鈥淚鈥檓 not reinventing the wheel; I鈥檓 just making the ones we have turn,鈥� says Dr. Nicholas Giacomantonio.
And that鈥檚 exactly what the Dal cardiologist does, turning wheels across the province as he encourages Nova Scotians to hop on bicycles and learn about heart health during his annual .
This year, he led the sixth HeartLand Tour, cycling almost 1,000 kilometres in nine days to raise awareness about the increase of cardiac health risk factors. Heart disease presents a growing financial burden to health care.
鈥淓specially in Nova Scotia, where there are higher risk factors like high blood pressure and obesity,鈥� says Dr. Giacomantonio, who is an associate professor of medicine at Dal.
With these risk factors occurring at a younger age with each generation, Dr. Giacomantonio decided to start the HeartLand campaign in 2007 as a way to encourage lifestyle change.
Unity in community
What sets the HeartLand Tour apart from other health-related organizations is that it's not a fundraiser. All costs are offset by business sponsorship and donations, and the tour鈥檚 mission is to educate and engage the public.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 ask people for money; I ask people to change,鈥� says Dr. Giacomantonio.
Due to the lack of health programming in rural communities, Dr. Giacomantonio takes his message on the road. He and his visit eight communities on every tour, involving family doctors, community leaders, mentors and teachers from each region.
Dr. Giacomantonio at the HeartLand tour's final stop. (Katherine Wooler photo)
鈥淲e鈥檙e celebrating community on a provincial level,鈥� he says.
This year, community interest gave cause for celebration: over 2,000 people participated in the tour province-wide.
Fourth-year medical student and HeartLand cyclist Emily Wilson says that Dr. Giacomantonio鈥檚 passion for community well-being is apparent in his class lectures.
鈥淗e talks about how important it is for physicians to be role models and advocate healthy living.鈥�
Learning the factors
The 2012 HeartLand Tour finished on July 15, making Halifax the final stop and offering cycling excursions to and from Peggy鈥檚 Cove, trail rides and a family ride throughout the city.
On the Halifax Commons, amongst the colourful tents, free yoga lessons and first-ever HeartLand nutrition booth, was a special red tent where third-year 黑料吃瓜网med student Aniket Hooda conducted (AF) research.
Cycling participants as well as the general public were able to receive free heart risk assessments by completing questionnaires and undergoing two simple medical tests.
鈥淎F is an increasingly common rhythm disturbance of the heart, and greatly increases an individual鈥檚 risk of stroke,鈥� explains Mr. Hooda.
Dr. Giacomantonio and Mr. Hooda will be returning to the eight communities September and October, setting up shop in pharmacies and local businesses in order to gather more data from the general population. They will compile statistics on the prevalence of AF risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, heart murmurs and heart failure.
Students of advocacy
Besides offering financial support for the HeartLand tour, 黑料吃瓜网also supplied prizes for the event, and, most importantly, members of the Dal community supplied their time and leg power.
Medical and graduate students rode on the core team, with more joining in for the Halifax rides. Dr. Carman Giacomantonio of the Department of Surgery cycled on the core team, while Dean Tom Marrie attended events in three communities, and Preston Smith, associate dean of regional and rural medical education, spoke to the Halifax crowd.
Ashley Ward, a graduate student in Dalhousie鈥檚 public administration program, is the executive director for this year鈥檚 HeartLand Tour. She has been cycling for the past five years, but admits that she still finds herself at the back of the pack sometimes.
Executive Director Ashley Ward with Jake Blecklaws, Michael Gniewek and Karen Filbee-Dexter. (Katherine Wooler photo)
Ms. Ward has found many of the core team members inspirational, saying that they always made sure that she crossed the finish line.
鈥淭he core team is a diverse team, not an elite one,鈥� explains Dr. Giacomantonio.
All in the family
Dr. Giacomantonio has developed a new program to further promote disease prevention at the family level. Starting this year, families will have until October 30 to apply for one-on-one consultation with exercise and nutrition specialists.
Doctors and community leaders will help select one family from each community on the HeartLand tour, notifying the winner in December. Parents and children will be able to set physical activity and nutrition goals and then celebrate their achievements in July 2013, with successful families receiving a reward of five new bikes.
鈥淢y favourite reactions,鈥� says Dr. Giacomantonio, 鈥渁re smiles, belief that together we can make a difference and people saying that they鈥檙e looking forward to next year.鈥