Worried about your heart? Health fair is here

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

The River Park cath lab team conducts a practice simulation of a cardiac catheterization procedure. Pictured are, from left, mock patient Ray Acker, and team members Richie Lupo, Ruchelle Steele, Jeff Wolfe and Vicki Young. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

With this being Valentine’s Day, images of hearts are showing up everywhere, so maybe it’s perfect timing that River Park Hospital is staging a Heart Health Fair tomorrow. After all, we certainly want all of those who are dear to our hearts to have a healthy one themselves, and the Heart Health Fair is a great way to see exactly where we, and our loved ones, stand on that score.

The event, which runs from 7 to 11 a.m., will offer a number of services and tests, many of which are free or are offered at reduces rates. The facility will be conducting free blood pressure checks, body weight and fat analysis, cardio-vascular fitness tests, stroke assessment, diabetes and nutritional information and much more. Cholesterol screenings will be offered for a nominal fee of $8 to cover costs.

If you plan to participate, you should know there are a few things the hospital asks you to do to prepare for the screenings.

You are required to fast for at least 12 hours before this screening, so you shouldn’t eat anything after 7 p.m. tonight. You may have water or black coffee prior to the screening. A light breakfast will be served. Registration is required. To register and for more information about the cholesterol screening, please call TriStar MedLine at (931) 815-4300 or (800) 242-5662.

Richie Lupo, the director of River Park’s cath lab, feels the fair will offer important information to attendees and provide a better idea of what goes into some of the procedures and how they are performed.

“In our cardiac cath lab we are going to do a simulation of a cardiac catheterization where the individuals can come through the cath lab and ask questions,” Lupo said. “And we can explain what we do in a cardiac cath and some of our other procedures. This is a state-of-the-art facility, and this is the same technology this community would be provided if they went to Nashville or if they went to Chattanooga.”

Lupo says it’s advantageous for the public to have the sort of educational opportunities that this kind of event provides.

“It’s very important for the community to be aware of some of the cardiac risk factors, some of the things to look out for, some of the measures you can take to reduce your risks.”

He noted that many procedures can be done locally now that previously required a trip to one of the larger metropolitan areas.

“It’s good to know what’s available right here in your own back yard,” Lupo said.