Memorial Heart and Vascular Services to Sponsor Free Heart-Health Event for Women

[May 08, 2017]  SPRINGFIELD – Area women are invited to a free community event featuring fun and interactive breakout sessions to improve their heart health at Celebrate the Heart of a Woman from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Gus and Flora Kerasotes YMCA, 4450 W. Iles Ave.

Sponsored by Memorial Heart and Vascular Services, the event, Celebrate the Heart of a Woman, will also feature keynote speaker Dr. Ashley McDonald with Memorial Physician Services-Chatham.

Several breakout sessions will offer fun and easy ways to exercise and relax. They are "Chair Yoga, Pilates, Power Pump," "WERQ (a cardio dance workout)," "Healthy Lifestyle through Strength and Balance," "Paraffin Hand Dip," "Hand Massage" and "Can We Talk Heart to Heart About Sugar?" led by registered dietitian Erin Zepp.

“Women can do so much to lower their risk of heart disease, including maintaining a healthy diet, managing their weight, exercising and controlling stress,” said Paula Harwood, a registered nurse and manager of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and heart failure at Memorial Medical Center. “We’ll cover that in a fun way to help empower and motivate women to take care of their hearts.”

Many women mistakenly think heart disease primarily affects men, Harwood said. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in four women in the United States dies of heart disease and 80 percent of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more risk factors for heart disease.

The free event is open to the public, but reservations are recommended. Comfortable clothing and shoes are encouraged for breakout sessions. Refreshments will be served.

To register, visit MemorialMedical.com or call [phone].

[Michael Leathers, Memorial Health Systems]