What Is CHIP?
CHIP is a Coronary Health Improvement Programme that guides and supports people in reducing risk factors for today's common chronic diseases - heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis to mention the main ones. These diseases relate largely to our lifestyle - how we eat, drink, smoke, exercise and handle stress.
While medication and sometimes surgeries can alleviate symptoms, CHIP attacks the causes of these diseases. It motivates and inspires people to make better choices and then measures the clinical results through screenings of risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, weight etc., both before the program begins and when it ends. These screenings are used educationally, not diagnostically. CHIP promotes and supports a close association between participants and their physicians both during and after the program.
What is involved?
CHIP offers - AND DELIVERS! 40 hours of education is provided in 16 main sessions and 2 workshops. The CHIP program can be delivered over periods from 4-8 weeks utilising a high-quality DVD lecture series combined with local content. The goal is to facilitate disease reversal by lowering blood cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels, by reducing excess weight, lowering high blood pressure, enhancing daily exercise and by eliminating smoking.
Every CHIP programme involves:
- Free Information Session - This Information Sessions present an opportunity to learn about the program, ask questions, register and sign up for the full CHIP programe.
- HeartScreen #1 - The HeartScreen includes a review of medications, fasting blood samples are collected for lipid profile and blood sugar pathology tests, you complete a lifestyle assessment involving height, weight, blood pressure and finish off with a heart-healthy breakfast.
- 16 CHIP Video Secessions - Dr Hans Diehl is the dynamic lecturer in this compelling video series complete with great graphics, illustrations and humorous stories. Each session includes locally-organised presentations, live interaction as well as sampling heart-healthy tasty samples at various points through the program.
- Applied Nutrition Workshop - The Nutrition Workshop provides additional nutrition information linked to the main program, combined with cooking demonstrations.
- Shopping Tour (Optional) - The Shopping Tour takes participants through a local supermarket identifying the healthier foods and it provides skill-building in reading food labels and using the information to improve health.
- HeartScreen #2 - Repeats the assessments and tests of HeartScreen #1, which yields measures of the changes achieved in lifestyle, clinical outcomes and medications.
- Graduation - Participants received their individual results from HeartScreen#2 along with the opportunity of celebrating progress with a special meal in association with receiving the course certificate, CHIP pin and special CHIP kitchen knife. This is a fun night to be shared with family and friends.
- Alumni Organisation - Those completing the CHIP program are welcomed into the local Alumni group, which meets on a regular basis to continue learning and receive inspiration and encouragement.
What Does Chip Do?
People participating in CHIP in our countries have ranged from teenagers to the elderly, though most are in their 50s and 60s. Long-term data from CHIP indicates the following typical participant profile:
- 10% report having heart disease.
- 27% have elevated blood sugar.
- 42% are overweight.
- 49% show evidence of hypertension.
- 60% are obese.
- 89% have cholesterol above 4.1.
Those who strictly adhere to the program usually experience dramatic clinical improvement, as the published results indicate. Over the course of the program these are the results people typically achieve:
- Serum cholesterol reduces by 15 to 20%.
- Average weight losses are around 3 kg.
- Those with Type 2 diabetes frequently reduce their need for insulin and hypoglycaemic agents and over time some even eliminate certain of their medications.
- Those experiencing essential hypertension achieve blood pressure reductions and many find that their doctors need to reduce their medications.
- People experiencing angina frequently find this is reduced and their doctors are able to reduce or eliminate certain medications.
- Many find they sleep better, are more regular and experience an overall improvement in their health.
The CHIP program produces significant results for people who are willing to make some safe, simple lifestyle changes. Physicians and other health professionals frequently express surprise when they see so many people benefiting so much in such a short time.
When people understand more clearly the cause/effect relationship between diet & exercise and disease, they become increasingly motivated to make changes. CHIP informs, motivates and then supports the needed changes.
In general terms, following the CHIP lifestyle decreases the risk of osteoporosis, improves digestion, lessens depression and enhances the overall quality of life.
If you are a typical Australian or New Zealander then you have a 40 per cent chance of dying of a heart attack. The Western killer diseases are in our countries in abundance. Modern medicine does not have cures in their arsenal. It's a matter of personal responsibility