Posts in: Heart Health
Posted in: Heart Health // 1 Comment
Energy to Dance
The innovations at Memorial Hospital’s Heart Center gave Janice Torbett the energy to dance again.
Janice Torbett had her valve repaired because it wasn’t working properly. “I had symptoms of shoulder pain, back pain and some chest pain but it was never severe,” says Torbett. “Exertion seemed to trigger it more than anything and that was because the valve wasn’t letting the blood go through. I would come home so tired that I would need to nap before dinner. Even cleaning the house was too hard.”
Torbett, who owns a Christian dance studio, and has taught dance locally for more than 30 years, says that the decision hung over her head until she heard about a new procedure by a new doctor in town – Dr. Jayasankar. “I feel fortunate to have had this procedure and Dr. Jayasankar. He was helpful and friendly and made the worst part not so bad,” she says. Torbett now goes to physical therapy where she does the treadmill, the bike and lifts weights. She is up to 3.1 miles per hour on the treadmill and she also has attended the nutrition class. “It helps me to be accountable and that is good for me,” she says.
Now Janice is back in her dancing shoes, and she doesn’t get tired when she dances with the young dancers at her studio.
Click our virtual edition to learn about Memorial Hospital’s heart center.
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Attend Pulse the Young Professional’s Party with a Purpose and Fight Cardiovascular Disease in Children
Who: American Heart Association-First Coast Market Professionals Board, Beson4 Media Group and Aetna are hosting the inaugural “Pulse” Party. Pulse is chaired by AJ Beson, President/CEO, Beson4 Media Group and Stephanie Autry, Senior Marketing Consultant, Beson4 Media Group.
What: Pulse is a party with a purpose to raise funds and awareness for children’s heart health issues including the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease, stroke and childhood obesity. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.heart.org/firstcoastheartball and click on the Pulse tab or by calling 904- 256-5731.
When: Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: SUITE – St. John’s Town Center, 4880 Big Island Drive, Jacksonville
Why: Pulse is a young professionals board dedicated to making it so that Jacksonville’s children do not fight the same heart related health battles the board’s parents and grandparents struggle against today. Pulse is about prevention and calls all young professionals to gather friends and coworkers to educate and inspire them to change the health of generations to come. As the board has developed, its focus has narrowed to assisting the children by supporting fitness and nutrition programs geared towards our youngest generations. With your help, we can combat childhood obesity by teaching our children the importance of heart health.
• One in three children or teenagers is overweight or obese,
• 33.1 % of Florida’s youth are overweight,
• overweight and obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 17.0% in 2006.
Posted in: Heart Health // 1 Comment
By Virginia Pillsbury
I once heard someone say that having a child meant wearing your heart on the outside of your body. If that is true, and I feel that it is, then my heart is in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Columbia, SC, Nashville, TN and Uganda (yes, Allison from last week’s blog has made it safely to Uganda!).
My children and my husband are my heart. Of all of the people in the world that I love, they are the ones that I hold most dear. Their joys I rejoice in as if they were my own; their sorrows touch me to the depths of my soul. They fill me with pride just by being who they are and there is nothing that they can do to lose their place in my heart.
The love I have for them is not just a Valentine’s Day love – but perhaps Valentine’s Day is a good time to reflect on how amazing and wonderful love can be.
Clearly our hearts are a valuable organ. It’s no coincidence that February is also the month for The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women’s Health month. On Feb. 3, I had the fun of being in the Go Red Flash Mob at the Landing – a great way to raise awareness about the importance of heart health for women.
If you are a woman reading this, or if you know a woman, then a wonderful way to show your love is to take part in HeartWise for Women, a new heart health program created at Baptist Health that includes comprehensive screening as well as information on prevention. Please visit http://www.baptistheartwise.com/ or call 904-202-5669.
Your heart has a lot of love to hold; don’t you want it to be its healthiest? I bet your family does and I can’t think of a better way to show your love on Valentine’s Day.
