People get heart healthy at Valley Hospital open house

AMY MENEREY/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - In celebration of Heart Month, Valley Hospital hosted a heart health fair and open house Saturday at its Wasilla medical center. The fair featured a variety of cardiac screenings and information about heart health, including free pedometers, glucose screening, blood-pressure checks and blood-oxygen-level checks.

The event was held on the lower level of the Valley Hospital Medical Center, at the location of the new cardiac rehabilitation center. The center's infusion therapy team will be moving downstairs to work side by side with the new cardiac unit, with hopes of eventually being able to do blood transfusions at the location.

Screenings at the heart health care fair were free and geared toward women and men over the age of 40.

"It was excellent," said attendee Tammy Parker. "I was able to walk out feeling a lot more prepared to take care of myself."

Parker said she heard about the fair through a flyer sent to her place of business, and decided it was important to attend. She was impressed with the professionals on hand and the ability to openly ask questions regarding her health, she said.

"This is for me today," Parker said. "I wouldn't have missed this."

For those attending, a healthy spread of fruits, juices and vegetables was offered, as well.

The Valley Hospital cardiac rehabilitation program offers continuously monitored individualized exercise along with health education and information, to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease through diet, exercise, lifestyle choices and medication.

Voluntary candidates for cardiac rehabilitation include anyone who has had a heart attack in the last 12 months, coronary bypass or heart-valve surgery, angioplasty or stents, or open-heart surgery. A registered nurse and physical therapy assistants, who are both BLS- and ACLS-certified, closely monitor patients in the program.

For more information about Valley Hospital's cardiac rehabilitation program, call 746-8643 or speak with your physician.