McLeod Hosts Free Educational Events on Women & Heart DiseaseIn Recognition of Go Red Day
Friday, February 2, is National Wear Red Day, when the American Heart Association encourages everyone to Go Red for Women in order to raise awareness about heart health and encourage the positive lifestyle changes everyone can make to decrease their risk.
In recognition of Go Red Day, McLeod Health is hosting nine free educational events. The first seven are Healthy Red Heart Luncheons on Friday, February 2, at 12:00 p.m. In Florence at the McLeod Medical Plaza, the guest speaker on “Women & Heart Disease” will be Dr. Brian Wall with McLeod Cardiology Associates. At the Hartsville Country Club, the guest speaker will be Dr. Alan Blaker with McLeod Cardiology Associates.
In Sumter at Hamptons Restaurant, Dr. Dennis Lang with McLeod Cardiology Associates will be the guest speaker for the Red Heart Luncheon and Dr. Ryan Garbalosa with the same practice will present at the Manning event at McLeod Medical Plaza Clarendon.
In Dillon at McLeod Medical Center Dillon, McLeod Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Robert Messier will be the guest speaker and in Cheraw, Dr. Eva Rzucidlo with McLeod Vascular Associates will speak at Northeastern Technical College.
On the coast, Dr. Anne Everman with McLeod Cardiology Associates will speak at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center.
The two remaining events for Go Red Day are breakfast events. One will be held at 8:30 a.m. at McLeod Seacoast in Little River with guest speaker Dr. Joshua Sibille of McLeod Vascular Associates presenting. In addition, Dr. David Bjerken with McLeod Vascular Associates will speak at the event in Loris at the McLeod Center for Health & Fitness.
Heart disease is South Carolina's leading killer for women among all racial and ethnic groups. Historically, heart disease was considered a disease only effecting men. Now, through research and education, it is known that heart disease is the number one killer of women over the age of 25.
"Heart attacks have beginnings," said Amanda Butler, Associate Vice President with the McLeod Heart & Vascular Institute. "Symptoms can begin about two weeks prior to a major event and may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath and/or arm pain and weakness. We are teaming up with the American Heart Association to educate women about these windows of opportunity to prevent death and minimize heart damage."
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by heart disease. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Statistics show that heart disease causes one in three women's deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
The media is welcome and invited to attend any of these events.
Submitted by email:
Communications & Public Information Office
(843) 777-2592 • www.mcleodhealth.org
555 E. Cheves Street • P.O. Box 100551 • Florence, SC 29502-0551
