FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact: 860-524-7313
July 20, 2008

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced the availability of an online, interactive tool to help improve the health, fitness and quality of life of Connecticut residents.  Developed with funding from a grant awarded by the National Governors’ Association, the Protective Health Assessment, or PHA, is available at http://www.dph-ct.us and focuses on the prevention and early detection of chronic diseases and their related risk factors.

“This is a free, anonymous and confidential online health assessment that takes 10-15 minutes to fill out,” Governor Rell said.  “You can generate a personalized summary report about your health habits and receive recommendations for what you can do to reduce or better manage your risk for chronic disease.  I urge residents to use this as their own personal tool to help them to improve their overall health.” 

No information is requested that could identify the person completing the online PHA.

Based on national guidelines and recommendations, the PHA website covers screening tests, clinical risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol and weight), and lifestyle risk factors (alcohol and tobacco use, diet, and physical activity).  For each risk factor, information is provided on its impact, characteristics, and steps to reduce or manage that risk.  There are also links to hundreds of online resources, including key organizations and programs, healthy recipes, stretching exercises, and information on smoking cessation among many other topics.

Each year chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and stroke are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the United States.  Chronic diseases also account for more than 75% of the $2 trillion spent on health care, and lead to pain, disability and decreased quality of life for millions of Americans.

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