Minister tells parents to keep kids’ hearts healthy

| 28/09/2012

girl_healthyeating.jpg(CNS): The country’s health minister has said that cutting adult rates of heart disease will be “nearly impossible” unless there is a focus on child health. In his World Heart Day message, Mark Scotland stated that the risk of for heart disease can increase during childhood due to unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to smoking. “Since children have limited decision making control, we must take responsibility for the hearts of our children,” he said. “From parents and caregivers, to doctors and teachers, everyone involved in a child’s life must work together to promote heart healthy behaviors.”

The Cayman Islands joins countries all over the world in observance of World Heart Day on Saturday 29 September when cardiovascular disease prevention in women and children will be the main theme. It is an initiative of the World Heart Federation which was started in 2000. Its key message is that at least 80% of deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if people gave up smoking, had a healthier diet and did more exercise.

See the minister’s full message below
 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Ungate the tracks so people can run and train in a safe location.  Invest in naturally shaded  cycle paths.  Create more green space for frisbee and other outdoor activitiies.  

  2. Anonymous says:

    I find the exposure to more crappy polititians more harmful nowadays that smoking or lack of exercise.

  3. Anonymous says:

    We have allowed fast-food outlets that cook with saturated fats and sell unhealthy sodas, to locate close to schools. How is this helping our children's hearts? Words are cheap, but lifelong treatment for diabetes and heart disease is not.. 

     

  4. Anonymous says:

    Why not show a picture of a child eating a local fruit?  A mango, sweetsop or guava would have been much more appropriate.

  5. Environ-mentallist says:

    Do as they say not as they do??

     

    Here's an idea… Lead by example!!

    • Truth says:

      They are.  Hence the results.

    • Anonymous says:

      Especially the Minister of Education.

       

      What good is it to raise a child with a healthy heart only to have the child killed by a drunk driver.