MIKE Youth Focus on Heart-Healthy Behaviors
It’s National Heart Month. Throughout the month, MIKE youth have been exploring how internal and external influences affect the health of their heart. The youth begin with a series of discussions on stress as a way to introduce broader cardiovascular issues.
MIKE mentors guide them through a series of discussions that dive into the causes of stress. Then, the youth build ideas for simple solutions that can help alleviate those stressors. The youth eagerly participate in the conversation carousels that are set up around their classroom. As the youth write their thoughts and ideas on large sheets of poster paper, they begin to recognize some commonalities.
“It gets them on their feet and moving,” says MIKE mentor Zoe. “Plus, the activity allows them to engage in peer learning by seeing what other students wrote and discuss potential solutions.”
Youth listed relationships, social media, school, work, family, money and their phone as top triggers to their daily stress. The active lesson helps youth analyze the causes of stress and ways to lessen its impact.
MIKE youth were quick to pick up how stress affects their health. “Let me list them for you,” offered Liz. “Stress can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, mood swings, changes in appetite, weight gain, depression, memory loss and a lot more.”
The carousel activity provides MIKE mentors and youth with an opportunity to expand on their ideas and reinforce healthy behaviors.
“The most memorable moment in class this week was seeing how excited my group was at putting their ideas on the poster paper and hearing how each person copes with stress,” says MIKE mentor Madeleine. “Each student came up with an idea for how they handle stress.”
The youth were keen to notice how such stressors affect their health, especially when it comes to blood pressure and their heart.
“Wow, it’s like a lot of the things I do are the same things that add to my stress,” says Jada. “I learned that reducing my stress levels helps prevent hypertension.”
MIKE youth expressed ways that they could easily adapt into their daily lives to help manage stress.
“I realized I listed my phone as a stress,” says Anderson. “I guess that means I should stay off it more, or at least set a schedule.” His classmate quickly responded, “Get enough sleep,” says Pearl. “And put away the electronics!”
The American Heart Association promotes National Heart Month each February to raise awareness about ways to prevent heart disease. MIKE reinforces how healthy lifestyles are key to maintaining a healthy heart and body. Now, MIKE youth are better equipped to follow healthy behaviors every month.