There are still a few days left in February, and health care professionals at Maria Parham Health want the community to be informed about heart health and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Araba Ofosu-Somuah, an interventional cardiologist, is a speaker at an upcoming Lunch and Learn event on Thursday, Feb. 27 at the hospital.

Ofosu and Lisa McGhee, director of MPH cardiac services, were guests on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny! on WIZS to talk about the program, which will also feature Dr. Benjamin Dao.

The program begins at 12 noon in the hospital’s auditorium, McGhee said. Following lunch and a question-and-answer period, Part 2 of the program will take place in one of the hospital’s classrooms, where multiple interactive stations will be set up – participants can get their blood pressure checked, learn about healthy diets and cardiac rehabilitation options and much more.

McGhee said there will be demonstrations on how to administer hands-only CPR.

There will be giveaways and information about other resources available as well.

Ofosu said she has an interest in obstetrics and women’s cardiac care and spent several years during her fellowship looking at links between problems during pregnancy and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease when women reach their 40s and 50s.

She said it’s important for women to tell their primary care providers about any obstetrical problems they may have experienced in the past.

Primary care physicians often create baseline testing, and, if concerns persist, can make a referral to a cardiologist.

Acknowledging that some risks are within a patient’s control and some are not, Ofosu said she likes to focus on primary prevention – the things that people can do to avoid cardiovascular disease – healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise.

Ofosu uses the catheterization lab at Maria Parham, and, even though she’s only been here six months or so, she said having access to such a tool is key to promoting good heart health.

McGhee said the cath lab has been open since 2017, and the hospital has been providing coronary interventions since 2019 for patients who have blockages in their coronary arteries that could lead to heart attack.

The Lunch and Learn is one way to increase awareness in the community about signs of cardiovascular disease or other symptoms that could point to heart or vascular problems.

“If people were more proactive instead of reactive about these primary risk factors, I think we would be able to make some changes when it comes to outcomes for cardiovascular disease,” Ofosu said.

Register for the Lunch and Learn online at www.mariaparham.com. There is no cost to attend.

Participants can enter through the Cancer Center entrance to get to the auditorium, McGhee said.

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