Groups promote heart disease awareness

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert High School and Van Wert County Hospital are sponsoring a Red Out during the January 22 varsity basketball game to raise awareness about heart disease. The Red Out, an American Heart Association initiative, encourages spectators at the Van Wert versus Elida boys basketball game to wear red and learn more about the causes and symptoms of heart disease while enjoying the game.

Van Wert County Hospital will offer free blood pressure screenings starting at 6:45 p.m. in the Van Wert High School cafeteria. Staff will also provide information about the signs and symptoms of heart disease.

Before the varsity basketball game tip-off, Van Wert head coach Mark Bagley and Elida head coach Denny Thompson will receive blood pressure screenings by Van Wert County Hospital staff at half court.  Van Wert Elementary School students will perform a special Jump Rope for Heart routine during halftime of the varsity game.

Heart disease claims more lives than the next four causes of death combined. On average, an American dies of heart disease every 35 seconds, according to the American Heart Association. CVD is the No. 1 killer of women over age 25, although only 13 percent of women view heart disease as a health threat.

Each year, about 36,000 babies are born with a heart defect. In fact, each year nearly four times as many children die from congenital cardiovascular defects as from all forms of childhood cancer combined.

Van Wert County Hospital and Van Wert High School want to join in the effort to provide more education to the community about heart disease and encourage all to take a free blood pressure screening during the Red Out on Jan. 22.

Additional sponsors of the event include: P & R Medical Connection, Vancrest Health Care Centers, Foster Family Chiropractic, Leland Smith Insurance Services, and Northwest Ohio Welch Trophy.