MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO PRESENT 4TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH SYMPOSIUM ON SATURDAY, APRIL 24
April 22, 2010
MUSCSpecialists Will Educate Women about Warning Signs, Risk FactorsandPrevention of Heart Disease and Stroke
CHARLESTON,SC – April 24, 2010 – True or false?More American women die of cancer than heart disease.
The correct answer is “false”. Heartdisease is by far the nation’s leading killer of women. Nearly twice as manywomen in theUnitedStates die ofheart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms ofcancer, including breast cancer, according to the American Heart Association.Unfortunately, more women than men also die from a first heart attack orstroke.
The disproportionate impact ofcardiovascular disease on women promptedCharleston resident BevSeinsheimer to team up with MUSC Women’s Heart Care physicians in 2007 to foundthe annual Women’s Heart Health Symposium. The 4th annual event isscheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, at the Gaillard MunicipalAuditorium in downtownCharleston.
A former cardiac surgery nurse,Seinsheimer said she was inspired to create a symposium for Lowcountry womenafter seeing a presentation six years ago by Dr. Pamela B. Morris, a MUSCpreventive cardiologist who directs the Seinsheimer Cardiovascular HealthProgram. Morris and Dr. Marian H. Taylor also are co-directors of the MUSC Women’s Heart Care program, whichsponsors the symposium
“It was so clear to me that something hadto be done to educate more women about heart disease,” said Seinsheimer, whoserves as symposium co-chair with Sigrid Laughlin. “Women in particular need toknow their risk factors, warning signs and treatment options. The good news isthat most cardiovascular disease is preventable – if everyone practicedprevention, we could prevent 63 percent of heart attacks and 31 percent ofstrokes.”
This year’s symposium will feature talksby MUSC physicians, instruction in nutrition and exercise, and an inspiringkeynote address by Heather Perram Frank of Jump Strategies. Frank’s talk, titled“Me-Hab: Living Your Life with Joy, Purpose and Energy,” will focus on theimportance of women putting themselves first and trends in women’s media, healthand wellness. Frank also was recently named general manager of Health andWellness Content for USA Today and usatoday.com.
Other program highlightsinclude:
- Dr. JanBasile – Understanding hypertension in women
- Dr.Pamela B. Morris – New tests to identify heart attack risks inwomen
- Dr.Marian H. Taylor – Exercise and a woman’s heart
- Dr.Tanya Turan – Stroke symptoms and risk in women
- Dr.Daniel Steinberg – Coronary stents in women
- KellieMcLain, ANP, Clinical Lipid Specialist – Lowering cholesterol
- AmyMendez, RD, LD, MPH – Sodium and a woman’s heart
The program also will feature performanceand instruction in Zumba Fitness and Marine Boot Camp, a Go Red fashion showshowcasing red fashions from local clothiers, shopping with a selection of localvendors, and a raffle for prizes donated by local merchants.
Admission to the Women’s Heart HealthSymposium is free and all attendees will receive a heart healthy lunch and freeparking in the Gaillard garage. However, registration is required and space islimited. To make a reservation, visit www.MUSChealth.com/whhs or call (843) 792-1616 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Women’s Heart Health Symposium isco-sponsored by the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign andBlue Cross Blue Shield. MUSC is the exclusive Lowcountry sponsor of the Go RedFor Women campaign, a nationwide movement that encourages women to care fortheir hearts by leading healthy lives and knowing the risk factors for heartdisease.
Blue Cross Blue Shield also has helpedunderwrite the cost of the Symposium since itsinception.
Editor’sNote: Keynote speaker Heather Perram Frank will speak at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Sheis available for interviews by phone on Friday or on site after her talk.
