This month, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada released its 2013 Report on Canadians' Heart Health. The report suggests baby boomers should act now to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
The following is some information from the report:
? A huge majority of boomers reported not eating enough vegetables and fruit (85 per cent), more than 40 per cent are not getting enough physical activity each week, one in five (21 per cent) smoke, and one in 10 (11 per cent) are heavy drinkers.
? While the large majority of boomers said they feel stressed at least sometimes, almost 30 per cent say they are often or always stressed.
? More than a quarter of Canadian baby boomers don't feel concerned about how healthy they will be later in life. And three-quarters (74 per cent) don't know that they can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 80 per cent with lifestyle modifications.
? Physical inactivity results in nearly four years of quality life lost.
? Eating a poor diet equals nearly three years of quality life lost.
? Excessive stress can cost nearly two years or more of quality life.
? Quitting smoking can add two and a half more years of quality life.
? Excessive drinking costs Canadians two years of quality life.
? About 1.3 million Canadians are currently living with the effects of heart disease, and 315,000 are living with the effects of stroke.
source: heart and stroke foundation of canada (heartandstroke.com)
