Social Scene | Community Builders: Jump In

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Get ready to leap into a healthier tomorrow with Jump In, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation’s exciting national physical activity challenge. This September, take just 30 minutes a day to boost your cardiovascular health and join a dynamic community dedicated to women’s heart health. Are you ready to make a difference?
For years, Nadia Lappa ticked off life’s milestones – graduation, marriage, motherhood – until a fateful day when a wave of symptoms hit her hard while showing off her youngest baby to co-workers. Lying on a cold office washroom floor, Lappa’s world turned chaotic as she was rushed to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Diagnosed with SCAD – a rare condition causing tears in the coronary arteries – she faced a gruelling recovery. Her story highlights why participating in Jump In is crucial: it’s a chance to prioritize heart health and join a supportive community committed to fighting the No. 1 cause of death among women.
Reflecting on her experience, Lappa said, “Looking back I had those very classic Hollywood symptoms of a heart attack, like numbness in the arm, just erratic movements, you know, very sick, very nauseous, sweating, very weak, and I belittled it.” She went on to share that it took years to recover not only physically from this traumatic health scare but also mentally. Lappa expressed her gratitude for her co-workers, whose insistence on calling 911 ultimately ensured she received the critical help she needed.
Now, she is using her story to help motivate others to get active for their heart health. “Today, it’s five steps – tomorrow it’s 10 steps, and if you do it for 30 days, it’ll become, we hope anyways, a habit.”
To register or to learn more about Jump In and to support the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, head to www.jumpinnow.ca.




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