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American Heart Month
By Nila Harris
There is an initiative to “paint the town (county) red” presented by Harrison Memorial Hospital coinciding with February’s American Heart Month. Businesses are encouraged to decorate windows or buildings in red to promote awareness. A $100 cash prize will be awarded to the best decorated window. If your business/establishment is participating, please email msmith@hmhosp.org or tag Harrison Memorial Hospital on Facebook by February 3.
Other awareness events include wearing red on Friday, February 3. If you are wearing red, stop by our HMH Primary Care Falmouth office for a free gift. Gifts are available to the first 100 people. You may also snap a photo and tag Harrison Memorial Hospital on Facebook.
Wear Red to Church Day is on Sunday, February 12. The organizational committee would like to use some photos for their Go Red for Women Celebration. If you would like to share your picture, please send to Harrison Memorial Hospital c/o Leslie Roark 1210 KY Highway 36 East, Cynthiana KY 41031 or email lroark@hmhosp.org.
Information from Harrison Memorial Hospital details that “Eighteen years ago, the American Heart Association discovered that heart disease killed more women than men. Based on these findings, the AHA formed Go Red For Women, a campaign to bring awareness of heart disease through education. Accomplishments of the 18-year campaign include:
34 percent fewer women now die from heart disease.
More than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved.
23 percent increase in awareness that heart disease is the #1 killer of women.
Historically, women have not been associated with heart disease. However, statistics prove that heart disease is not just a man’s health concern. Here are a few facts:
Heart disease is the number one killer of American women.
One in three women dies from heart disease.
About three million American women have had a heart attack.
Cardiovascular disease kills nearly half a million women a year.”
The campaign goes on to highlight the risk factors for heart disease: smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, being overweight, physical inactivity, diabetes, family history, and age. Having more than one risk factor increases your chance of developing heart disease. Harrison Memorial offers a cardiac risk assessment at: https://harrisonmemhosp.com/services-we-provide/cardiology-services/cardiac-risk-assessment
A culminating event for this year’s campaign will be held on Monday, February 27 with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. at the McCauley Building, 4-H fairgrounds in Cynthiana. There will be a meal served at 5:45 p.m. “HMH cardiologist, Dr. Matthew Shotwell, will be the featured speaker at 6 p.m. In addition, the HMH nursing department will be providing stroke risk screenings and demonstrating hands-only CPR. And, the Lexington Lions Club Diabetes Project will offer diabetic screenings, which includes A1C testing. There will be education, giveaways, and door prizes available. One door prize is any meal for two at one of the reservation-only events at Ashford Acres Inn. Also, the first 125 people receive a free gift.”
Don’t forget to wear red in February and protect yourself by knowing the risk factors and taking steps towards better health.