Free Women’s Heart Affair Feb. 9

Participants receive free screenings, health presentations and wellness resources

Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) is celebrating American Heart Month by hosting its fifth annual Women’s Heart Health Affair on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Resource Center (44151 15th Street West in Lancaster). This event will feature free health screenings, beauty services, health presentations, hands-only CPR training, prizes and refreshments. All are welcome. Registration is not required.

Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably and to wear red in honor of American Heart Month. The first 50 attendees receive a free gift. Free health screenings will include cholesterol and blood pressure. Fasting is not required for these screenings. Presenters include Sameh Gadallah, M.D., cardiologist and medical director for AVMC’s Institute for Heart & Vascular Care; Eileen Shu, M.D., an emergency department physician; and Alyse Dunlap, an Antelope Valley resident, sharing a firsthand account of her own heart attack at just 52 years old.

“AV Hospital is taking the initiative to address heart health after years of data consistently show a high number of heart attacks, high blood cholesterol and other cardiovascular illnesses in the Antelope Valley,” said Dr. Gadallah. “This event is designed to help women reduce their risk of developing heart disease by giving practical tips and encouraging survivor stories.”

Heart disease and stroke are serious health issues for women. More women die each year of heart disease than all cancers combined, and each year stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Through this event, AVMC hopes to inform women about their personal risk for heart disease and stroke. Risk factors include smoking; high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; being overweight or obese; lack of physical activity; unhealthy diet; diabetes and pre-diabetes; and other conditions such as sleep apnea, stress and alcohol abuse.

Participants also are invited to bring their medications and vitamins for a free medication review by a pharmacist who will help identify any potential medication interactions as well as answer questions about each medication.

Hands-only CPR demonstrations will be provided by AMR Medical Transportation. Hands-Only CPR, also known as “Sidewalk CPR,” is different from conventional mouth-to-mouth CPR. Sidewalk CPR is designed to give people basic skills, which if provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival until emergency responders arrive.

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