Maria Parham Health to Hold Healthy Heart Day

February is Heart Month, and Maria Parham Health is holding a Healthy Heart Day heart fair on Thursday, February 8, featuring information and resources to help the Henderson/Vance County community live longer and stronger.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.

More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one-third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death in the United States, for both men and women.

Healthy Heart Day at Maria Parham Health will provide attendees with the tools and resources to live a heart-healthy lifestyle, and hopefully prevent cardiovascular disease. Registered nurses will be on hand to provide free blood pressure and pulse/oximeter readings, and exercise physiologist Chris Cole will be there with Maria Parham athletic trainers, to consult with attendees about the best heart-healthy exercises for their lifestyles. Guests of the heart fair can speak with a registered dietitian about heart-healthy eating, and Director of Cardiac Services Lisa McGhee will be on hand to guide a virtual tour of Maria Parham’s state-of-the-art Heart Catheterization Lab. McGhee will also provide information regarding Maria Parham’s many cardiac services and Vance County EMS will be on hand to teach life-saving Hands-Only CPR techniques.

Medicaid Expansion information will also be available at this free event, with enrollment guidance offered to anyone who feels they may be eligible.