Winthrop-University Hospital "Goes Red"

Winthrop employees and community members sing and dance their way to good health at Winthrop's second annual Women's Heart Health Symposium, which featured a Broadway musical theme. Winthrop-University Hospital's Institute for Heart Care held its second annual Women's Heart Health Symposium, "A Woman's Heart - One Singular Sensation," on February 7th. The fun-filled and informative evening was held in conjunction with the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" nationwide campaign. The event was designed to empower women with the knowledge and tools they need to reduce their risk for heart disease.

The evening featured a Broadway Show theme. "We chose the title 'One Singular Sensation' in hopes that all attendees would take time to celebrate a woman's heart while learning the most up-to-date information about the number one killer of women in America - heart disease," said Barbara George, RN, MSN, EdD, Cardiology Nurse Coordinator for Outpatient Research and Heart Failure Services. "We incorporated drama, music and even some comedy over the course of the evening to convey the important message that women need to empower themselves and learn about heart disease, risk factors and strategies for reducing personal risk."

Kevin Marzo, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiology at Winthrop-University Hospital, presented a lively demonstration of heart-healthy cooking at Winthrop's second annual Women's Heart Health Symposium. Kevin Marzo, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiology at Winthrop, presented a creative talk on nutrition, followed by a virtual tour of Tuscany, as he pedaled a stationary bicycle on stage in front of a large-screen video of the Italian countryside. He emphasized the importance of following a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; exercise; and when necessary, medication. Dr. Marzo also gave a cooking demonstration of the heart-healthy meal of chicken and salad he prepared for the audience.

The evening also included an inspirational talk by Arlene Richardson of North Woodmere who described her five-year search for answers to her constant fatigue. Mrs. Richardson explained that she sought help from various specialists, ranging from cardiologists to pulmonologists, but all of her tests were normal.

With her birthday approaching in 2007 she thought, "I'll be 50 years old and I can't believe

this is how I'm supposed to feel."

She met with Dr. Marzo in April of 2007, and using an angiogram, he diagnosed an 85% blockage in her left main artery into her heart. Mrs. Richardson met with surgeon Scott L. Schubach, MD, Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Winthrop that evening; she had a successful double bypass surgery the next morning at 6:30 AM.

"It was a quick and shocking circumstance, but I was happy that finally it was all over with," said Richardson. "These two men (Marzo and Schubach) saved me from a possible heart-attack, from possible death....I do hope that my story inspires women of all ages to take charge of their own heart-health issues. Only you know your body, take care of it."

Since women's symptoms are often different from men's, Winthrop's Institute for Heart Care recommends that women know the heart attack warning signals, as outlined by the American Heart Association:

* Discomfort, fullness, tightness, squeezing or pressure in the center of the chest that stays for more than a few minutes or comes and goes.

* Pressure or pain that spreads to the upper back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms.

* Dizziness or nausea

* Clammy sweats, heart flutters, or paleness

* Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue, or weakness - especially with exertion

* Stomach or abdominal pain

* Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

If you experience the above symptoms, call 911 for an ambulance or have someone drive you to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. Do not delay!

Winthrop's Institute for Heart Care is committed to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Clinicians address modifiable risk factors to help patients stay well, and offer the most advanced levels of diagnostic technology, medical management, interventional cardiology, and cardiac surgery.

Winthrop is also a member of Spirt of Women(r), a coalition of American hospitals and healthcare providers that ascribe to high standards of excellence in women's health, education and community outreach.

For more information about cardiology or women's health services at Winthrop, call 1-866-WINTHROP.