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Creating HAPPY Hearts in Chelsea and
Revere
MGH program aims to improve
women's heart health in Boston communities
BOSTON - March 5, 2008 - As the number one killer of American
women, heart disease is an important health issue all women should
address. However, Malissa Wood, MD, a cardiologist with the Massachusetts
General Hospital Heart Center, noticed that low-income women
in many Boston neighborhoods were not armed with the tools necessary
to stop this preventable disease. In conjunction with MGH-Community
Health Associates Wellness Center, Wood last month launched the
HAPPY Heart program to improve the heart health of women served
by the MGH-Revere and Chelsea HealthCare Centers.
Heart Awareness and Primary Prevention in Your Neighborhood (HAPPY
Heart) aims to develop an approach to preventing cardiovascular
disease for low-income women that includes screenings and aggressive
primary prevention techniques, such as exercise, smoking cessation
and stress reduction.
"Many of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including
obesity, hypertension, smoking and diabetes tend to be more prevalent
among low-income women," says Wood, who is also a physician
with MGH's Corrigan
Women's Heart Health Program. "While cardiovascular disease
is largely preventable, women with limited resources are much less
likely to receive and practice primary prevention." The Corrigan
Program celebrated its one-year anniversary in February 2008.
Women between the ages of 40 to 60 who have two or more risk factors
for cardiovascular disease are eligible for inclusion in the program
and study. The household income of participants is also no greater
than 200 percent above the poverty level. Once in the program, the
women will undergo a number of screening procedures and work with
a health coach to identify ways to address their risk factors.
Interventional techniques to help these women achieve healthier
lifestyles include blood pressure and cholesterol screenings and
treatment, nutrition counseling, physical activity and smoking cessation
programs. Women will also be offered stress reductions classes in
yoga, tai chi, relaxation response, and individual and group support
for anxiety and depression.
"Numerous barriers exist in the lives of low-income women
that can impede success of a lifestyle risk reduction program. These
barriers include financial limitations, need for childcare, transportation,
access to safe exercise areas, as well as increased stress and depression
in their lives," says Wood. "One of the unique features
of HAPPY Heart is the integrated and individual approach. The potential
barriers will be identified up front and solutions to these barriers
will be proposed. The pairing of each woman with a health coach
will hopefully increase the likelihood of long-term behaviors changes
and success."
At the end of the two-year program, which is funded through a private
grant, Wood hopes each patient will see improvement in her cholesterol,
stress, anxiety and endurance levels. The study's result should
also help doctors better understand how heart functions change with
education and determine the best methods for helping low-income
women prevent and reduce their risk of heart disease.
Founded in 1811, the MGH is the third oldest general hospital in
the United States and the oldest and largest in New England. The
900-bed medical center offers sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic
care in virtually every specialty and subspecialty of medicine and
surgery. Each year the MGH admits more than 46,000 inpatients and
handles nearly 1.5 million outpatient visits at its main campus
and health centers. Its Emergency Department records nearly 80,000
visits annually. The surgical staff performs more than 35,000 operations
and the MGH Vincent Obstetrics Service delivers more than 3,500
babies each year. The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research
program in the country, with an annual research budget of more than
$500 million. It is the oldest and largest teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School, where nearly all MGH staff physicians serve
on the faculty. The MGH is consistently ranked among the nation's
top hospitals by US News and World Report.
Media Contacts: Jennifer
Gundersen, MGH Public Affairs
Physician Referral Service: 1-800-388-4644
Information about Clinical Trials
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