Emory
Heart Center Celebrates National Heart Month With Events To Promote
Knowledge About Heart Health
As Valentine's
Day approaches and thoughts turn to romance and paper hearts, the Emory
Heart Center is encouraging people to think about their real hearts
in February, by presenting eight Lunch and Learn lectures focused upon
heart health.
"February is National Heart
Month, a time to draw attention to the remarkable fist-sized organ that
literally pumps life through our bodies," says Douglas Morris, M.D.,
Director of the Emory Heart Center. "Heart Month gives us an opportunity
to encourage people to learn about their hearts, including what they
can do to keep their hearts healthy and how they can reduce their risk
of heart disease."
The Lunch and Learn series
-- featuring topics ranging from sorting out the truth about "good"
and "bad" dietary fat and how to deal with stress to information about
cardiovascular tests and the relationship of diabetes to heart disease
-- will be held at Emory's 1525 Clifton Road building and at several
area churches. Emory physicians, exercise physiologists, a nurse and
a nutritionist will present the talks, which are co-sponsored by Pfizer
and Kroger. Health screenings, including blood cholesterol and glucose
testing and blood pressure measurements, will be offered for a minimal
cost at some of the Lunch and Learn events. The lectures are free to
the first100 people who register by calling Emory HealthConnection at
404-778-7777.
February was first proclaimed
National Heart Month by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. In the 38
years that have passed, the field of cardiology has made great advances
in diagnosing and treating heart ailments. In fact, since President
Johnson was in office, the death rate from coronary heart disease has
fallen by nearly 60 percent. However, heart disease is still America's
number one killer.
"The good news is that we
now know much cardiovascular disease can be prevented. People can take
control over many lifestyle changes that can have enormous benefits
to their overall health and help them avoid future heart problems,"
says Emory cardiologist Laurence Sperling, M.D., Director of Emory's
HeartWise Risk Reduction Program. Dr. Sperling will present the Lunch
and Learn lecture "New Frontiers in the Prevention of Heart Disease"
at Clairmont Presbyterian Church (1994 Clairmont Rd., Decatur) on February
15th from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.
The Lunch and Learn series
is presented by the Emory HeartWise Risk Reduction Program. HeartWise
is designed for anyone who has experienced a heart or circulatory event
or for anyone who is considered "at risk" for heart disease. Emory Heart
Center physicians and other health professionals offer individualized
risk assessment followed by a carefully monitored program of exercise,
nutrition and education to help lower heart disease risk. To find out
more about the HeartWise program, call 404-778-2850.
|