As part of the kick-off to National Heart Month, a local hospital invited women to don red and fight heart disease Friday.
OSF St. Mary Medical Center offered free heart check-ups as part of its ninth annual National Heart Health Day Fair from 7 to 10:30 a.m.
The booths included blood pressure checks, blood sugar and diabetes screenings, body mass index calculations and exercise programs.
The event gives local women an opportunity to educate themselves on how to keep their hearts healthy, said Connie Wessels, the hospital?s education director.
?It?s our mission to make women aware of some of the risk factors and raise levels of awareness,? Wessels said. ?Men are more associated with heart disease than women, but more and more women are becoming aware of how serious heart disease can be.?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death for women in the United States, which shows how vital it is that women are aware of the signs and symptoms, Wessels said.
?Prevention is the key,? she said. ?So if women are able to find out their blood pressure, cholesterol and other numbers here, those can encourage them to talk to a physician.?
Sallie Dodd, 64, Knoxville, was one of approximately 120 participants Friday, and said she was impressed by the amount of information available at the event.
?They have more than what I expected,? Dodd said. ?I think it?s very informative, especially if you have family members who have heart problems, it?s good to come look at your health signs.?
Participants could also enter to win prizes like a free month at the YMCA or $20 gift certificate for Mary Kay products. They also received bags and other giveaways.
Hospital exercise specialist Spencer Cochrane gathered participants to show them simple exercises that strengthen the heart.
?They help make the heart a more forceful muscle, and that in turn can bring down heart rates,? Cochrane said. ?It gets your heart stronger and working better.?
acheung@register-mail.com
Source: http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1522314902/OSF-fair-encourages-womens-heart-health
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