Friday is national ‘Wear Red Day’ to raise awareness about our No. 1 killer
Heartland Community Health Center Wears Red for Woman. by aliedwards
February is American Heart Month and the goal is to raise awareness about heart disease — the country's No. 1 killer.
The American Heart Association will kick off its annual "Go Red For Women" movement Friday with National Wear Red Day. It urges everyone to support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red that day.
The WellCommons team will be wearing red — whether it be ties, pins, shoes or blouses — during our open house and celebration from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Friday and we are hoping you do to.
We're also having a photo and story contest and six people will win tickets worth $50 to the Go Red for Women Luncheon Feb. 10. For more details about the contest, visit "Let's Wear Red."
If you have a question about heart health, WellCommons is hosting a chat with longtime Lawrence cardiologist Michael Zabel at 10 a.m. today. To submit a question, visit WellCommons/chats.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's also is encouraging Kansans to wear red Friday.
“More women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. But 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made the right choices for their hearts involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.”
— Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary and state health officer
Socks_Go_Red by zeditor
Lawrence Plastic Surgery staff by kbritt
American Heart Association provided the following reasons to join the cause:
• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable.
• Stroke is the No. 4 killer and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Each year, about 795,000 Americans — one every 40 seconds — have a new or repeat stroke. • More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer isn’t as easy to see. Heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood.
• Currently, some 8 million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
• While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, one in three dies of cardiovascular disease.
• If you or someone you know shows signs of heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. An Emergency Medical Services team can begin treatment when it arrives. That means treatment can begin sooner than it would if the patient arrived at the hospital by car. What's more, the EMS team is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped, which saves hundreds of lives each year.
• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Heart disease can be prevented. In fact, research shows that 80 percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking. You can make changes to help stop heart disease by knowing your number, visiting your doctor once a year, getting 30 minutes of exercise daily, quitting smoking and eating healthy.
• In women, heart disease is too often a silent killer – less than a third of women in a recent survey reported any early warning signs such as chest pain or discomfort before a heart attack, compared with most men.
• Total estimated direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular disease in U.S. in 2011: $286.6 billion. Total estimated cost of cancer: $228 billion.
• Only slightly more than half of women are likely to call 911 if experiencing symptoms. And yet, 79 percent of women said that they would call 911 if someone else was having a heart attack.
• American Heart Association funds are used for critical life-saving research and education. American Heart Association funded nationwide has led to advances such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects.
• The American Heart Association is second only to the federal government as a source of funding for cardiovascular and stroke research.
• During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your "numbers," including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more. Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart-healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier you.
• Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes, you have a higher risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and other diseases. So if you don't smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, love your heart and quit today.
Longtime Lawrence cardiologist to chat about heart health
Dr. Michael Zabel, a cardiologist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, talks about training for his first Ironman 70.3 triathlon in 2008. He will answer questions about heart disease prevention and treatment during a WellCommons chat on Feb. 2. by Richard Gwin
Dr. Michael Zabel will be available Feb. 2 to discuss heart disease — America’s No. 1 killer — in recognition of American Heart Month.
Zabel, of Cardiovascular Specialists of Lawrence, will be participating in an online chat at 10 a.m. on WellCommons.com. And, you can submit your questions anonymously at anytime at WellCommons/chats. Make sure to log back to WellCommons.com during or after the chat to see if your questions were answered.
Zabel earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1988. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at Duke University Medical Center.
Zabel is a clinical associate professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine. He has done a variety of research on heart disease and treatments.
Annual Healthy Hearts Fair offers checkup, education and camaraderie
Donna Wiederholt, Ottawa, left, reacts with delight as she gets good results after a body mass index (BMI) screening Saturday, Feb. 12, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Healthy Hearts Fair. Her results also were special because they were provided by her daughter Carla Wiederholt, a LMH clinical dietician. The BMI screening was one of many exhibits about cardiovascular disease prevention. by Mike Yoder
About 500 people attended the annual Healthy Hearts Fair on Saturday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Most of the participants come back year after year because it provides a good health checkup at low- to no-cost, and more importantly, it’s a great way to catch up with friends.
Lou Bacco and his wife, Deanne, of Shawnee, along with their daughter Andrea Vieux, of Victoria, Texas, were among the participants. They previously lived in Lawrence.
“We’ve been coming for years,” Deanne said. “It’s fun to get the little blood results and then it gives us a chance to look at the exhibits and meet friends.”
Besides having her cholesterol checked, she also had a body fat analysis.
“No, thank you,” Deanne said about sharing the results. She said the percentage was in the healthy range, but higher than she expected.
The retired couple said exercise and a healthy diet are important to them. Lou is training for an indoor triathlon, and they practice yoga and walk about three miles every morning, among other activities.
