Do Your Heart A Favor

To the Editor,

I am writing to invite Newtown residents to the free Heart Health Day selective screening that will be held at the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium on June 24 from 8 am to noon.

Why? According to the US Department of Health, cardiovascular disease can be eliminated. Preventative practices early in life do matter because there are families at risk. One fourth of the nation’s population lives with some form of this disease incubating in them. And more than one-fourth of cardiovascular disease occurs in women – this is not only a male disease.

But, if we can recognize our risk, we can successfully lower it in most instances, by simple, accessible measures. The free, confidential June 24 screening can be your chance for an annual recheck of your test levels and progress so that you can deal with them to reach the year 2000 goals.

Let’s ask ourselves these questions: What is a high-risk family? Are we part of one? How can we help individuals decide whether they need to take advantage of Heart Health Day? Consider these easily answered questions, the first relating to family: Have any of your parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles had – before the age of 65 – bypass surgery or angioplasty, heart attack, stroke, angina (chest pain), mini-strokes (TIA), a sudden death, or amputation of part of a limb?

If you do not know your family history, if you are the child of a single parent or orphaned, consider yourself at high risk. If you had protein (albumin) or sugar in your urine at any time, you are at risk.

Anyone who takes, or has been told they may need to take, medication for “cholesterol,” blood pressure, or diabetes also is at risk.

If you have any of these risk factors, you are invited to come to the free selective screening on June 24 with your children, ages 15 and above. If you have previous reports that show your blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood sugar, bring them.

No matter what your level of cardiovascular care has been, you and your family will be able to discuss your risks again with cardiologists at the screening. All information is confidential; reports will go to your family doctor for follow-up.

 If you have even one major risk factor, you should come. If you smoke or are overweight, you are welcome. If you are “inactive,” you should come to the screening. These risk factors affect your cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides.

It is recommended that anyone with risk factors be screened twice a year and this is a good opportunity to have the screening done at no cost. Come fasting – a light breakfast will follow the screening.

Anyone under the age of 65 with any risk factors is urged to attend because 90 percent of the time a heart risk factor can be identified years before a stroke or a heart attack occurs. Families carry risk factors for generations as heredity and environment interplay. What you eat, smoking, your weight, and activity level are lifestyle factors. Come find out how even small changes can make a big difference in your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Your participation in this screening will help in another way, as well. Newtown is the pilot location for a cardiovascular screening program that  will be replicated in towns all over the state.

Call 426-5524 for an appointment to be fast-tracked at the screening. Walk-ins will be accommodated as time permits.

Sincerely,

Joseph G. Buchman, MD, FACC

38C Grove Street, Ridgefield                                       June 13, 2000