On Valentine’s Day a test for the heart

Grade 9 students tested to avoid future risk

High cholesterol may not seem like an issue that affects teenagers, but health officials say identifying early signs of the problem can make all the difference later in life.

More than 100 Grade 9 students at Stamford Collegiate spent part of their Valentine’s Day being tested as part of the Healthy Heart Schools’ Program. It’s an initiative through Heart Niagara to identify high-risk students and encourage them to change their ways.

“This is the time you can make changes that can immediately have an effect long term,” said Karen Stearne, the executive director at Heart Niagara. “Kids aren’t making the same choices they were 20 years ago. It’s easier to get unhealthier food and be less active.”

Though Stamford ran its second-semester testing session on Valentine’s Day as a way to bring more attention to the program, the Healthy Heart Schools’ initiative includes all 32 second- ary schools across the Niagara Region.

Each year, more than 4,500 Grade 9 students are tested and checked for things such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, smoking and family history. Anyone whose results are higher than normal are then referred to a family doctor.

Stearne said typically around 25% of the students tested will be identified as high risk.

“We send a letter home saying now is the time they need to be making serious decisions because they’ve reached all of those markers for the early predictors of being a future risk,” she said.

MIKE DIBATTISTA Niagara Falls Review Stamford Collegiate Grade 9 student Rowan Gilmour was one of more than 100 students tested Tuesday as part of the Healthy Heart Schools' Program. Heart Niagara health professionals were on hand at the Niagara Falls school on Tuesday for the assessments.