Class caters for people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity (From Penarth Times)

Class caters for people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity

8:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Letters

READERS interested in the letter from J Mead (Questions need answers) in last week’s Penarth Times (August 30) might be interested to know there is another class at Penarth Leisure Centre catering for people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

This class runs on Wednesdays from 5pm to 6.30pm. The first half an hour is for general screening including measurement of blood pressure.

The class is based on recommendations of the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Referrals are from the cardiac units based in Llandough hospital and the University of Wales, Heath hospital. Patients can also be referred by their GP.

It is recommended people with any of these conditions attend for a minimum of six weeks to learn about safe exercise and to build their confidence.

Current attendees are similarly concerned about the future of this class.

In light of the rise of obesity, and with about half of the population not meeting guidelines for physical activity, the future need for classes like this will also escalate.

There is a difference between physical activity provided for the primary objective of leisure and that provided for health. Let us hope those who need supervised physical activity for health are not forgotten in the drive to make the Vale Leisure Centres profitable organisations.

Anyone interested in knowing more about the current Wednesday class can come and have an informal chat with me at 5pm on a Wednesday in the dance studio of Penarth Leisure Centre.

Ceinwen Sawyer MA

Regional Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine

ACSM: Exercise Instructor