February is American Heart Month and the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation hosted a luncheon at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City on Valentine’s Day to share important information about cardiovascular health with women in the community.
The Dottie Fuqua Women’s Heart Support Network started at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and expanded to Piedmont Fayette, thanks to generous donations from Fayetteville resident and Foundation Board Member Vicki Turner. The program further expanded to hire a fulltime program coordinator and begin serving Piedmont Newnan thanks to a grant from the Cigna Foundation. The Women’s Heart Support Network focuses on prevention, clinical care, and support to reduce heart disease among women and promote long-term heart health and wellness. In order to aid prevention, the program offers personalized heart screenings to identify individual risk factors. Currently, screenings are available at Piedmont Heart Institute offices in Fayetteville, Sharpsburg, and Newnan.
At the Valentine’s Day luncheon, cardiologist Bukola Olubi, M.D. spoke about the risk factors for heart disease for women and stressed the difference between men’s and women’s heart attack symptoms. Avril James, program coordinator for the Women’s Heart Support Network, was joined by Chef Nancy Jaworski and talked about adding vegetables to your diet for heart-healthy nutrition, and Robin Raflo, a program coordinator for the Women’s Heart Support Network, discussed the importance of mindfulness to reduce stress.
One of the more impactful parts of the program came from Penny Conlan, who shared her story of dismissing her symptoms of a heart attack due to uncertainty. Penny’s story addressed the significant need for education and awareness surrounding heart disease for women.
“Women have a tendency to take care of others first. This program’s aim is to take care of women first and to provide them with the knowledge and support they need so that they can stay healthier for all life has to offer,” said Dr. Olubi. “We hope that the women in the community will continue to drive the growth and momentum of this program, and support each other on their quests for wellness.”
To learn more about the Women’s Heart Support Network or the screening for women, visit piedmont.org/womensheart. Donations to the Women’s Heart Support Network can be made on-line at give.piedmont.org.
