Through education, exercise and diet tips, the event raised awareness for the number one killer in America and encouraged seniors to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.
With heart disease being the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the CDC, everyone needs to take heed of their heart health. Like most of the human body’s systems and functions, the heart’s overall performance can deteriorate with age, making it especially important for seniors to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Other factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity increase one’s risk for developing cardiac issues — all of which can be avoided through physical activity and proper nutrition.
To help the Rio Grande Valley’s senior citizen population avoid becoming a grim statistic, South Texas Health System hosted a seminar at the South Texas Health System Heart Clinics in McAllen on July 24 entitled, “Living with Heart Disease.” The seminar, part of a monthly series in partnership with Prominence Health Plan, included informative presentations and conversations, as well as educational activities geared toward specifically for seniors. The series kicked off in June with “Living with Diabetes.”
“The staff at South Texas Health System Heart is dedicated to helping people of all ages get their heart health in check, especially those who’ve experienced a heart event. Our goal is to help those who’ve had cardiac issues rebuild their health through exercise, nutrition counseling and stress management to avoid having them return to the hospital,” says Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer, South Texas Health System Heart. “Many people don’t even realize they’re developing heart disease due to their eating habits and lack of exercise, so this event is just one of the many ways we help educate the community on the importance of taking care of their bodies before they develop life-threatening issue.”
During the program, attendees learned about ways to prevent and manage heart disease. Speakers with South Texas Health System and Prominence Health Plan covered various topics, including the risks and warning signs of heart disease, heart-healthy cooking ideas and heart-friendly exercise tips.
“Prominence Health Plan is committed to the health of our senior citizens in the Rio Grande Valley, and we want to help them live as long and healthy a life as possible,” says Veronica Galligan, Community Relations Representative – Texas Region, Prominence Health Plan. “Every month during our Senior Living Seminar Series, we’ll be tackling an issue that greatly affects the senior population, and educate them on ways to live healthier.”
Following the program, South Texas Health System clinicians and staff conducted free health screenings including blood pressure and blood glucose checks.
The next edition of the Senior Living Seminar Series, taking place in August, will focus on the danger of falls among the senior population. For more information and to register for this free event, please contact Veronica Galligan at 956-821-9569 or by email at [email protected].
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level II Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Prominence Health Plan
Prominence Health Plan began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. They provide coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health Plan, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com. Parent company UHS ranks 275 on the 2017 Forbes 500 list of America’s largest corporations and consistently ranks among Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
