Health4Life at Valley View

Join me in helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes by making a donation on Colorado Gives Day (Tuesday, December 4). Prevention works!

In Garfield County alone, nearly 3,000 adults are diagnosed with heart disease. This diagnosis can lead to heart attack, stroke or even death. But this can be avoided - according to the Center for Disease Control; lifestyle changes could prevent 50 percent of deaths from stroke and 80 percent of deaths from coronary artery disease.

Health4Life is one of the only programs in the country that is focused on heart disease and diabetes prevention. It is open to individuals at a high risk for having a heart attack, prior to the event. This program at Valley View is currently funded through the generous support of our community.

Health4Life is more than a workout class. Participants must be referred in by a physician. Unlike a typical gym or personal trainer, the Health4Life staff is clinically trained and familiar with cardiac events, diabetes, medications and surgical procedures. This allows for a safe environment for individuals with a variety of cardiac issues to work towards better health.

Through Health4Life's pilot period, nearly 200 individuals changed their lives through exercise and diet, and lowered their risk of a heart attack or stroke. The results were extraordinary. On average, graduates of the 12-week program of exercise and diet have shown significant improvements, such as improved quality of life, decreased systolic blood pressure and decreased waist circumference.

These results have proven so promising that we believe Medicare and some private insurance companies will begin to cover these benefits in the near future. However, until then, our patients and staff are relying on charitable investments to continue to grow this program to change and save lives.

Please consider continuing your support and help us to raise $70,000 by December 31 to not only make these services available for those who need it now, but build our ability to serve the growing demand in the future.