Teams Against Heart Disease

Former Warner Robins High School head boys basketball coach Chip Malone is getting the word out about heart disease with this year’s theme, “It’s About the Cause, Not the Color” for Teams Against Heart Disease.

He is raising an awareness of studies that show teenagers have an increase in the risk of developing heart disease.

Statistics indicate one in four adolescents has two of more risk factors associated with heart disease. Those risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

For the second year, the Central Georgia Heart Center and Houston County schools that chose to participate sponsored the red shoelace project. During the 2014-2015 basketball season, you may see some middle and high school coaches, basketball players, cheerleaders and pep squads from Houston and Bibb counties raising awareness by wearing red shoestrings in recognition of Heart Awareness Month. Malone feels this is a great way for getting the community involved in the fight against heart disease.

Malone says, “Many Americans are faced with the diagnosis of some form cardiovascular disease which in most cases can be prevented with proper diet and exercise. Heart Disease is the number one killer in this country and it takes all of us to ‘get off the bench’ and make a difference where we can.”

Because some conditions can be caused by genetics or by certain lifestyle habits, Teams Against Heart Disease is a catalyst to get everyone to think about prevention.

Since October 2014, Malone and his wife have presented Chip’n Away @ Heart Disease to 3,500 students in high school health science classes in Houston, Bibb, Putnam, Monroe and Jones counties emphasizing preventive measures they can implement now and into their adulthood.

“My wife and I are approached after class by students who express concerns for a loved one diagnosed with some of the conditions we talk about in their class. They have stories to share and more than anything, they want their family member to be disciplined about improving their poor health habits.”

HHJ News