February 2012
February is American Heart Month, a month when health care professionals and those affected by heart disease join forces to increase public awareness of cardiovascular disease and inspire people to take charge of their heart health. Though the risks increase with age, the roots of heart disease can begin as early as childhood. Today, we’re seeing heart attacks strike men and women decades earlier – as young as their 30s and 40s – a byproduct of a more sedentary lifestyle of fast food and TV. High blood pressure remains the #1 risk factor for cardiovascular disease, regardless of age. But the rise also is linked to a corresponding increase in a related trio of ills among younger adults: obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. The good news is that many risk factors are reversible; studies show that people well into their 80s can reduce their chances of dying from heart disease by nearly two-thirds simply by adopting a healthier lifestyle.
In this month’s issue of Health e-Clicks, you’ll find free community education events designed to help you manage risk factors associated with the disease. You can also take advantage of Sarasota Memorial’s $30 Heart Screening, a series of eight non-invasive tests that provide you and your doctor an efficient and cost effective way of assessing and monitoring your cardiovascular health. For information or appointments, call (941) 917-8889 or visit our heart screening webpage: www.smh.com/p.aspx?p=536
You can also view a series of nutrition and heart health education videos produced by Sarasota Memorial staff to help prevent or manage heart disease. Visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/SMHCS
Forks Over Knives - Free Documentary Screening
Sarasota Memorial's Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department is hosting a free screening of the film "Forks Over Knives," a documentary examining research that demonstrates most degenerative diseases can be controlled, or even reversed, by adopting a whole foods plant-based diet. The screening will be held 1-3 pm Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Sarasota Memorial Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd. Please RSVP by Feb. 10: (941) 917-6139.
Back to Top
Risks of Chronic Heartburn
If you or someone you know suffers from acid reflux or chronic heartburn, it can be more than an inconvenience. Heartburn, GERD and Barrett's esophagus are digestive disorders that if not treated can progress to more serious pre-cancerous conditions and esophageal cancer. Learn more at a free community education event presented by Sarasota Memorial Gastroenterologist Scott Corbett, MD, 6:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Waldemere Medical Plaza (second floor Jacaranda Room), 1921 Waldemere St., across from the main hospital. Please RSVP: (941) 917-7777.
Back to Top
Schizophrenia, Depression & Brain Health
Join nationally recognized physician and researcher David V. Habif Jr., MD, for a series of free mental health seminars co-hosted by Sarasota Memorial’s Bayside Center for Behavioral Health and Mental Health Community Centers. Lectures will be held 9:30 am-12:30 pm (registration 9 am) in Sarasota Memorial’s first floor auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota: Feb 25 – Schizophrenia; March 24 – New Frontiers and Depression, co-presented by Parlane Reid, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer and Psychiatrist at Sarasota Memorial; April 21 – Brain Health and Wellness: Practical Applications for You and Your Loved Ones. Three CEUs are available for $15. RSVP: (941) 953-3477 or register at: mhcci.com
Back to Top
Heart Month at Sarasota Memorial HealthSquare
If you're shopping for your Valentine and heartfelt gifts at Westfield Sarasota Square this month, be sure to stop by Sarasota Memorial's HealthSquare, located near Macy’s in the center of the mall, for a series of free presentations promoting heart health. Upcoming: Wednesday, Feb 15 (3-4 pm) – Managing Your Blood Thinners/Anti-Coagulation Medications; Tuesday, Feb. 21 (2-4 pm) – Hypertension & Cholesterol. For more topics and times, browse our online calendar at smh.com or contact our HealthSquare team at: healthsquare@smh.com or (941) 302-4271.
Back to Top
Managing Chronic Pain
Meet one of Sarasota Memorial’s pain management physicians, Donald Erb, DO, at Sarasota Memorial HealthSquare, located near Macy’s in the center of Westfield Sarasota Square, and learn about the latest strategies to manage chronic pain at a free presentation, 1-3 pm Friday, March 9. For information, contact our HealthSquare team at (941) 302-4271 or email: healthsquare@smh.com
Back to Top
Have you had an experience with Sarasota Memorial that you’d like to share with others?
Share Your Story
Follow Us on Our Social Media Sites
