Brooklyn Hospital Center Celebrates Heart Health

Brooklyn Hospital Center is going red this February, and it’s not just in the name of love. On Feb. 7, the center is celebrating “Go Red Day” to bring more awareness to women’s heart health.

Hospital staff and visitors are invited to participate in the day’s myriad events from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. within the center and its satellites.

“It’s important if we’re going to keep Brooklyn healthy,” said Karen Jemmott, the director of community affairs for the Brooklyn Hospital Center. “We have to start within.”

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and it claims more lives – almost 1,100 a day – than all forms of cancer combined.

National Wear Red Day falls on the first Friday of February, which is also American Heart Month. This year marks the 11th anniversary of raising awareness by the American Heart Association. More than 1.75 million people participate in Go Red events, and more than 185 cities host Go Red events each February. Since the first Go Red Day, 34 percent fewer women now die from heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Jemmott came to the center just a year ago, and even though Brooklyn Hospital has pressed for heart health awareness programming for years, this is the first year the campus as a whole is taking an active approach with one event.

Besides being encouraged to wear red in support of heart health, employees and visitors can participate in lectures and free screenings starting at 8 a.m.

For free blood pressure screenings, staff and community members can visit the first floor, near Starbucks, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Healthy eating demonstrations and BMI assessments begin at noon in the cafeteria, led by nutritionist Dana Amaya. The cafeteria will serve a heart-healthy menu and give out free fruit.

Dr. Howard Friedman, a cardiologist at Brooklyn Hospital, will lecture about how to reduce risk factors for heart disease at 1 p.m. Staff and visitors will be encouraged to share their stories about how the disease has affected their lives.

Staff will also be stationed throughout the campus and its satellites to hand out information about staying heart healthy and asking for donations to support the hospital’s programs. All events are free of charge.

“You’re going to see a lot of red,” Jemmott said. “We’re bringing heart disease awareness to the public.”