Information courtesy Sue Dressel, Sue_dressel@ssmhc.com

To help educate women about their number one health risk, heart disease, the SSM Heart Institute is sponsoring the sixth annual “Her Heart: Every Beat Counts” education and screening day. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 at The Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center, 1410 South Fifth Street in St. Charles.

 The program is open to the public and free to attend. It features physician speakers, “Heart-Smart Stations,” drawings, gifts, and free lunch. Heart disease survivors Donna Ringwald, Shelly Rosenmiller and Kathy Williams will share their personal experiences with heart disease and how it changed their lives.

 Additional presentations include:

• “Keeping Your Heart in Rhythm” by Ali Ziaee, MD, a cardiologist with SSM Heart Institute at DePaul Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center and St. Joseph Hospital West.
• “Diabetes, Weight and Your Heart” by David Kardesch, MD, a cardiologist with SSM Heart Institute at St. Joseph Health Center and St. Joseph Hospital West.
• “Is it Indigestion or a Heart Attack?” by Elie Azrak, MD, a cardiologist with SSM Heart Institute at DePaul Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center and St. Joseph Hospital West.

Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions following each presentation and visit informational booths on topics ranging from diabetes and nutrition to chest pain and cardiac catheterization. Blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol and glucose screenings will be offered from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is a $10 fee for the fasting cholesterol and glucose screening and appointments are required.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Greg Hewitt during a live broadcast with KLOU Oldies 103.3, a sponsor of the event. To register for the event and schedule a screening time, call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627) or visit ssmhealth.com/heart.