Cardiovascular Health Main Page - Tooele County Health Department

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The Tooele County Health Department's Cardiovascular goals focus on increasing the cardiovascular health of all Tooele County Residents. Being physically fit, exercise, and eating more fruits and vegetables are encouraged through our Gold Medal School and Five - A - Day programs. Tooele County's Gold Medal Mile encourages all residents and guests to be more physically active.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, claims almost 950,000 lives in the United States each year. In Utah, cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death since 1910. Each year, over 3,900 Utahans die from cardiovascular disease - that's one Utahan every two hours! Cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks still cause more deaths in both men and women in the United States than the next six causes of death combined.

There is no doubt the obesity epidemic is scary. And it's even scarier for children. If childhood obesity rates continue to climb, the upcoming generation will be the first generation since the beginning of time to have a shorter life span than their parents.

It's time for a wake up call and what better place to start than in our own communities. Unfortunately, Tooele is no exception to these harrowing statistics. In Tooele County, cardiovascular disease accounts for 30% of all deaths. Out of the 3,900 deaths from cardiovascular disease in Utah, 58 are Tooele County residents.

As a reminder:

Stop smoking.

Check your blood pressure often. Take measures to ensure its less than 140/90 mm Hg.

Learn what your cholesterol numbers are and understand what the numbers mean.

Exercise regularly; 3 to 4 times per week for 30-60 minutes.

Learn the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and which ones to choose.

Learn how many calories you need each day to achieve and maintain a desirable weight.

Eat well! Ensure that no more than 30 percent of your calories are fats, and that only 7-10 percent of those calories are saturated fats. Dietary cholesterol per day should be less than 300 mg. Learn what your cholesterol risks are.

Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

And finally, know the warning signs of cardiac arrest and heart attack, and call 9-1-1 immediately, and give CPR. Being prepared for cardiac emergencies is vital in saving lives since survival is directly linked to the amount of time between the onset of sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and defibrillation. Chances of survival are reduced by 7-10% with every minute that passes.

Now that we are all reminded of the devastating effects and burden of cardiovascular disease in Tooele County, protect yourself and help others in the fight against this disease. Be aware of your risk factors and make the changes you need to improve the quality and quantity of the years ahead.

Tooele County Health Department Community Health
151 North Main Street • Tooele, Utah • 84074
(435) 277-2300 • (435) 277-2304 Fax
"Protecting Your Future"