Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. There are nearly twice as many women in the United States who die from heart disease and stroke than from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.
To help educate women about their number one health risk, the SSM Heart Institute is sponsoring the seventh annual “Her Heart: Every Beat Counts” education and screening day. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 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 from SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, and SSM DePaul Health Center, “Heart-Smart” stations, screenings, gifts, and free lunch. Heart disease survivor Rachel D’Souza-Siebert will share her personal experiences with heart disease and how it changed her life.
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Additional presentations include:
- “How a Woman’s Heart is Different” by Sara Baig, MD, cardiologist
- “Understanding the Vascular System” by Stephen D’Orazio, MD, cardiothorascic surgeon
- “Congestive Heart Failure: What is it and How to Prevent it” by Georges Chahoud, MD, cardiologist
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.
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To register for the event and schedule a screening time, call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627) or visit ssmhealth.com/heart.