Ind. first lady visits campus
By Adrian Kendrick
Feature Editor
The University of Indianapolis welcomed Indiana first lady Cheri Daniels on Feb. 6 in Ransburg Auditorium to raise awareness of heart disease with college students through a program called Heart to Heart.
According to Daniels, the four goals of Heart to Heart are to increase awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, to empower women to reach out and support others in living a heart healthy lifestyle, to educate women on how to live a healthy lifestyle, and to provide a collection of resources for more information and support for women.
“We started the Heart to Heart program specifically to visit college campuses because we felt that a lot of college students are not eating right. They are not exercising, and they are smoking,” Daniels said. “They’re at a great risk, yet they’re at a very young age when they can make changes.”
Daniels became interested in heart disease when her mother passed away from the disease.
“At that time I did not know it was the No. 1 killer of women,” Daniels said. “When I became the first lady, I thought this would be a good issue to bring to light across the state.”
According to UIndy nurse practitioner Vicky Swank, it is important that the governor and his wife both address health care issues.
“When you have the head of your state and his wife out there promoting good, healthy habits, I think that’s wonderful,” Swank said.
Throughout her speech, Daniels stressed non-modifiable factors (things that cannot be changed) such as gender, age and family history, as well as modifiable factors (things that can be changed) such as physical activity, eating habits, weight, smoking habits and getting regular check-ups.
“Our unhealthy lifestyles [are the reason] why we’re seeing so much heart disease,” Swank said.
Cindy Adams, director of the Healthy Heart Center at the Indiana Heart Hospital, also spoke at the event, focusing on how to live a heart healthy life.
At the beginning of her speech she showed the audience a survey of what women perceived to be their most significant heath risk. The number one concern was breast cancer.
Adams then explained that women’s real concern should be heart disease. She showed statistics of how many women die from the disease every year.
“We are trying to spread the word feverously, so people can understand what the real facts are,” said Adams during her speech.
According to Adams, 10 to 15 years ago heart disease was a man’s disease, and women had nothing to worry about.
“We [women] think we are not at risk. We are more likely to have a poor outcome [from a heart attack], to die within the first year of our heart attack and to be disabled,” she said. “It’s a lot worse for us [women].”
According to Swank more young people have heart disease today than in the past.
“It’s not an old person’s disease any longer,” Swank said. “The changes that you make right now will make a huge impact on not getting heart disease.”
Professor of nursing Dr. Connie Wilson addressed the audience about heart health at UIndy and the resources the campus offers.
Wilson discussed Polk Food Services and the variety of ways it addresses heart healthy diets, such as serving daily low-sodium entrees, suggested portion sizes and no trans fats or unhealthy oils in the food.
Wilson also talked about what the Student Health Center and Koval Nursing Center do to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Blood pressure screenings, on- and off-campus health fairs, yoga sessions and other activities are part of the KNC program. She also explained what the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center has to offer to students and the variety of sports and facilities available.
According to Swank, she would like to see students change their exercise habits.
“Leave 15 minutes early for class and walk around campus. Just 15 minutes every day would help,” Swank said. “Research has shown if you can exercise 15 minutes twice a day or 10 minutes three times a day, you are still going to get the benefit [from 30 minutes exercise every day].”
Swank also said students should form a buddy system and walk together. This gives students a chance to chat and decompress while exercising.
“Certainly if college students don’t pay attention to diet and exercise, they will be seeing heart disease down the road,” Wilson said.
Wilson concluded her speech with a quote by V.L. Allineare.
“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no ‘I’ll start tomorrow. Tomorrow is disease.’”
