A lot of hearts are passed around in the month of February but one thing that Windber hospital wants you to be aware of is heart disease. February is national heart month. Heart disease can happen at any age at any time. Windber hospital wants you to be aware of the risk and the steps you can take to prevent it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a number of health issues can lead to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating patterns. With such a high number of dangers, Winder hospital wants to make sure everyone is aware and can take steps at helping control their health. In 2018, the hospital opened a new cath lab and are continuing to make strides in the services they provide.

"We’re just hoping that the community that we do provide (butted) Cardiac service here at Windber Hospital. And we just have want to get the word out that it’s real important to get checked if you’re having any symptoms." - Shannon Vitovich - manager of cath lab at Windber Hospital

Every Monday for the month of February the cath lab is hosting information sessions on Monday's from 11 am to 1 pm about heart disease and also cardiac rehab, pulmonary rehab, peripheral vascular disease. While visiting the cath lab on Monday's you’ll be able to see many different displays on heart disease and what the cath lab and Windber Hospital does.

"Heart disease is a treatable disease but it has to be caught early on. So any type of symptom you would have - shortness of breath is a big one, chest pain, going down your left arm with pain, jaw pain, a lot of symptoms in women, they think that it’s their stomach problems but sometimes it isn’t. It is more of a heart disease problem so they need to get checked right away." - Shannon Vitovich - Manager of cath lab at Windber Hospital

Monday’s you can enter to win a raffle prize on Friday for $1 per ticket. Proceeds benefit the helping hands fund - money donated by employees and the community that goes to local charities, families in need and employees facing financial challenges.

You still have one more Monday left in February to attend. Next week they will have their big lottery raffle prize give away on Friday.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfrLavsMGeqWagn6i9qsDApWShnZGnwW6wyKycmquVYq64rdGepZ6row%3D%3D