Northwest Colorado Health/Courtesy photo
Content provided by Northwest Colorado Health.
Did you know that cultivating close relationships can significantly impact your health? Research consistently shows that individuals who maintain strong social ties—whether at home, work, or within their communities—tend to enjoy better health outcomes and longer lives. By working together and feeling connected, we are more motivated to achieve our health goals, which can directly influence factors like blood pressure and weight, consequently reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Enter Northwest Colorado Health’s free Heart Healthy classes, also known as CHARLAR (Cardiac Health Aid for Life and Recovery). These classes are specifically designed to foster social support while imparting critical health education for anyone in the community eager to embrace healthier lifestyles. During this 12-week program, each weekly session covers essential components of heart health, including cholesterol levels, blood pressure, glucose management, exercise, sleep, nutrition, and behavioral health aspects.
“Each session focuses on actionable information and practical tips to spur small lifestyle changes that enhance overall health,” explains Shania Duzik, RD, CLC, WIC Manager & High-Risk Counselor/Community Health Educator at Northwest Colorado Health. “At the end of every class, participants set personal goals to strive toward during the week. One of the most rewarding aspects of the group sessions is hearing other participants share their stories and strategies, and the peer accountability helps energize collective efforts toward positive change. This class is ideal for anyone wanting to initiate healthy lifestyle changes, seeking support as they embark on their journey, or those with a family history of cardiovascular disease.”
Throughout the Heart Healthy classes, participants not only learn but also build skills and improve health behaviors targeted at lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A critical advantage is the supportive environment where community members can motivate each other in setting and achieving goals related to nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle modifications. Participants are already reporting success stories.
“We recently had a participant who was dedicated to enacting lifestyle changes,” shared Duzik. “Prior to joining the classes, this individual struggled with hypertension and high cholesterol. By the conclusion of the 12-week program, they had lost 12 pounds and made significant improvements in managing their hypertension and reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) to a normal range, all by focusing on healthier eating habits.”
Northwest Colorado Health is currently offering an in-person Heart Healthy class, with registration now open for the upcoming virtual session, which will be held as follows:
- Virtual Heart Health (CHARLAR) Class starting March 18, 2026, through June 3, 2026. The sessions will take place on Zoom every Wednesday for 12 weeks from 2 PM to 4 PM, covering a different topic related to heart health. For more information or to register, contact Shania Duzik at 970-871-7694 or click here.
Additionally, for those wishing to establish a baseline understanding of their cardiovascular health, Northwest Colorado Health offers free screenings for cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, including checks for BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. These valuable services are open to all community members and can even be conducted on-site for businesses wishing to provide health assessments for their employees, requiring no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Following the screening, participants will receive tailored lifestyle recommendations and resources aimed at preventing heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Individuals can also continue engaging with Community Health Educators to design a personalized plan that incorporates movement into daily life and educates on healthier food options. The overarching goal is to help clients implement one manageable habit at a time, with the understanding that consistent small changes can lead to long-term health benefits.
To discover more about supporting your heart health, visit NorthwestColoradohealth.org/hearthealth or call 970-871-7692.
