initiative is open to AFMC active duty military and appropriated-fund civilian employees. To sign up for the Heart and Sole walking initiative, visit www.afmcwellness.com or contact Orlagh Pawlyk, CHPS coordinator, at 781-225-6377.