If you thought heart disease was a man’s problem, think again! Cardiovascular diseases cause almost one of every two deaths among women. In Alabama alone more than 9,000 women wil die of heart disease in a given year. Area hospitals are joining with the American Heart Association at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover to reach out to women in an effort to educate them about the risks and ways to manage a lower risk lifestyle. While one cannot change family history, gender or age, many risk factors directly related to lifestyle can be controlled.
Annual conference
“Heart and Soul of a Woman” is the theme of the fourth annual Women and Heart Disease Conference scheduled for March 10 at Hunter Street Baptist Church. The conference is being sponsored by area hospitals that include Baptist Health Systems, Brookwood Medical Center, Carraway Methodist Medical Center, HealthSouth, Medical Center East, St. Vincent’s Hospital and UAB Hospital. Other sponsors include Cardiovascular Associates P.C., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and the American heart Association. Hospitals will be offering health screenings for blood pressure, bone density, body fat analysis, blood sugar, cholesterol and an overall risk assessment.
Kathy Smith, a well-known exercise and fitness expert, is the keynote speaker for the event. More than 11 million copies of Smith’s diverse workout videos have been sold in 16 countries. She defines her mission as the education of consumers around the world on the benefits of being healthy and fit.
Since high risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Smith’s approach to developing a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and healthy eating will be beneficial in helping women plan the changes needed in their lives to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Exercise has been directly linked to the increase in HDL levels(good cholesterol) and reduction in LDL levels (bad cholesterol) as well as reductions in blood pressure as fitness levels increase. Many women find that the stress relief associated with regular exercise is benefit enough to maintain this habit. Then, there is also the benefit of weight loss and maintenance of desirable body weight.
Along with an array of other speakers, nutritionists and cardiologists will be on-site to answer questions. To increase the fun, there will be a massage therapist, manicurist and yoga demonstration. Lunch will be served. The cost of $10 per person. Call 205-592-7100 for advance reservations for the seminar and lunch, or send payment to American Heart Association, Attention: Brooke Edmundson, 1449 Medical Park Drive, Birmingham, AL 35213. Pre-registration is not required, but lunch will be available only for those who pre-register.
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