Facebook Challenge
During the month of February, the Health Center is launching a Challenge for a Healthy Heart on the social media site Facebook. Every day, visitors to the Health Center’s Facebook page will receive a heart healthy challenge to complete. Those who indicate they have completed the challenge will be automatically entered to win prizes. “This is a fun way to educate the public about the importance of heart health,” says Chris Kaminski, Office of Communications. “By the end of the challenge visitors will receive a month’s worth of heart-healthy tips from the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center that they can incorporate into their daily lives.”

Discovery Series
The Health Center’s Discovery Series is commemorating the month by hosting a program about vascular disease which is linked to several serious problems, from heart attack and stroke to aneurysms and amputations. Experts from the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center will provide lifesaving information about how to detect and treat carotid artery disease to prevent strokes; the signs and symptoms as well as techniques to prevent peripheral artery disease to prevent leg amputations; and the most advanced surgical approaches to treat aneurysms in the chest and abdomen. The program takes place on Thursday, February 2, at 7 p.m. in Keller Auditorium at UConn’s Farmington campus.

Go Red for Women
The Calhoun Cardiology Center is once again partnering with NBC Connecticut to raise awareness about heart health in women by sponsoring its Go Red for Women campaign. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States,” says Dr. Joyce Meng, co-director of the Women’s Heart Health Program. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease by encouraging both men and women to wear red on Friday, February 3. The movement challenges women to know their risk for heart disease and to take action to reduce their personal risk.

Red Booties Video
The staff at the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center along with other departments at John Dempsey Hospital have kicked up their heels and produced a fun video. Doctors, nurses, and staff wearing red booties show off their dancing skills to promote heart health awareness.

“Are You Heart Smart?” Talk
Rounding off the month is a lecture titled, “Are You Heart Smart?” that will focus on encouraging individuals to know their personal risk factors for heart disease. “Individuals attending the lecture will be able to take a personal heart disease risk assessment survey which is the first step towards a healthy heart,” says physician assistant Bradley Biskup. Participants will also explore the effects of diet, exercise and stress on their health. They will also learn about UConn’s Lifestyle Modification Program and how it helps individuals develop a risk reduction plan to keep their heart healthy. The lecture will be held on Monday, February 27, at noon and at 6:30 p.m. in the Onyiuke Dining Room on the Farmington campus.

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