When was the last time you truly considered what’s happening inside your body, the silent developments that could shape your future?
For many in our African Caribbean community, this question remains uncomfortably unanswered, creating a dangerous information gap that Heart & Stroke’s new Risk Screen tool aims to bridge.
The problem hits close to home. Nine in ten Canadians carry at least one risk factor for heart disease, or stroke, yet only half of us know our personal risks. These statistics represent: our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. In our community, where health disparities have long shadowed our lives, this knowledge gap becomes even more critical. Women face unique challenges across different life stages, yet only four in ten women understand how risks evolve during pregnancy, and menopause.
As I investigated this issue, speaking with community health workers and families affected by cardiovascular disease, a pattern emerged. We know prevention is possible; up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented, yet awareness remains dangerously low. More than one in three Canadians don’t know their blood pressure, and over half don’t know their cholesterol, or blood sugar levels. In our community, where these conditions often strike earlier and more severely, this lack of knowledge carries devastating consequences.
Understanding these risks requires looking beyond individual choices to the social factors that shape our health outcomes. Systemic barriers, cultural dietary traditions, and the stress of navigating life as part of the diaspora all influence our cardiovascular health. Dr. Christine Faubert of Heart & Stroke acknowledges this complexity, “We know that Canadians take their personal risks seriously and want to know more so they can take steps to protect their heart and brain health.”
This is where common ground emerges. Nearly all Canadians (97%) believe understanding our risk factors matters, and 98% want to take preventive action. Almost nine in ten of us feel motivated to make changes. The challenge lies in transforming this motivation into sustainable action, especially when health information often fails to speak directly to our community’s experiences.
The Risk Screen tool offers a path forward. Free, accessible, and taking only minutes to complete, this online assessment considers the full picture of your health: lifestyle, medical history, and life stages specific to women. It provides a personalized action plan, meeting you where you are and guiding you toward better health outcomes.
“As you get older you have to work even harder to stay healthy,” shares Adria Scarano, 46, who’s adapting her health routine as she approaches menopause. Her words resonate deeply within our community, where generational knowledge about health transitions has often been fragmented by displacement and systemic healthcare barriers.
This tool represents more than individual health empowerment. By making the invisible visible, Risk Screen helps us reclaim agency over our bodies and futures. It acknowledges that while some risk factors can’t be changed, many can be managed, or modified through knowledge and action.
Our community has always understood the connection between individual wellbeing and collective strength. Now, with tools designed to consider our unique experiences and risks, we can write a new chapter in our health story, one where understanding replaces uncertainty, and action follows awareness.
What will you discover when you take those first steps toward understanding your heart and brain health risks?
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