APHA Invites YOU to Help with the 1 Billion Steps Challenge

By April 9, the American Public Health Association (APHA) has a goal of taking 1 billion steps, and needs your help.

One of the easiest ways to improve your health is to walk — going for a 5-10 minute walk before breakfast, after dinner or up and down the hall while talking on the phone or during television commercials is a quick and easy way to get more exercise during the day.

Starting on Jan. 9, the APHA encouraged anyone interested to sync their step-counting device, such as a Fitbit or a smart phone, or to enter their steps manually on the National Public Health Week website. The challenge runs until April 9, the end of National Public Health Week. Walk on your own or with a team — just start walking!

Dr. Margaret Huffman, Director of Jefferson County Public Health's Community Health Services, along with some Public Health Nurses, have developed a team for the APHA Billion Steps Challenge. The team has a goal of walking 380 miles. They have also challenged the public health nurses from Wyoming, who have also created a team for the Billion Steps program.

Dr. Huffman is the current president of the Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado (PHNAC).

To learn more about the 1 Billion Steps Challenge, including how to register and get others involved, click here.  

Healthy Jeffco, a network of more than 300 community partners dedicated to furthering our community’s health, also has an Active Living coalition. To learn more or get involved, visit http://www.healthyjeffco.com/activeliving.

Support programs that encourage physical activity such as Safe Routes to School

Spring is officially here and Jefferson County Public Health encourages everyone to get outside and get active. Physical activity can help improve your health. Check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines and the national “Let’s Move” campaign.

Everyone can benefit from physical activity. Unfortunately, most children in Jefferson County are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity per day. Our 2013 community health assessment data showed that in 2009, only 39% of children ages 5-14 met the physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes of activity a day.

Safe Routes to School Programs SRTS programs provide educational opportunities and infrastructure support for people to increase their physical activity by making it easier and safer to walk and bike in their community. All kids deserve safe routes to school in their community. HB14-1301, is a measure currently in the state legislature to increase walking and bicycling in Colorado through Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs. The Colorado SRTS program is at risk without passage of House Bill 1301. Consider emailing your elected official to educate them on the importance of creating environments around schools that allow students and parents to walk, bike or scoot safely to school. Click here to sign up for updates and for more information on the bill.

Get ACTIVE . . . Regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure and improve health

Products that claim to lower blood pressure and cholesterol may or may not work, but regular physical activity has been proven to prevent and control these conditions. Just 30 minutes a day is enough to make your heart more efficient at pumping blood, and when your heart is better at pumping blood your blood pressure will decrease. Moderate to vigorous physical activity also lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, and raises HDL (good) cholesterol. If 30 minutes at a time is too much, you can break it up and do 10 minutes at a time throughout your day.  Kids need at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day to stay healthy, and one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to meet this goal is by playing outside.  Jefferson County partners with Jeffco Open Space to encourage physical activity.

Check out the Open Space Parks and trails web page. 
View the national Let’s Move web site.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Rising Among Women

Globally, people are spending more and more time engaged in sedentary behaviors. Computers, television, and other electronic devices are encouraging physical inactivity as well as sedentary jobs and modes of transportation.

In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women who  were physically inactive and spent 10 hours or more sitting each day were at 63% greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared with women who were regularly active.
It is also important to note that women who met physical activity guidelines but sat for long periods each day had an increased CVD risk. Due to the results of this study, the Jefferson County Public Health Department challenges you to get up and move around throughout your day!

Here is an idea to help take care of your heart and your loved ones hearts!  Participate in the Million Hearts Initiative, an effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years.