Heart & Stroke Awareness 

February is Heart Month, a time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health, and what we can to reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Heart disease affects approximately 2.4 million Canadian adults and many risk factors can be reduced through developing healthy lifestyle habits including: 

1. Eat a healthy diet: Small changes can make a big impact. Eating lots of veggies, cooking at home, limiting processed foods are all habits that protect your health.  

If you are unsure where to start and would like a helping hand, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has put together a heart healthy meal planning toolkit you can download to get started! 

2. Physical activity: Did you know that regular physical activity, even short durations (as little as 10 minutes!) have also been shown to increase memory and cognitive function, boost mood, increase energy and help regulate blood sugar?  

Reminder that the free Pulse @ PACE pilot program is running until March 3, 2023. More information, including registration, can be found here.

Take a break from your routine and join The McMaster Alumni Community every Tuesday at 12:15 pm for a 30 minute yoga class on Zoom with Helena McKinley of In Fine Feather Yoga. 

3. Reduce stress: Everyone feels stress differently and sometimes, it is easier to recognize stress in others than in yourself. Stress can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, and lead to depression and anxiety. That’s why it is important to recognize and manage it.  

The Heart & Stroke Foundation have created a stress test to help recognize the events in your life that trigger your stress symptoms as well as tips to help you manage your stress, including setting SMART goals. 

Additional Resources: 

Identify your heart health risks and how to communicate with your healthcare provider. 

Signs of a heart attack and stroke 

Heart Attack Emergency Checklist 

Videos 

Manage Burnout at Work with These Simple Strategies – 8 min 46s 

Manage Your Response to Stress – 3min 8s 

How to Recognize the Signs of Employee Burnout – 3min 34s 

What is Burnout? 4min  

Courses 

How to Beat Burnout, Exhaustion, and Stress – 30m 57s 

Creating a Positive and Healthy Work Environment – 57 min 28s 

Well-Being in the Workplace – 23 min 32s 

Managing Career Burnout – 44 min 16s 

Managing Your Emotional Response to Workplace Stress 

Reduce Stress and Anxiety by Managing Your Nervous System – 36m 12s 

Learning Path 

Supporting Your Well-Being during Times of Change and Uncertainty – 16 hours 19 min 

Smoking Cessation Resources for: Staff and Faculty

Homewood Health Program

The Homewood Health Plan Smart Smoking Cessation Program empowers you with the information and support you need to help you quit smoking and remain smoke-free. A personal coach will help make it simple to start and guide you step-by-step. The program addresses the psychological and physical dependence and creates a foundation for successful behavior change.

Sun Life Health Benefits

McMaster University has added coverage until June 30, 2023 for employees eligible to participate in the Sun Life Extended Health Benefits. Extension of this date will be reviewed at the time of expiry.

Coverage includes products to help a person quit tobacco that legally require a prescription, up to a lifetime maximum of $500 for each person.

Smoking Cessation Resources for: Community

Smoker’s Helpline

For news, tips and to be in touch with those who have quit, are trying to quit, or are supporting others, connect on Twitter at: twitter.com/SmokersHelpline.

Hamilton Public Health

Hamilton Public Health Services – Telephone Service – Tobacco Hotline
110 King St. West, 4^th floor, Hamilton, ON L8P 4S6
905-540-5566

The Lung Association

Before you set your quit date you need to prepare. Take time to think about when, where, and why you smoke. If you understand your smoking habits and triggers, you’ll have a better chance at success.

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society quit line is available to help you. It’s a free, confidential service for smokers. Find out more information or register online for the self-directed quit program.

STOP Program

The STOP Program is a province-wide initiative that delivers smoking cessation treatment and counseling support to eligible Ontario smokers who wish to quit smoking. The STOP Program has provided free smoking cessation medication and counselling support to over 100,000 Ontarians who wanted to quit smoking.

Nicotine Dependence Clinic

The Nicotine Dependence Clinic offers several specialized outpatient treatments for anyone who wants to quit or reduce their tobacco use. We offer assessment, medical consultation, group counselling and medications to quit/reduce smoking. Our clinic provides service to clients with concurrent substance use and/or mental illness as well other medical conditions.

Good Shepherd Breathe Easier

For individuals with a MH diagnosis, The Good Shepherd offers up to 26 weeks of free NRT and weekly group sessions.

Telephone: 905-528-3655

Tobacco Addiction Recovery Program (TARP)

For individuals with a MH diagnosis offers up to 26 weeks of free NRT and weekly group sessions. Telephone: 905-522-1155 ext. 36407

Aboriginal Health Centre

For persons who identify as having an indigenous background, the De Dwa Da Dehs Nye >s offers up to 26 weeks of free NRT and group support.

Centre de santé communautaire

For individuals seeking service in French, the centre de santé communautaire offers up to 26 weeks of free NRT and counselling.

Hamilton Public Health

For persons who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone interested in education sessions and free nicotine patches, Hamilton Public Health Services offers a 5-week course of nicotine patches.

Telephone: 905-540-5566 ext.1

Your Local Pharmacist

For individuals on Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) can receive 12 weeks of ‘Champix’ or ’Zyban’ at no cost each year.