How can the “unhealthiest health region” bounce back?

Diana Ng, cancer control coordinator at the Canadian Cancer Society, said as a province, Saskatchewan has a long ways to go towards improving health.

The good news is many factors that increase cancer risk are preventable.

To easily reduce cancer risk by a third, the Cancer Society recommends following Canada’s Food Guide, maintaining a healthy body weight and exercising regularly.

On top of that, Ng said government-introduced legislation can prevent up to half of all cancers.

“Saskatchewan is actually one of the highest in youth smoke rates, and that’s not one of the stats we want to be proud of,” said Ng.

Specifically in Prince Albert, 10 per cent of people are currently suffering from asthma.

Recently, the Cancer Society has rolled out a campaign against candy-flavoured tobacco products.

“Tobacco companies now are marketing to young kids, coming up with candy flavours and putting that on to tobacco products,” said Ng.

Ng encourages residents to send the provincial government a message by signing an online petition to ban such products.

“I’d encourage everybody to raise their voice loud and clear and visit that website,” she said.

Besides more rules and regulations, Ng said everyday choices also play a huge role in personal health.

With almost 25 per cent of Prince Albert residents smoking on a daily basis, this is definitely a problem to be addressed.

“Being a non-smoker is one of the best ways you can reduce your risk of lung cancer as well as some other diseases,” which she said also includes heart disease.

She recommends utilizing the Smokers Help Line to anyone interested in quitting.

“We want people to reduce their risk as much as possible to live a long healthy life,” said Ng.

As a way of driving home her point, Ng was also demonstrating what they call the “motivator meter.”

One visitor she met was 10 years smoke free. On the meter, this meant their risk of dying from lung cancer was half the risk a continuing smoker would face. In those years, they have also likely saved about $50,000.

Healthy eating on the cheap

Currently, over 40 per cent of people living in the PAPHR are considered overweight.

Charity Banman, Good Food Box coordinator for Prince Albert, said healthy eating can be the first simple step towards a healthier life.

“If people are consuming a lot of sugar and high fat foods that definitely decreases their health and increases risks of health issues, heart disease, cancer, things like that,” said Banman.

Their organization is aiming to push a healthy-eating mentality for local families. Based out of Smart Families Food Co-op, they charge only $10 for a lifetime membership.

They prepare boxes for each family on their list every month. They offer a small box, which includes three kinds of fruit and four kinds of vegetables, for $10.The large box, with five to six different veggies, three to four kinds of fruits and one to three staple items—like pasta, rice and soup, is $20.

“We buy in bulk, pack it all up with volunteers and then deliver it to various depots around the city so people can pay and pick up within their area and have access to that healthy food at a lower cost,” explained Banman.

The group is proving the misconception “bad food is cheaper” wrong.

To sign up for the program, people can visit the organization’s Facebook page or email Banman at: smartfamiliesfoodcoop@yahoo.ca.

Diabetes numbers not set in stone

Kelly Buhler, public programs and services coordinator with the Canadian Diabetes Association, said there are many ways to both prevent and manage the disease.

She recommends 150 minutes of physical activity a week, including weight bearing exercise instead of sticking solely to cardio, along with a diet high in protein and fibre.

“There is a connection between type II diabetes and unhealthy lifestyles,” said Buhler, who went on to say genetics and cultural background also play into it. “First Nations people are at a greater risk for developing Diabetes as well.”

The 10 and 3’s listed the Prince Albert Health Parkland Region with a 9 per cent diabetes rate. According to Buhler, there are 93,000 diagnosed cases of diabetes in Saskatchewan as a whole, with another 175,000 people with prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes.

“Those are pretty staggering numbers in the province alone,” said Buhler.

Health fairs like the one on Wednesday are one good step towards turning those numbers around though, she continued.

“If we’re getting out in the community and educating people, it goes a long way,” said Buhler. “Knowledge is power.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

How can the “unhealthiest health region” bounce back?

What's Trending