Answer |
Health ministry promotes whole-person health and healing — body, mind and spirit. It includes a wide variety of faith community services, from coordinating blood pressure checks and other health screenings to helping people find health resources to visiting the sick and homebound. A health ministry can be organized in whatever way best meets the health and wellness needs of the congregation and neighborhood it serves.
Health ministries exist for the purpose of preventive health care and wellness. While emphasis may be on the poor, elderly, and children, health ministries are meant to serve the needs of the whole congregation and greater community. Health ministries are not created to replace traditional health systems methods that offer sickness care and cure. It's goal is to work in concert, to co-exist in such a way that promotes optimal whole person health, healing, and general well-being Team let's take this call and work together at improving health outcomes and reducing health care spending .
Health ministries exist for the purpose of preventive health care and wellness. While emphasis may be on the poor, elderly, and children, health ministries are meant to serve the needs of the whole congregation and greater community. Health ministries are not created to replace traditional health systems methods that offer sickness care and cure. It's goal is to work in concert, to co-exist in such a way that promotes optimal whole person health, healing, and general well-being Team let's take this call and work together at improving health outcomes and reducing health care spending .
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HEALS, or Healthy Eating And Living Spiritually, is a faith-based community program that aims to control and prevent hypertension among African Americans. The program collaborated with the pastors and other leaders of black churches, along with local health officials, to help teach parishioners about the tremendous impact a nutritious diet and lifestyle modifications can have on controlling high blood pressure.
The Facts - “Compared with whites, blacks develop HBP earlier in life, and their average BP is much higher. High blood pressure, along with obesity and diabetes, are the most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. ▪ Adopting more physical activity and healthier eating habits, like those suggested in the DASH diet, can help reduce blood pressure. DASH stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension” and emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy items, while encouraging a reduction in sodium and saturated fats.
What the program did ▪ The HEALS program was centered in two African American churches in Jacksonville, Florida. It worked with church pastors to incorporate related health themes into their Sunday sermons. The program also trained other church leaders to become “health advisors” who helped provide guidance and support to participants, and measured their progress in curbing hypertension or preventing it altogether. ▪ HEALS began with weekly educational sessions during the first three months, followed by six months of less-frequent maintenance sessions.
The program: ▪ Adopted a modified DASH diet to incorporate the ingredients often used to make soul food and other traditionally southern dishes popular among African Americans. ▪ Provided cooking demonstrations at HEALS sessions that showed alternative methods for making favorite foods but with lower saturated fat and sodium levels. ▪ Encouraged fewer trips to fast-food restaurants, while educating participants about how to make wiser, more nutritious choices when they do eat out. ▪ Partnered with the local YMCA, which came to the churches every week to provide one-hour physical activity sessions
What the program Accomplished ▪ Participants significantly reduced their blood pressure by the end of the first three months: Systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 12 mm HG and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.5mm HG. ▪ The program boasted extraordinarily high retention rates: 92 percent of the participants remained after three months, 73 percent were left at the end of the ninth and final month. ▪ HEALS partnered with the local health department to provide nutritionists who helped tailor the DASH diet to accommodate the tastes of the African American community. ▪ The health department also worked with local farmers to bring fresh produce trucks to the churches, which were located in “food deserts,” or areas that lack reasonable access to grocery stores. Every Sunday, the mobile farmer’s markets sold affordable fruits and vegetables to the entire congregation, not just HEALS program
What was Learned from the program - Getting the commitment of trusted voices is critical: Church pastors played a crucial role by endorsing HEALS and encouraging people to get involved and stay motivated to stick with the program. They mentioned the program during their weekly sermons and selected scriptures that made references to health and fitness. They also led prayers for participants to make healthy behavioral choices, and used church newsletters, bulletins and other resources to highlight the program and its benefits.
The Facts - “Compared with whites, blacks develop HBP earlier in life, and their average BP is much higher. High blood pressure, along with obesity and diabetes, are the most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. ▪ Adopting more physical activity and healthier eating habits, like those suggested in the DASH diet, can help reduce blood pressure. DASH stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension” and emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy items, while encouraging a reduction in sodium and saturated fats.
What the program did ▪ The HEALS program was centered in two African American churches in Jacksonville, Florida. It worked with church pastors to incorporate related health themes into their Sunday sermons. The program also trained other church leaders to become “health advisors” who helped provide guidance and support to participants, and measured their progress in curbing hypertension or preventing it altogether. ▪ HEALS began with weekly educational sessions during the first three months, followed by six months of less-frequent maintenance sessions.
