February is Heart Health Month - a time for us to consider cardiovascular health in Canada. Currently, more than 1.4 million Canadians are living with heart disease and approximately 342,000 Canadians are living with the effects of a stroke.
Our Government is taking action to find more effective treatments and, ultimately, cures for cardiovascular diseases. Since 2006, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), our Government has invested over $300 million in cardiovascular and stroke research.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease. Healthy habits like eating well, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco are well within our control to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The Public Health Agency of Canada invests approximately $20 million every year in innovative initiatives and partnerships that focus on promoting healthy living. By encouraging coordinated action among communities, academia, the private sector and the charitable and not-for-profit sector we can better leverage resources and have a real impact on the lives of Canadians.
Most recently, our Government has launched cross-country consultations with Canadians on how to help families better understand and use food labels to make healthier food choices.
In addition to these projects, we are working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to install Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and provide related training for staff in recreational arenas across the country, since early access to CPR and defibrillation could save the lives of many Canadians who suffer sudden cardiac arrest.
Finally, through the Public Health Agency of Canada we are providing important information to healthcare providers and the public on the risk factors for the prevention of strokes.
I encourage all Canadians to take further steps to live a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating, physical activity and smoke-free living.
For more information about heart disease and heart health, please visit the Government's Healthy Canadians site, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