The couple and their daughter were disappointed that the “grip test” wasn’t available at the fair. There’s a friendly competition among them, and mom usually wins.
“She’s got a strong grip, especially on the left,” Lou said, laughing.
Vieux enjoyed perusing The Merc’s booth, where she picked up a recipe for eggplant caviar. She said it’s difficult to find organic vegetables in Victoria, Texas, where she moved about a year ago.
Lou and Deanne Bacco, Shawnee, and their daughter, Andrea Vieux, Victoria, Texas, attended the annual Health Hearts Fair on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. by Karrey Britt
Charlotte Sparkes, 70, and Bill Venner, 76, both of Lawrence, were enjoying muffins and yogurt during the fair. They’ve attended for the past 10 years. They get their blood checked, learn about new procedures, and see friends.
“It’s just nice to get out,” Sparkes said.
Venner laughed and said, “We get our year’s pen supply.”
They both walk as much as possible, and Sparkes does an hour of jazzercise five days a week. She tries to watch her diet, but laughed and said, “Chocolate and ice cream tend to sneak in regularly.”
Charlotte Sparkes and Bill Venner, both of Lawrence, attend the annual Healthy Hearts Fair on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. by Karrey Britt
Aynsley Anderson, LMH community education coordinator, said she sees a lot of familiar faces and some new ones. Most of the participants tend to be 40 and older.
“They also tend to be the ones who care about health and are healthier,” she said.
The fair offered seven screenings including blood sugar, Body Mass Index, peripheral artery disease risk, and varicose veins. About 350 people had their cholesterol checked through a blood test.
There were 21 educational booths, and the topics included nutrition, diabetes, CPR, smoking cessation, and echocardiograms.
“It’s just a great opportunity to talk to people in a nonstressful environment,” she said. “I received a lot of nutrition questions and some exercise questions. I teach stop smoking classes, so I got questions about stopping smoking.”
LMH’s annual health fair — which focuses on all aspects of health, not just heart disease — will be Sept. 24. It typically draws about 2,000 people.
Deidre Leist, a KU student intern at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, left, does a body fat analysis and waist circumference screening with Carol Gilmore, Saturday, Feb. 12, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Healthy Hearts Fair. On display were exhibits about cardiovascular disease prevention and free screenings, including body fat, blood pressure, and surveys to determine risk of heart attack and stroke.. by Mike Yoder
Scott Yackley, Lawrence Memorial Hospital cardiac sonographer, visits with Grover Sanders, Lawrence, Saturday, Feb. 12, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Healthy Hearts Fair. Yackley was demonstrating LMH imaging services at an echocardiogram display. by Mike Yoder
Trena Rausch, speech therapist at Kreider Rehabilitation Services, gets her body fat checked by Dawna Vanover, physical therapy assistant at Kreider. They provided a body fat analysis for participates at Saturday heart health fair. Vanover said she thought more people were in the "healthy" range this year compared to two years ago, when more seemed to be "obese." by Karrey Britt
Taylin Hein, Lawrence Memorial Hospital medical technologist, withdraws blood from Roberta Malburg, of Linwood, for a cholesterol screening during the Healthy Hearts Fair earlier this year. LMH's annual Health Fair will be Sept. 24. by Karrey Britt
From left are Heather Schwind, Laura Quenette and Jackie Burton, all interns for the wellness program at Health Care Access, a clinic that provides medical care for the uninsured of Douglas County. They provided information about wellness and the clinic during the Healthy Hearts Fair on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine. by Karrey Britt
Susie Oberrieder, Lawrence, left, visits with Sarah Randolph, center, marketing manager at the Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation and Hospice Care, and Janet Cairns, home health team manager. The VNA had a booth at the Healthy Hearts Fair. by Karrey Britt
Scott Yackley, left, cardiac sonographer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, explains how a new echocardiogram machine works during the 2011 Healthy Hearts Fair. by Karrey Britt
Allyson Leland, director of volunteer services at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and Aynsley Anderson, community education coordinator, provided a variety of information during the annual Healthy Hearts Fair, on Feb. 12, 2011, which attracted about 500 participants. by Karrey Britt
Janelle Martin, executive director of the Community Health Improvement Partnership, provided information about the ill effects of smoking on the heart during the Healthy Hearts Fair on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. by Karrey Britt
Mr. Gross Mouth — a smoker — was on display during the 2011 Healthy Hearts Fair at LMH. by Karrey Britt
Behind the booth, Nancy O'Connor, left, and Lily Siebert, both of The Merc, answer questions about nutrition during the Health Hearts Fair on Feb. 12, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. by Karrey Britt
Monica Taylor, left, and Chris Edmondson, Lawrence, visit about WellCommons.com, a community-based health website, during the Healthy Hearts Fair at LMH. Taylor works in marketing at the Lawrence Journal-World. by Karrey Britt
