From Spotlight on Health - Winter 2010

Heart disease, particularly cardiac arrest and heart attack, is the leading cause of on-duty deaths among firefighters.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure -- the silent killer -- is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke. However, 74 percent of firefighters with high blood pressure do not adequately control it.

The Central Minnesota Heart Center at St. Cloud Hospital partnered with the International Association of Fire Fighters and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation to introduce the Stop, Drop and Control High Blood Pressure Program to St. Cloud firefighters.

“These heroes put their lives on the line to help others, so we need to help them be healthier,” said Bob Johnson, executive director of the Central Minnesota Heart Center at St. Cloud Hospital. This past summer, Heart Center staff assessed firefighters at all five St. Cloud fire stations for high blood pressure. They educated them on the importance of regular blood pressure checks, effective management of blood pressure and adopting healthier lifestyles to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. Staff also reviewed with firefighters how to take an accurate blood pressure reading. Future sessions will focus on nutrition, exercise, stress management and other heart-healthy information.

Kneeling is Captain Mitch Peterson. Standing from left: Adam Morris, Battalion Chief Jerry Raymond, Kevin Fleming and Randy Giles.

Jerry Raymond, battalion chief for the St. Cloud Fire Department, has high blood pressure. “For years I had been putting off going to my physician,” he said. “After participating in this program and listening to the risks of high blood pressure, I finally decided I needed to start being proactive about regulating it.” Raymond went to his physician and now is on blood pressure medication.

Learn more about the Central Minnesota Heart Center