Heart Disease is Number One Killer of Americans
Get A Free Heart Health Screening
Did you know heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, yet many people aren’t aware of their risks and the simple steps they can take to lower their risk of developing heart disease? In an effort to save lives and promote heart healthy living, Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital will host its annual Heart to Heart Fair, a community event which offers free heart health screenings with on-the-spot results, one-on-one consultations with a Mercy healthcare professional, lively fitness demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, physician presentations, giveaways and more.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at West County Center located at I-270 and Manchester Road in Des Peres.
Anyone age 21 and over is encouraged to attend Heart to Heart and it is not necessary to fast prior to the heart health screening. All participants will have the opportunity to be evaluated for important health indicators, including:
• Total Cholesterol
• HDL Cholesterol
• TC/HDL Ratio
• Triglycerides
• Blood Glucose
• Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index
• Waist Circumference
“The Mercy Health Foundation and Boeing are proud corporate sponsors of the Heart to Heart Fair,” says Sarah L. Spradlin, Regional Vice President, Mercy Foundation. “This event enables Mercy to promote a heart healthy lifestyle, and we are fortunate that it has become one of the largest outreach efforts in the area regarding cardiovascular health.”
Contrary to the common belief that heart disease is only a “man’s disease,” it is in fact the leading cause of death for American men and women. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event and every minute, someone will die from one.
“Our goal is to save lives by early detection,” says Dr. Jeanne Cleveland, one of the Mercy physicians who have been involved with the project for the past five years. “We will focus on how people can help prevent heart disease using risk factor modification, such as smoking cessation, exercise, and dietary changes.”
Although the event is free, online pre-registration is encouraged at mercy.net/stl or call 314-856-0502.