Healthy hearts focus of February, free screenings offered

By Richard Muhammad on Sunday, February 8, 2009

When it comes to women, hearts and February, there first thing that may come to mind is Valentine’s Day, but hold on a minute. February is also National Heart Month and the first weekend in the month was devoted to highlighting the need for women to be especially careful when it comes to heart health. And a partnership with Advocate Health Care will allow some women in Illinois to receive free screenings the week of Valentine’s Day.

The Health Committee for the NCP Program in Woodlawn is focusing on National Heart Month with its upcoming "Ask the Doctor" interactive session. Dr. Thomas Fisher, of the University of Chicago, will take questions during a Feb. 11 presentation at 6250 S. Park Shore East. The program begins at 6 p.m.

The “Go Red for Women” weekend, Feb. 6-8, included programs and activities to interest women and GoRedForWomen.org offered women an easy way to evaluate their risk factors and consider changes to improve their health status. The website also provided a personalized action plan that can be taken to a doctor for evaluation and approval.

To raise awareness of heart disease, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, along with the American Heart Association and members of the Conference of Women Legislators, celebrated Women’s Heart Disease Awareness Month at the State Capitol and encouraged Illinois residents to wear red on Friday, February 6, 2009—National Wear Red Day.

The “Go Red for Women” movement encourages everyone to wear red as a simple, yet powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a “man's disease,” it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, and women account for 52.8 percent of the total heart disease deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, almost one in three women will die of heart disease. The latest statistics showed more than 13,000 women in Illinois died from heart disease in 2006.

In recognition of Women’s Heart Disease Awareness Month, Advocate Health Care, in partnership with the Conference of Women Legislators and area legislators, is offering free cardiac screenings for women at several locations during the week of Valentine’s Day. The following Advocate hospitals will be providing free cardiac screenings to women over the age of 45:

  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago

  • Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington

To register for one of these screenings or to find out about additional screenings and classes at other Advocate sites, please call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622).

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. In 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans with have a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 will have a recurrent attack. Heart disease is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.

You can lessen your risk factors for heart disease by getting regular check-ups, knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and keeping them under control; following your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise; taking medications as prescribed; by stopping smoking or not starting; doing at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day; eating a healthy diet that includes vegetables, whole grain foods and fish; limiting foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol; limiting salt and sodium intake and limiting alcoholic beverages on average to one drink or less per day.