Local Events Raise Women's Health Awareness
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
"A high percentage (of heart disease) is treatable and preventable," said Dana Leon Huffer, campaign chairperson for The Heart Truth for Women campaign of Kosciusko County.[[In-content Ad]]The Heart Truth is a national campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Locally, in order to help fight heart disease in women, the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa Inc. is coordinating The Heart Truth for Women campaign of Kosciusko County for the third consecutive year.
"Our goal is to improve the quality of life in Kosciusko County by improving (women's) health, and having a good time while we're at it," said Huffer. Once the lives of women are improved, that also improves the lives of their families and employers, she said.
During the campaign this year, there will be health screenings, desserts, giveaways, guest speakers and a comedy show. All events are free and most are underwritten by the Dr. Dane A. and Mary Louise Miller Foundation.
The Heart Truth campaign starts Jan. 31. Free bone density screenings, sponsored by the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Inc., will be given at the Kosciusko Community Senior Activity Center from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Doors to the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center open at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31 for the free Women's Health Forum.
The forum will include free health screenings for women for cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, glucose, body fat and body mass index, sponsored by the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Inc. and Kosciusko Community Hospital. The non-fasting cholesterol testing is open to the first 100 women, while the other screenings will fit in as many women as possible until 7:30 p.m.
During the forum, Dr. Michele Helfgott, of Northeast OB-Gyn of Fort Wayne, and Dr. Angela LaSalle, of Fort Wayne Endocrinology, will give presentations. Helfgott will focus on women's hormones and heart disease. LaSalle will present "The Daily Fight Against Heart Disease: Reduce Inflammation ... Reduce Your Risks."
Tri Kappa will hand out red dress pins as a reminder of the campaign's message. This year's campaign materials also will include a special collection cookbook containing heart healthy recipes from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, as well as Eliz Greene's book, "Passion for Life." The materials are provided by support from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko REMC Operation RoundUp Fund and the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust.
Greene will give the keynote presentation at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 titled "Juggling Lessons for Life." The focus on the presentation is how women juggle many things at once and how all that juggling affects their stress levels and health.
Huffer said Greene was seven months pregnant with twins when she had a fairly large heart attack. After her recovery, Greene started the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative. The initiative's mission is to inspire women to pay attention to their heart health through down-to-earth strategies and motivation, to educate healthcare providers on the importance of addressing heart disease with all women, and to champion the cause of women and heart disease by celebrating female survivors.
Women attending Jan. 31's forum can enter to win one of several prizes. Prizes including KCH Health & Wellness Center memberships, a personal wellness profile, diet instruction and personal training, heart healthy cooking lessons donated by Tracey Koontz, Swarovski crystal red dress pins, tickets to "Menopause the Musical" playing in Indianapolis, massages or gift baskets. The gift baskets donated by Northeast OB-Gyn and Elite Woman of Fort Wayne include DeBrand Fine Chocolates and a Power Regeneration Facial from Elite Woman.
"It's well worth coming out and it's all free," said Huffer.
Feb. 1 is National Wear Red Day for Women's Heart Health Awareness.
"We hope to paint the town red," said Huffer. She said they hope women and men all wear red Feb. 1 to support the campaign.
Feb. 2, there will be free bone density testing at the Winona Lake Senior Center from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
"I think (bone density is) one of the overall indicators of health for women. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis," said Huffer of the four opportunities for women to get the bone density screenings. The K21 Foundation thought it was important enough to support it and provide the screenings to the community, she said.
The campaign is capped off with "Mama's Night Out" Feb. 2 at the WCHS Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., with free bone density screenings and desserts.
The comedy starts at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 with the women of "Mama's Night Out." Tickets to the comedy show are free and available at the WCHS ticket office.
"Mama's Night Out" features the finalists from Nick At Nite's "Search for the Funniest Mom in America" contest. Huffer said it's basically a comedy routine about women, but not just for women.
"I think it will appeal to more than just women," said Huffer. She said she hopes women take their friends, mothers, daughters, boyfriends and husbands to the show. Since it's free, "there's no reason not to take advantage of it," Huffer said.
For more information, visit online at www.hearttruth.gov or www.mamasnightout.com, or contact Huffer at 574-267-6116.