The program: ▪ Adopted a modified DASH diet to incorporate the ingredients often used to make soul food and other traditionally southern dishes popular among African Americans. ▪ Provided cooking demonstrations at HEALS sessions that showed alternative methods for making favorite foods but with lower saturated fat and sodium levels. ▪ Encouraged fewer trips to fast-food restaurants, while educating participants about how to make wiser, more nutritious choices when they do eat out. ▪ Partnered with the local YMCA, which came to the churches every week to provide one-hour physical activity sessions
What the program Accomplished ▪ Participants significantly reduced their blood pressure by the end of the first three months: Systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 12 mm HG and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.5mm HG. ▪ The program boasted extraordinarily high retention rates: 92 percent of the participants remained after three months, 73 percent were left at the end of the ninth and final month. ▪ HEALS partnered with the local health department to provide nutritionists who helped tailor the DASH diet to accommodate the tastes of the African American community. ▪ The health department also worked with local farmers to bring fresh produce trucks to the churches, which were located in “food deserts,” or areas that lack reasonable access to grocery stores. Every Sunday, the mobile farmer’s markets sold affordable fruits and vegetables to the entire congregation, not just HEALS program
What was Learned from the program - Getting the commitment of trusted voices is critical: Church pastors played a crucial role by endorsing HEALS and encouraging people to get involved and stay motivated to stick with the program. They mentioned the program during their weekly sermons and selected scriptures that made references to health and fitness. They also led prayers for participants to make healthy behavioral choices, and used church newsletters, bulletins and other resources to highlight the program and its benefits.
Answer |
Health promotion programs aim to engage and empower individuals and communities to choose healthy behaviors, and make changes that reduce the risk of developing chronic disease and other morbidities.
Disease prevention differs from health promotion because it focuses on specific efforts aimed at reducing the development and severity of chronic diseases and other morbidities.
Wellness is related to health promotion and disease prevention. Wellness is described as the attitudes and active decisions made by an individual that contribute to positive health behaviors and outcomes.
Health promotion and disease prevention programs often address social determinants of health which influence modifiable risk behaviors. Social determinants of health are the economic, social, cultural, and political conditions in which people are born, grow, and live that affect health status. Modifiable risk behaviors include, for example, tobacco use, poor eating habits, and lack of physical activity, which contribute to the development of chronic disease.
Typical strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness programs include:
Disease prevention differs from health promotion because it focuses on specific efforts aimed at reducing the development and severity of chronic diseases and other morbidities.
Wellness is related to health promotion and disease prevention. Wellness is described as the attitudes and active decisions made by an individual that contribute to positive health behaviors and outcomes.
Health promotion and disease prevention programs often address social determinants of health which influence modifiable risk behaviors. Social determinants of health are the economic, social, cultural, and political conditions in which people are born, grow, and live that affect health status. Modifiable risk behaviors include, for example, tobacco use, poor eating habits, and lack of physical activity, which contribute to the development of chronic disease.
Typical strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness programs include:
- Communication: Raising awareness about healthy behaviors for the church and general public. Examples of communication strategies include public service announcements, health fairs, mass media campaigns, and newsletters.
- Education: Empowering behavior change and actions through increased knowledge. Examples of health education strategies include courses, trainings, and support groups.
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The rate of high blood pressure among Black people in the United States is among the highest in the world.
About 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Black people also have higher rates of more severe high blood pressure than other ethnic groups and it develops earlier in life.
Historical and systemic factors play a major role in these numbers. These factors include adverse social determinants of health, the conditions in which a person is born and lives. The factors include lack of access to health care and healthy foods and other issues.
There is a lower rate of taking blood pressure medications among Black people, partly due to lack of access to those medications and a distrust of the health care community based on historical discrimination.
Some medications also may be less effective in controlling high blood pressure in some Black people. They may need two or more medications to achieve their blood pressure goal.
Causes and effects of high blood pressure Black people face higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Higher rates of these conditions increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to other conditions and even death. It is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
Overcoming the challenges of blood pressure management A healthy weight, diet and physical activity can help to lower blood pressure. However many people may struggle with these issues if they are living in an under-resourced community,
About 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Black people also have higher rates of more severe high blood pressure than other ethnic groups and it develops earlier in life.
Historical and systemic factors play a major role in these numbers. These factors include adverse social determinants of health, the conditions in which a person is born and lives. The factors include lack of access to health care and healthy foods and other issues.
There is a lower rate of taking blood pressure medications among Black people, partly due to lack of access to those medications and a distrust of the health care community based on historical discrimination.
Some medications also may be less effective in controlling high blood pressure in some Black people. They may need two or more medications to achieve their blood pressure goal.
Causes and effects of high blood pressure Black people face higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Higher rates of these conditions increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to other conditions and even death. It is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
Overcoming the challenges of blood pressure management A healthy weight, diet and physical activity can help to lower blood pressure. However many people may struggle with these issues if they are living in an under-resourced community,
Answer
Take The Pledge with The American Heart Association
Your Pledge Matters |
Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in Erie County, but they are mostly preventable. Change starts with you. |
Pledge to Move More |
Build more opportunities to be active into your routine. A good starting goal is at least 150 minutes per week, but if you don’t want to sweat the numbers, just move more! |
Pledge to Add Color |
Add color to your plate and your life by choosing to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your day. We’ve got great recipes, too! |
Pledge to Be Well |
Practice mindfulness, get enough sleep, connect socially and manage stress. Create balance, vitality and wellbeing through self-care. |
Pledge to Eat Smart |
Make healthy, delicious choices wherever and whenever you eat, whether you are trying to lose weight or build more nutritious meals |
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Take The and I will support you from the center with Jesus First |




















