Orangeville Launches Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program plus Action Plan (CHAP+AP)

Orangeville, ON, August 27, 2009 – Headwaters Health Care Centre will launch the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program plus Action Plan (CHAP+AP) in Orangeville, starting mid September 2009.

CHAP+AP is a community-based program that brings together local family physicians, pharmacies, public health representatives, volunteers, and community organizations to work as partners to promote and actively participate in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke. 

CHAP+AP is available, free of charge, to all seniors in the community. The Program offers opportunities for enhanced multiple blood pressure monitoring, as well as health promotion activities and information about modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Starting September 14, 2009, community residents can attend sessions for blood pressure monitoring and heart and stroke risk assessment.  The sessions will be held at Zellers Pharmacy, Rolling Hills Pharmacy and The Orangeville and District Seniors Centre. Residents are encouraged to attend more than one session.  

Trained volunteers will help participants to measure their blood pressure using a portable, automated device, the BpTRU.  A copy of the blood pressure readings and heart and stroke risk profiles will be given to participants to take home, and will also be sent to their family physician and pharmacist, with the participants’ permission.  Educational materials and information about community resources to address modifiable risk factors will also be available to interested participants. 

Session schedules will also be posted in the community and printed in the newspapers.  Watch for more information.

High blood pressure affects about 22% of Canadian adults and is associated with a range of serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease. 

The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHA+AP) is an initiative of the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University; the Élisabeth Bruyère Research Institute, a University of Ottawa and SCO Health Service Partnership; and the Team for Individualizing Pharmacotherapy in Primary Care for Seniors.

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For more information, please contact:
Cheryl Russell, Local CHAP+AP Coordinator
519-940-2630