"Heart 2 Heart" Initiative Begins This Week at Prince William Hospital

Prince William Hospital staff are doing their part to educate the community about heart health this month.

In honor of American Heart Month the Prince William Health System has several free, educational events on tap.

The Focus on Heart Health Seminar Series is every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Prince William Hospital. Here are the topics:

• Feb. 6- Women and Heart Disease, presented by Dr. Shelia Khianey
• Feb. 13 -Treatment Options for CAD/PAD, presented by Drs. Ahsan Jafir and Ara Maranian
• Feb. 20-How to Live Heart Healthy, presented by Dr. Preston Perrin, II
• Feb. 27-How to Prevent a Heart Attack…What You Need To Know, presented by Dr. Merdod Ghafouri

The hospital is also offering Free Fit Fridays, when anyone 18 and older can work out for free at the Prince William Hospital fitness center. Those dates are: Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22

Perhaps the most pleasing event of all, at least for the taste buds, is the Red Wine and Your Heart seminar and wine tasting at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton. Attendees must be 21 or older.

For more information and to register, visit pwhs.org/heart2heart or call 703-530-WELL (9355).

Prince William Hospital is a nationally recognized heart and vascular center, with The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) and Heart Failure. The hospital offers treatment for heart conditions for local residents, so traveling outside of the region for care is no longer necessary, according to a press release issued by the center.

“As a health and wellness provider we play a critical role to help educate our community,” said Melody Knapp, RN, director of Heart and Vascular services at Prince William Hospital.  “We’ve made many advancements in our heart and vascular services and programs to take care of those who need it, but what we really want to do is offer resources so our community can avoid the need for intervention and prevent the need to travel outside our community for care.”

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

One in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. 

Do you know someone with heart disease? Share your story below in the comments.