Sacred Heart Hospital Starts to Expose Students to Stroke Awareness at an Early Age

Sacred Heart Hospital Starts to Expose Students to Stroke Awareness at an
Early Age

Kids Learn the Link between Healthy Living and Reducing Health Risks

EAU CLAIRE, Wisc., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten year olds aren't typically at
risk for stroke, but lifestyle habits developed at this age could lead to
stroke risk factors. A program run by Sacred Heart Hospital offers elementary
school-aged children a primer on leading a healthy lifestyle. In conjunction
with parents and the administration at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Elementary
Schools in the Chippewa Valley, staff members at Sacred Heart work with fourth
and fifth graders to teach them about establishing good eating habits and
exercise patterns, risk factors of illnesses such as stroke and what to do in
an emergency.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090601/CL25262)

"The majority of strokes are preventable," said Jeannie Pittenger, CNRN,
Assistant Director of Neurosciences & Pediatrics, and Stroke Program
Coordinator at Sacred Heart Hospital. "Adopting and maintaining healthy
lifestyles reduces the risk for several health problems including stroke."

Pittenger's goal is to teach kids the lifestyle/health link. Right now, she
meets with classes from St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Elementary Schools twice a
year. During those visits Pittenger determines their Body Mass Index (BMI),
reviews risk factors, helps students set goals like learning to make better
choices when ordering out, and when and how to call for help.

Students are also tested on the information Pittenger presents; results help
her understand what is getting through to them. BMI numbers and test scores
are then plotted to graph progress. "Overall, the kids seem to be getting it,"
she said. "Right now, because they're growing, we might see a child with
higher, potentially unhealthy, BMI. The second part of the program is about
education. Each student is exposed to ways to eat healthy, exercise and reduce
risk factors (as appropriate for their age). We also provide materials to
parents. Our goal is to help children understand what healthy living looks
like."

There are plans to expand the program and test and track all grade-levels.
Right now Pittenger hopes to follow this class through graduation.

About Sacred Heart Hospital
Sacred Heart Hospital strives to provide patients the best, most specialized
treatment available by blending advanced technology with the Franciscan
tradition to improve health by treating the whole person - body, mind and
spirit. Its stroke education program is an example of this commitment. As an
affiliate of the Hospital Sisters Health System, the hospital has met patient
needs in Western Wisconsin, since 1889, with the latest medical innovations
and technology. For additional information about Sacred Heart Hospital, visit
www.sacredhearteauclaire.org.

Contacts:
DeAnna Starn
R/P Marketing Public Relations
(419) 241-2221
dstarn@r-p.com

Shannon Portell
Sacred Heart Hospital
715-271-2681
sportell@shec.hshs.org

SOURCE Sacred Heart Hospital

DeAnna Starn, R-P Marketing Public Relations, +1-419-241-2221, dstarn@r-p.com;
or Shannon Portell, Sacred Heart Hospital, +1-715-271-2681,
sportell@shec.hshs.org