During February, celebrate heart health with those you love

February is all about hearts. Not the paper or candy ones, but the muscle ones.

In observation of American Heart Month, the University of Mississippi Medical Center is encouraging employees to learn about heart disease and its risk factors, practice heart-healthy habits, and have a little fun.

Jones

“I encourage all of us in the Medical Center family to focus on easy ways to take care of our heart,” said Dr. Dan Jones, professor of medicine and director of clinical and population science for the Mississippi Center for Obesity Research.

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of adults in the United States and in Mississippi.

“Getting five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, integrating physical activity into our daily lives (such as using the stairs instead of elevators for short trips), and avoiding the use of tobacco products will make our hearts happy,” Jones said.

Go Red for Women t-shirt sale is one of the many activities planned to recognize Heart Month

A plethora of academic events and activities designed to boost awareness heart health are planned at the Medical Center during February, a number of them collaborations between UMMC and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women heart disease campaign. They include: 

• To kick off the month, Drs. Michael Hall and Merry Lindsey with the Proteomic HEART study will recruit healthy volunteers for their study on the progression of heart failure. One blood draw is needed to take part; contact Theresa Hickey at tlhickey@umc.edu.
• For the entire month, women can show off their best red lipstick selfie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Tag #GoRedJxn and #GoRedSelfie. One winner will receive a prize.
• Go Red lighting will illuminate a number of campus buildings throughout the month.
• Employees and students on Feb. 1 can get a 15 percent discount on all red gift items at the Student Union bookstore, Meds and Threads, the Adult Hospital gift shop and the Wiser gift shop. It excludes reading materials, food, drinks, flowers, balloons and perfume.
• Deep South Pops will sell popsicles from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 3 in the School of Medicine lobby, including a special Go Red pop. A portion of proceeds benefits the AHA.
• The Cardiovascular Renal Research Center is bringing four nationally recognized physicians and scientists to speak in this year's Heart Month Seminar Series. The lectures will be each Thursday in February, beginning Feb. 4, from noon-1 p.m. in the Classroom Wing. Lunch will be provided first come, first serve.
  The CRRC Heart Month Seminar Series not only serves to highlight the importance of cardiovascular research, but also to remind everyone that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women, said Dr. Joey Granger, professor of physiology, dean of the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences and CRRC director. “We are fortunate to have some of the top basic and clinician- scientists in the U.S. visiting UMMC to present their latest research,” Granger said.
  They include Dr. Kevin Grove, vice president of obesity research at Novo Nordisk, "Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of obesity and diabetes using the obese non-human primate model," Feb. 4, CW106; Dr. William Cushman (UMMC '74), chief of preventive medicine, VA Medical Center in Jackson, “The SPRINT Trial: Will lower blood pressure reduce the risk of heart and kidney diseases, stroke, or age-related declines in memory and thinking?” Feb. 11, CW308; Dr. Bernadette Thomas, clinical assistant professor of global health at the University of Washington, “The contribution of reduced renal function to cardiovascular disability-adjusted life years and death: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013,” Feb. 18, CW308; and Dr. Martha Gulati, professor of medicine and division chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona-Phoenix, “Women and heart disease - is there a gender difference?” Feb. 25, CW106.
• UMMC is the American Heart Association's Central Mississippi chapter premier sponsor of National Wear Red Day Feb. 5.  With manager approval, wear red or a Go Red for Women T-shirt to be sold beginning Jan. 29 at various Medical Center locations. As part of the day's activities, pictures at a Go Red Selfie Station will be taken through the day in the Adult Hospital upper lobby. Also Feb. 5, the UMMC Cafeteria will feature a heart-healthy lunch special, and a CPR education session by a certified trainer plus a brown-bag lunch are noon-1 p.m. in CW 108. Seating is limited; RSVP to slockwood@umc.edu
• Kids will get to the heart of the matter on “Question It? Discover It!” Feb. 6 at the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson. The Children's Heart Center of Batson Children's Hospital will teach young museum-goers about heart health. The interactive program is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Details are at mississippichildrensmuseum.com.
• Valentine's bears will be passed out to all adult cardiology inpatients Feb. 12.
• A heart-healthy live Twitter chat with UMMC cardiologists in partnership with the AHA is tentatively set for Feb. 24.
• Dr. John Winscott, associate professor of cardiology, will present “The Heart Truth: Women and Cardiovascular Disease” at noon during a brown-bag lunch in the hospital administration conference room.
• Dr. Tanya Tanawuttiwat, assistant professor of cardiology, will present “Heart Palpitations: Should You Worry” Feb. 25 at noon during a brown-bag lunch in the hospital administration conference room.