“Long Island Miracles” Advocacy Group

Winthrop-University Hospital’s “Long Island Miracles” Advocacy Group, the Long Island Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, will offer a free lecture, “Physical Activity and Your ICD: Special Issues and Concerns,” on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 7:00 PM. The program will be held at Winthrop’s Community Outreach Center, located at 101 Mineola Boulevard at the corner of Second Street in Mineola.

Research has shown that people with ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) benefit from exercise, however, patients often have concerns about physical activity and intensity levels. Barbara George, EdD, MSN, RN, Cardiology Clinical Coordinator at Winthrop-University Hospital, will provide an overview of physical activity for individuals with an ICD and explain exercise guidelines, including what people can and cannot do, and how they can safely start exercising. A question and answer period will follow the program.

ICDs are very useful in preventing Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), which is an abrupt loss of heart function. A major health problem, it kills an estimated 325,000 people each year in the United States. It is triggered by an electrical problem that causes the heart to stop beating, and is often confused with a heart attack. ICDs are used in patients at risk for recurrent, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.

For further information or to reserve a seat, please call (516) 663-3889 or e-mail longisland

miracles@suddencardiacarrest.org