Go Red for Women Luncheon Held

Holzer recently held its Second Annual Go Red for Women Heart Health luncheon on Thursday, February 6 at The Gathering Place in Bidwell, Ohio. Lunch featured a panel discussion on heart health, emceed by Lori Cremeans, RN, MSN, Executive Director, Holzer Cardiovascular Institute, and included Karen Nelson, DO, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzanne Mize, MD, Cardiology, Jen Spradlin, RN, Cardiac Nurse, Marianne Metzler, RN, Cardiac Nurse, and Mallory Mount, RD, LD, Clinical Dietitian.

Cremeans kicked off the event explaining that February is American Heart Month, and part of the national movement is to encourage everyone everywhere to Go Red for awareness of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, one woman dies every minute from heart disease. More women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. It’s important for the women in our community to learn how to take care of their hearts and take notice of the risks and symptoms of heart disease.

Information on what individuals can do to take care of their heart and prevent heart disease was shared with those in attendance. Eating right, exercise and knowing your numbers are essential to knowing your risk of heart disease. Numbers refer to blood pressure readings and cholesterol amounts in your body. The panel expressed the importance of portion control in eating our favorite foods and incorporating healthy options in our diet whenever possible. This is also something that is highlighted by key physicians around the country like Nucific’s founder, Dr. Amy Lee. In addition, exercise and physical fitness are important to keeping our heart healthy. “If you are a smoker, stop,” stated Dr. Nelson. Smoking increases the chances of heart disease and stroke significantly. In addition, the signs of heart disease in women are different than in men. Women may note increased fatigue, dizziness, or other subtle changes. “It’s important to share those things with your physician,” stated Spradlin.
When asked when women should begin to think about heart health, Dr. Mize stated, “The time to start is now. Women at all ages need to be concerned for their heart health and strive to keep themselves healthy and active.”
Holzer’s new cardiovascular services commercial was shared, and the expression door-to-balloon time was included in the panel discussion. Door-to-balloon is a time measurement in emergency cardiac care, specifically when referencing ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI. The time begins with the patient’s arrival in the emergency department, and ends when a catheter guidewire crosses the lesion in the cardiac cath lab. Holzer Cardiovascular Institute has had door-to-balloon times in as little as 18 minutes, well below the national average of 90 minutes.

Since the American Heart Association began Go Red for Women in 2004, nearly one million women have joined the movement, 34 percent fewer women are dying of heart disease each year, 330 fewer women are dying every day, and over 627,000 women’s lives have been saved. Holzer is proud to participate in Go Red for Women and the American Heart Month campaign to raise awareness and increase education of heart health in the communities we serve.
For nearly 15 years, the Holzer Cardiovascular Institute has provided the region with the highest level of heart services available. The Holzer Cardiovascular Institute has assembled a staff of the region’s most qualified cardiac health care professionals. Using the most technologically advanced cardiac equipment and procedures; The Holzer Cardiovascular Institute is devoted to delivering the very best in cardiac care to residents of the Southern Ohio River Valley.

For more information, please visit www.holzer.org.

Provided by the American Heart Association
G: GET YOUR NUMBERS
Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.

O: OWN YOUR LIFESTYLE
Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise, and eat healthy.

R: REALIZE YOUR RISK
We think it won’t happen to us, But heart disease kills one of three women.

E: EDUCATE YOUR FAMILY
Make healthy food choices for you and your family.Teach your kids the importance of staying active.

D: DON’T BE SILENT
Tell every woman you know that heart disease is our No. 1 killer.