Women’s Heart Center - Redding, CA
Miscellaneous Tidbits
October 2nd, 2008
This is really so cool! And something I can’t resist telling you about. I think most of us are aware that heart disease is prevalent in our society. Did you realize it is the #1 killer of women as well as men?
My friend, Sheryl Hallstrom RN, is the nurse manager of the Women’s Heart Center in Redding, CA located at 1100 Butte Street. Dr. Gisela Okonski, Cardiologist, is the Medical Director of the program. Sheryl has been telling me about the heart center and I thought it a good idea to check it out. After all, I’m a woman between 18 and 80! Sheryl indicated that if there is a family history of heart disease, it is not too early to be evaluated in your 20’s or 30’s. Certainly, by the time you’re in your 50’s, (which I am), this is a wise thing to do. The idea is to PREVENT problems!
This is your perfect opportunity, for $45, to receive a comprehensive cardiac risk factor screening, assessment and education. This is not meant to be a treatment or diagnostic program but one to help you know what areas you might improve in your lifestyle to maintain or improve heart health.
I was told to fast for 12 hours prior to my appointment. Sheryl greeted me on arrival and took me right in to the room she has comfortably set up with recliner, soothing music and soft lighting. She told me she has had friends come in together and treat it as part of their “girls day out” or women have come in with their husbands to go through the heart check! The idea of getting so much for so little!
My blood pressure was checked in both upper arms and both lower legs. Did you know you can drop your B/P by just taking a deep breath and lowering your shoulders? Mine went down 10 points immediately with this relaxation technique! She did a 12 lead EKG, drew blood checking my HDL, LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, highly sensitive C reactive protein. My height, weight and waist circumference measurements were taken.
Before I left, the labs were back and the EKG was done. I had so much information that was really useful – in my hand prior to leaving! Sheryl went over so much valuable information and I can see where I can make some painless changes to improve my risk factors. While I exercise at the gym 3 days a week, walking more each day can help a lot! Diet was reviewed and I know there are some easy changes I can make there, too.
The EKG will be reviewed by a cardiologist and it will be sent in the mail to me with his/her analysis and some indications if need be. All the test results (EKG and labs) can be sent to my physician’s office to be placed in my records. I realize no official diagnosis will be made but it will certainly arm me with some pertinent baseline information.
I actually feel great comfort in having this baseline information going forward. Despite having worked as an RN myself for many years, I have a tendency, like so many, to put off getting evaluated. We are always “too busy!” This was painless and easy!
To make your appointment at the Women’s Heart Center in Redding, call Sheryl Hallstrom at
(530) 244-5433.
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This is excellent information Mary. I hope your post will inspire others to check their local area for similar clinics and find out where they stand as well.
Far too many people let it go until later years. YOUNG people need this information just as much as older ones, especially those with a family history of medical problems. By learning today they can take preventative measures and head off heart disease.
Being predisposed to a health risk doesn’t mean it has to become a reality if we take precautions.
Sheilah
Mary,
I’ve made my call to the Women’s Heart Center.
Maria
This is a great program, and I am lucky to have had this already, because of the other medical issues. But Thank You for including me. Barb
Thanks for your comments here, Sheilah, Maria and Barbara!
I just can’t think of a better thing to spend $45 on. I did this on the 2nd and on the 3rd the cardiac profile came in the mail! Very fast and concise information easy to refer to spelling out clearly what I’m doing right and the things I can easily work on. It’s “good stuff!”
Thanks for sharing your experience Mary and kudos for taking the opportunity to get checked. I’m working with two local organizations to get adults to take advantage of free screenings and counseling, also gearing up for our Annual Health Fair in November, which will offer more. It’s a battle to get people to take advantage of such services. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
Informative post for me too my dear! My mother’s never had high blood pressure, but the readings were quite high on her ER visit for a broken wrist recently- I’m betting her breathng and posture at that moment had much to do with it. I’ll pass that on to her. Though of course she’s had it checked several times since and it’s in the normal range again.
Thanks, Ladies! I’ve heard from others through e-emails, too. This is a great program to open a window into what’s going on with your heart and circulation. “An ounce of prevention…”
Mary - That’s a great reminder for everyone! That is something I definitely need to do with my family history of heart disease!
Thanks for a great reminder for everyone!
Liz
http://www.me2rr.com
I’ve had people call me up to tell me they’ve made an appointment with Sheryl due to this blogpost which thrills me. I hope, no matter where you live, you’ll find out what is available to you in terms of getting yourself checked. Women AND men!