If you checked out Her Times yesterday, you know that February is the month women need to check out matters of the heart — and that means more than romance. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in Erie County. Here are some events to check out — just a few hours of your time:
Friday is the 8th Annual Wear Red Heart Awareness Expo
Put on your red dress and head down to the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel on Friday, Feb. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The day’s activities include five, half-hour mini lectures, free health screenings, healthy food sampling, shopping, and a raffle.
View the Wear Red Day flier to learn more about the lectures, health screenings, and other details. You can get free screenings — blood pressure, body mass index, cardiovascular risk assessment, varicose vein, diabetes and stroke risk – and $10 cholesterol and blood sugar testing. For more information, see the schedule of events here.
More events this month include:
“Exercise Your Heart Out”
Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.
McGarvey Learning Center at Saint Vincent Hospital
Saint Vincent Wellness Coordinator Jennifer Territo will provide information on a variety of different exercises to incorporate into your daily routine to keep your heart healthy including Zumba, strength training and R.I.P.P.E.D.
Free
Reservations required: 452-5708.
“Your Legs Can Tell A Lot About Your Heart”
Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m.
McGarvey Learning Center at Saint Vincent Hospital
Saint Vincent Peripheral Vascular Surgeon Jay Kiessling, M.D., and Cardiologist Nishant Koradia, M.D., will talk about peripheral vascular disease symptoms, screening and treatment, as well as the connection between PVD and heart disease. Free varicose vein screenings available.
Free
Reservations required: 452-7273.
“Mr. and Mrs. Heart Disease”
Feb. 20, 6 p.m.
UPMC Hamot for Women Lecture Series with Audrey Swonger, C.R.N.P., cardiac nurse practitioner with Medicor Associates Inc. Swonger will discuss heart disease risk factors and symptoms unique to both men and women.
Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital
Free
Registration is required at least one week prior: https://classes.upmc.com/Consumer/Default.aspx
“Eat Your Heart Out!”
McGarvey Learning Center at Saint Vincent Hospital
Feb. 28, Noon
Saint Vincent Wellness Dietitian Leslie Lawton, R.D., will present a seminar on a variety of foods to keep your heart healthy. Also includes a cooking demonstration.
Free
Reservations required: 452-5708.
Signs of a heart attack in women are often different than men, according to the American Heart Association. Sweating, pressure, nausea and jaw pain could be signs — in addition to pressure in the chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Don’t ignore pain in the back, neck or stomach.
Signs of a stroke from American Heart Association include: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, blurred vision in one or both eyes. dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache.
Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandPam to one.
