Event will help the community address cardiovascular disease risk factors and prevention methods

The numbers are startling.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. This is especially true for people of color. One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. This upcoming Saturday, the Life Church will be teaming up with health professionals to educate the community about identifying the risk factors for heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Recently, we spoke with Dr. Aminah Jones, family practice physician, about the importance of knowing these factors early in life.

“We as a community have a burden of heart disease, and we need to take the time to address why that is the case,” said Dr. Jones. “By having this event, we can educate, mobilize and communicate effective strategies that will not only identify, but lower the chance of high blood pressure and heart disease later on.”

She states that one way in which parents can prevent cardiovascular disease in children is to ensure they are active daily. “As a society, we have made activities less accessible, even more so for children. One way to help them is to make sure they are moving around more often. If we limit them to at least 30 minutes on an electronic device, and at least one hour a day to being outside, or even a physical activity in the house, it will reduce the potential for cardiovascular disease when they get older. Exercise is the best medicine.”

How much of an impact did the global pandemic, and the resulting quarantines, impact the number of cardiovascular cases? “It had a tremendous impact, because we weren’t able to move around as much, and many people were dealing with the stress and anxiety of the unknown. When you have a major life change, as we all did, those risk factors become more present, and we’re still recovering from it.”

Having an event like the community fair is also an opportunity to demonstrate the unity between the church and social programs to help bring awareness. That is something Life Church Senior Pastor Ron Jones had in mind when coming up with the idea for the event. “We need to take care of health, and the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that there is another way to do so,” he said. The inspiration he drew for not only for this event, but for the mission of improving the community’s health as a whole, comes from 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and in health, even as your soul prospers.”

He reflects on how teaching the community about taking care of their health has a personal meaning for him. “My father passed away in the pandemic, so I understand what it was like to lose someone due to a health situation. God has given me the vision to pour back into the community to ensure that we are living healthier lives. As a church, we had a goal of raising $20,000 as a seed offering, and ended up with $60,000. We were able to donate the additional funds into helping with resources, and putting together this event.”

On Saturday, from 10am – 2pm at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge, there will be several ways for people to know more about their health, including:

• Know Your Numbers: health screenings – blood pressure, glucose, Body Mass Index
• Fitness Demonstrations: diverse offering of 15-minute interactive physical exercises
• Healthy Eating: Educational support for maintaining a balanced diet, cooking demonstrations and meal prepared items
• Educational Sessions: 20-minute information sessions (controlling Diabetes, Hypertension, Healthy Nutrition & Wellness)
• Children’s Activities: Age-appropriate educational and physical activities, promoting how to maintain a healthy body, as well as arts & crafts
• Vendor Opportunities: local community resources and referrals to organizations and businesses with the purpose of continuing the education and support provided during the Health Fair