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Mount St. Mary's Hospital conducts series of events to celebrate 'Heart Month' in February

by jmaloni
Tue, Jan 24th 2012 07:00 am

Community education programs by three of Niagara's leading cardiologists, free community lipid panel screening, promotion of the "Go Red For Women" awareness campaign of the American Heart Association, and a hospital-wide information event are just some of the activities being coordinated in conjunction with the cardiology team at Mount St. Mary's Hospital as part of "Heart Month" in February.

The Cardiac Center at Mount St. Mary's Hospital consists of a team of six cardiologists and a 43-member staff who provide the care that makes Mount St. Mary's the leading provider of cardio-pulmonary care services in Niagara County. Services include cardiac rehabilitation, EKG, holter and event monitoring, echocardiography, cardiac stress testing, pulmonary/rehabilitation, pulmonary function testing, respiratory therapy, a sleep disorders lab, EEG and EMG testing.

The featured activities of the month-long awareness program are:

  • Feb. 1: "Are You At Risk For Heart Disease" by Dr. Arif Syed, cardiologist, at 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 3: "Go Red for Women Awareness Day"
  • Feb. 3: Heart disease stress testing at Lewiston Senior Center; 11:15 a.m.
  • Feb. 5: Free "Community Lipid Panel Screening Day" from 6 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Feb. 7-9: "Taking Charge of Your Diabetes" from 6 to 9 p.m.
  • Feb. 9: "Cardiac Rehab and the Benefits of Exercise" at Ransomville Firehall; 11:30 a.m.
  • Feb. 13-17: "Heart Month" displays in the main lobby from noon until 4 p.m. Displays include diet and nutrition, exercise for good health, and smoking cessation.
  • Feb. 13: Start of a three-week program, "Are You Still Smoking?", at 6:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 16: "Managing High Cholesterol" by Dr. Zina Hajduczok, cardiologist, at 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 27: "Heart Health for Women - Risk Factors" by Caitlin Briggs, NP, at 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 28: "Fainting and the Heart" by Dr. Benjamin Rueda, cardiologist, at 6:30 p.m.

The month's overall programs include:

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Mount St. Mary's Cardiologist Dr. Arif Syed will present "Are You At Risk For Heart Disease" at 6 p.m. in Room 249. Certified Diabetes Educator Debra Hoffman will join Syed, and there will be an array of information and blood pressure checks offered for those in attendance.

On Friday, Feb. 3, Mount St. Mary's will recognize "Go Red For Women" day with special emphasis on providing information to women on signs and risk factors of heart disease. In addition, a special display will be held at the Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center at 3101 Ninth St., Niagara Falls. The information will be available from 9 a.m. to noon.

On Friday, Feb. 3, Caitlin Briggs, NP, of Mount St. Mary's heart associates, will speak at the Lewiston Senior Center on Pletcher Road. Briggs will discuss cardiac stress testing beginning at 11:15 a.m.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, Mount St. Mary's Hospital will conduct its annual free community lipid panel screening for cholesterol levels. The tests will be taken from 6 to 10:30 a.m. in the hospital's north lobby. This is a fasting test. Participants should refrain from eating after midnight or prior to awakening. No reservations are required. For more information, call 298-2145.

From Feb. 7-9, Hoffman will present "Taking Charge of Your Diabetes." This is a series of three sessions, each running from 6 to 9 p.m. in Room 249 of the main hospital building. To register, call 298-2297.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, Cynthia Belton, RN, of Mount St. Mary's cardiology, will speak at the Ransomville Firehall on Youngstown-Lockport Road. She will discuss cardiac rehabilitation and the benefits of exercise, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

On Friday, Feb. 11, Mount St. Mary's will conduct a blood drive for the community blood bank of Upstate New York Transplant Services. The UNYTS drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are available at 298-2145; walk-ins are welcome

Starting Monday, Feb. 13, and continuing through Friday, Feb. 17, a "Heart Month" health fair will be held at Mount St. Mary's. A variety of displays on health topics will be set up in the hospital's main lobby.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, from noon until 4 p.m. in the hospital's main lobby, there will be blood pressure screening, diet and nutrition information, measuring for body mass index, and more. At 2 p.m., Mount St. Mary's Cardiologist Dr. Marc Veneziano will present a program titled, "Those Funny Little Beats/Palpitations" in Room 723A. To register, call 298-2145.

Starting on Monday, Feb. 13 and continuing on Feb. 20 and 27, "Fall Out of Addictions: Stop Smoking," a series of three classes, will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 723A of the hospital. Exercise specialist Elyse Updegraph will conduct the class. Register by calling 298-2145 or 298-3030.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, Mount St. Mary's Cardiologist Dr. Zina Hajduczok will present "Managing High Cholesterol" at 6 p.m. in Room 249.

On Monday, Feb. 27, Briggs will discuss "Heart Health for Women: What Are Your Risk Factors," at 6 p.m. in Room 249.

 On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Mount St. Mary's Cardiologist Dr. Benjamin Rueda will present "Fainting and the Heart" at 6 p.m. in Room 249.

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