Celebrating healthier hearts for women
Offer women a fun activity with an important message: That was the goal of Lancaster General’s first Day of Dance event, which attracted nearly 3,000 people to the Lancaster General Health Campus on February 24.
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Doug Kulp, Executive Chef at Lancaster General Hospital, leads
a heart healthy cooking demonstration at Day of Dance. |
More women die from heart disease than any other cause, and 90 percent of women ages 40-70 have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Promoting healthier heart habits is the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease.
Day of Dance, a nationwide Spirit of Women event, brings together entertainment and heart health education in a fun and memorable way.
“It was something new for Lancaster County, something different, and something fun,” says Jennifer Dondero, Day of Dance event coordinator. “People got a chance to see and participate in many different dance steps—learning dances that many had never had an opportunity to try before.”
Educational sessions with heart experts and health screenings were very well received by participants. The heart healthy cooking demonstrations by Doug Kulp, Executive Chef at Lancaster General Hospital, were a huge success.
The free event attracted the third highest crowd among the 51 Day of Dance events nationwide, far exceeding expectations for its Lancaster General debut.
“The response was spectacular,” says Holly Shaffer, Day of Dance co-chair and Women’s Heart Health Educator. “It’s wonderful that there was so much interest in heart health, and that we were able to invest in the lives of women through this event.”
With heart diseases claming the lives of one in three women, more are recognizing the need to keep heart health in mind at any age.
“It’s never too early to start taking care of your heart,” Holly says. Lancaster General Heart Center continues to educate women about ways to improve their cardiac health through the Heart Healthy Woman program, which sponsors lectures, provides educational materials, and promotes activities that are designed with your heart in mind.
Heart Healthy Woman stresses four major points that women should consider to reduce their risk of heart disease:
- Know your numbers. Have an annual check-up that includes evaluation of your cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, and if at risk for diabetes, your glucose level. Call your doctor, or call (800) 341-2121 to find a doctor that’s right for you.
- Improve your diet and exercise. Be sure to include the nutrients your body needs in your dailydiet, while limiting sugar and saturated/trans fats. Physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Set a goal to build up to 30 minutes of activity into every day.
- Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of heart attack in younger women, who are smoking in growing numbers. Our Freedom from Smoking class can help you get on the road to a smoke-free lifestyle.
- Clear your mind of stress. Finding ways to cope with stress has benefits that reduce risk for heart disease. Yoga, Tai Chi, and even a journaling class are offered by Lancaster
General Wellness Center as effective ways to reduce stress. A new stress management class is also available.
“Remember that it’s the little everyday things—like choosing a whole grain bagel for breakfast instead of a donut—that can have a significant impact on your health in the long run,” Holly says.
For more information about the Heart Healthy Woman Program, call 544-3266 or visit us online.
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