Heart health risk assessment for area women begins Aug. 25

The Tiftarea Foundation for Women’s Health, Inc., is sponsoring a heart health risk assessment for area women from 7:30 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. Aug. 25-29 at 101 E. 12th St. at Garvey & Garvey Properties. Any woman who wishes to take advantage of the free medical tests being offered and the individual consultations that follow is urged to call for a required appointment before Wednesday.

The foundation raises money through such events as the annual Ya Ya Sisterhood Celebration and uses the funds to sponsor events such as the screening day and the follow up “Results Day” scheduled for 9 a.m. until noon on Sept. 13.

According to Karen Kramer, a member of the foundation’s board of directors, heart disease is the number one killer of women.

“I believe there are problems, such as the high cost of such health screenings, that keep women from getting the medical tests they need,” Kramer said.

Woman participating in the assessments should not eat or drink anything for 12 hours before their assigned appointment time. Blood draws will be for a complete lipid panel (cholesterol, triglycerides and others) and hemoglobin AIC (in-depth glucose test). Participants have blood drawn and then complete a questionnaire concerning their family medical history and lifestyle. Women can expect each appointment to take 30 minutes.

During the “Results Day” on Sept. 13, participants will be able to sit down with a medical professional and get their results and some recommendations for lowering their risk of heart disease.

“They will go over personal results in a confidential setting and be able to get advice on how to take any precautions and preventions,” Kramer said.

Joy Davis, who is also a member of the foundation’s board of directors, said that results of the tests offered can detect current health risk and those that might develop in the future. The results of the blood tests are compared with the questionnaire and then participants are given information concerning their future risk for diabetes, stroke and other heart-related diseases.

“We want to do something that will make a difference in somebody’s life,” Davis said.

Area agencies will be on hand to make participants aware of local resources that can directly help improve a woman’s heart health based on individual recommendations of the medical professionals that assess them.

Any woman who wants to participate can call 353-6318 before Aug. 20.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.

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