Cardiac Center at Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center events celebrate Heart Month

Community education programs by two of Niagara's leading cardiologists, free community lipid panel screenings, 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 Cardiac Center of 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 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 with services that 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.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital will present a series of programs in February as part of its "Health For All Seasons" health education program and event series. Some of the activities will feature events as part of the hospital's Heart Month celebration.

On Feb. 8, 15 and 22, a "Pre-Diabetes' Education Class" will be presented by Debra Hoffman, certified diabetes educator. If you are overweight, have a family history of diabetes and have slightly elevated blood sugars, this class will provide you with information that may slow the progression of diabetes. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Room 249. Call 298-2297 to register.

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. - 4 p.m. Appointments are available at 298-2145 and walk-ins are welcome.

On Sunday, Feb. 13, Mount St. Mary's Hospital will conduct its annual free community lipid panel screening for cholesterol levels. The tests will be taken from 6 until 10:30 a.m. in the hospital's north lobby. This is a fasting test. Do not eat after midnight or prior to awakening. No reservations are required. For information call 298-2145.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, a Heart Month health fair will be held at Mount St. Mary's. Starting at noon in the hospital's main lobby and continuing until 4 p.m., 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.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, Mount St. Mary's cardiologist Dr. Zina Hajduczok will present "Understand Cholesterol: Managing Treatment Side Effects" at 6:30 p.m. in Room 249.

Starting on Monday, Feb. 21, and continuing on Feb. 28 and March 7, "Health For All Seasons" and the hospital's fully-accredited cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program present "Fall Out of Addictions: Stop Smoking," a series of three classes offered from 6-8 p.m. in Room 723A of the hospital. Elyse Updegraph, exercise specialist, will conduct the class. Register by calling 298-2145 or 298-3030.

On Feb. 22, 23 and 24, "Taking Charge of Your Diabetes" will be presented by Debra Hoffman, certified diabetes educator. This is a series of three sessions held from 1 until 4 p.m. The course will be held in Room 249 of the main hospital building. To register, call 298-2297.

On Thursday, Feb. 24, Mount St. Mary's cardiologist Dr. Benjamin Rueda will present "PAD: Peripheral Artery Disease" at 6:30 p.m. in Room 723A.