CH-F hosts Heart Healthy Forum
February is American Heart Month and Community Hospital-Fairfax is inviting the
public to a Heart Healthy Forum to let the community know what it takes to live
a healthy, heart-friendly lifestyle.
The forum will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Fairfax school
cafeteria. Guests are encouraged to visit with the Community Hospital-Fairfax staff
on various topics including diabetes, dietary and heart education and have an opportunity
for glucose checks and blood pressure checks. Other booths and information topics include hip-to-waste
ratios, body mass index (BMI), weight and exercise. Community Hospital-Fairfax staff
will be available throughout the evening to answer your heart health-related questions.
Cardiologist Dr. Ryan Whitney from BryanLGH Heart Institute in Lincoln, Ne. will
speak during the event. Dr. Whitney, who comes to Community Hospital-Fairfax twice
a month to consult patients, will speak about cardiac health. A meal provided by
the hospital’s dietary department will start at 6:00 p.m. Before dinner, guests
will have time for glucose testing by Karen Wedlock, RN, certified diabetes educator
at Community Hospital-Fairfax and Northwest Missouri Health Services. High levels of glucose most frequently
indicate diabetes, but many other diseases and conditions can also cause elevated
glucose. This test, as well as getting blood pressure tests regularly, helps individuals
track their body’s needs. These tools will be available at the Heart Healthy Forum
to help you manage and know your health needs.
Community Hospital-Fairfax Nurse
Manager Jackie Martin wants to remind people that heart healthiness is an important
topic not just for older adults.
“Prevention for heart disease and
cardiac-related problems starts young. Parents can help their children by choosing
the right diet for them and can help themselves with exercise and a healthy lifestyle,”
Martin said, explaining why the Heart Healthy Forum is open to people of all ages.
Further information and questions
about this event can be directed to Ann Schlueter or Jennifer Herron, 660-686-2211
or jenniferh@fairfaxmed.com