Hospital offers free screenings at Heart Health Fair

By Becky Bosshart

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 | 11:32 a.m.

The heart doctor will be in for the fourth annual free community Heart Health Fair Thursday at the St. Rose Dominican Hospitals-San Martin Campus.

The free event is expected to attract up to 160 attendees, said Holly Lyman, director of the Barbara Greenspun WomensCare Center of Excellence. The event is for American Heart Month.

Health screenings will be done from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The fair features a new screening to encourage smoking cessation. The new screening device measures the breath for carbon monoxide. Lyman said this tells how much smoking has affected the lungs.

Health care workers will also check blood pressure, EKG and body fat. Cholesterol checks are free, but a lipid panel costs $30. All blood work requires a 12-hour fast.

The 9 a.m. breakfast will be "heart healthy."

"So, it's not eggs and bacon. It'll include fruit and whole grain," Lyman said.

Dr. Herb Cordero, a cardiologist, will start give a lecture at 9:15 a.m.

The 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. breakout sessions cover the topics of tai chi and meditation. The third session is a walk on the hospital's labyrinth.

All participants will receive a gift bag with a tai chi DVD and calendar, Lyman said.

The fair will be in the Aljian Conference Center, 8280 W. Warm Springs Road. Reserve a seat by calling 616-4910.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].