"A high percentage (of heart disease) is treatable and preventable," said Dana Leon Huffer, campaign chairperson for The Heart Truth for Women campaign of Kosciusko County.[[In-content Ad]]The Heart Truth is a national campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Locally, in order to help fight heart disease in women, the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa Inc. is coordinating The Heart Truth for Women campaign of Kosciusko County for the third consecutive year.
"Our goal is to improve the quality of life in Kosciusko County by improving (women's) health, and having a good time while we're at it," said Huffer. Once the lives of women are improved, that also improves the lives of their families and employers, she said.
During the campaign this year, there will be health screenings, desserts, giveaways, guest speakers and a comedy show. All events are free and most are underwritten by the Dr. Dane A. and Mary Louise Miller Foundation.
The Heart Truth campaign starts Jan. 31. Free bone density screenings, sponsored by the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Inc., will be given at the Kosciusko Community Senior Activity Center from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Doors to the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center open at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31 for the free Women's Health Forum.
The forum will include free health screenings for women for cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, glucose, body fat and body mass index, sponsored by the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Inc. and Kosciusko Community Hospital. The non-fasting cholesterol testing is open to the first 100 women, while the other screenings will fit in as many women as possible until 7:30 p.m.
During the forum, Dr. Michele Helfgott, of Northeast OB-Gyn of Fort Wayne, and Dr. Angela LaSalle, of Fort Wayne Endocrinology, will give presentations. Helfgott will focus on women's hormones and heart disease. LaSalle will present "The Daily Fight Against Heart Disease: Reduce Inflammation ... Reduce Your Risks."
Tri Kappa will hand out red dress pins as a reminder of the campaign's message. This year's campaign materials also will include a special collection cookbook containing heart healthy recipes from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, as well as Eliz Greene's book, "Passion for Life." The materials are provided by support from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko REMC Operation RoundUp Fund and the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust.
Greene will give the keynote presentation at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 titled "Juggling Lessons for Life." The focus on the presentation is how women juggle many things at once and how all that juggling affects their stress levels and health.
Huffer said Greene was seven months pregnant with twins when she had a fairly large heart attack. After her recovery, Greene started the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative. The initiative's mission is to inspire women to pay attention to their heart health through down-to-earth strategies and motivation, to educate healthcare providers on the importance of addressing heart disease with all women, and to champion the cause of women and heart disease by celebrating female survivors.
Women attending Jan. 31's forum can enter to win one of several prizes. Prizes including KCH Health & Wellness Center memberships, a personal wellness profile, diet instruction and personal training, heart healthy cooking lessons donated by Tracey Koontz, Swarovski crystal red dress pins, tickets to "Menopause the Musical" playing in Indianapolis, massages or gift baskets. The gift baskets donated by Northeast OB-Gyn and Elite Woman of Fort Wayne include DeBrand Fine Chocolates and a Power Regeneration Facial from Elite Woman.
"It's well worth coming out and it's all free," said Huffer.
Feb. 1 is National Wear Red Day for Women's Heart Health Awareness.
"We hope to paint the town red," said Huffer. She said they hope women and men all wear red Feb. 1 to support the campaign.
Feb. 2, there will be free bone density testing at the Winona Lake Senior Center from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
"I think (bone density is) one of the overall indicators of health for women. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis," said Huffer of the four opportunities for women to get the bone density screenings. The K21 Foundation thought it was important enough to support it and provide the screenings to the community, she said.
The campaign is capped off with "Mama's Night Out" Feb. 2 at the WCHS Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., with free bone density screenings and desserts.
The comedy starts at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 with the women of "Mama's Night Out." Tickets to the comedy show are free and available at the WCHS ticket office.
"Mama's Night Out" features the finalists from Nick At Nite's "Search for the Funniest Mom in America" contest. Huffer said it's basically a comedy routine about women, but not just for women.
"I think it will appeal to more than just women," said Huffer. She said she hopes women take their friends, mothers, daughters, boyfriends and husbands to the show. Since it's free, "there's no reason not to take advantage of it," Huffer said.
For more information, visit online at www.hearttruth.gov or www.mamasnightout.com, or contact Huffer at 574-267-6116.
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