Chinook chosen for heart disease prevention research study

Press release

Blaine County Extension has been selected as one of 12 rural locations in Montana to participate in a collaborative research study, Strong Hearts for Montana, funded by the National Institutes of Health.

In this study, researchers will examine the effects of two programs on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in rural communities. The leading cause of death among adult men and women in Montana is heart disease. County Extension representatives said, because of that, they are very pleased to be able to be part of this important research.

Chinook will be randomly selected to offer one of two following programs:

Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities: This program will meet twice per week on for one hour each time, for approximately six months plus monthly community meetings and events.

Participants will learn and practice good nutrition and physical activity for improved individual, family, and community health.

Strong Hearts, Healthy Women: This program will meet once per month for six months on for an hour each time. Participants will learn and discuss techniques and strategies to improve personal health.

The extension office is are seeking women aged 40 and older who would like to be more active and achieve a healthier weight. Participants can earn up to $250 for completing the study and will be given free blood draws, bone density scans and nutrition and physical activity assessments before and after the study.

The office is seeking participants to sign up. To see if they qualify or to learn more about the study, people can call Kendra Seilstad or Denie Carey at Blaine County Extension, 357-3200

Strong Hearts for Montana is a research study developed by Cornell University funded specifically by National Institute of Health’s Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Cornell has partnered with Montana State University and county Extension educators to deliver one of the two programs at no cost to the community.

If the study shows beneficial results, not only will the program be available to the wider community, it will be made available to other rural communities around the nation.

“Montana and your community are helping lead the way in what could prove to be a very exciting breakthrough in cardiovascular disease prevention in rural areas throughout the country,” the announcement of the program says.