HARTFORD — The City of Hartford Health and Human Services Department, in collaboration with St. Francis Hospital Phillips Women’s Heart Program, will be offering a free health screening and educational session for women in recognition of Heart Disease Month and the GO RED for Women Campaign.

The event will be on Feb. 9 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 p.m. at the Hartford Public Library.  Blood pressure, blood sugar, height, weight, BMI and Cholesterol screening will be provided.

Nursing students from the University of Hartford will be there to help and to promote healthy heart lifestyles.

Organizers said diet, lack of exercise, gender, smoking, obesity and family history are all risk factors associated with heart disease.  Learning about the early signs of heart disease and how to help prevent serious complications is very important.

According to the American Heart Association, Cardiovascular (heart) disease ranks first among all disease categories in hospital discharges for women.  Nearly 37 percent of all female deaths in America occur from cardiovascular disease which include stroke.

The death rate due to cardiovascular disease is substantially higher in black women than in white.

Heart attacks can be a silent killer.  Many women may be walking around with severe heart disease without knowing it.  Now is the time to stop and take a few minutes to check your heart status and start the process of maintaining a healthy heart.

Organizers invite all women living and working within the city of Hartford  to attend and receive screening and vital information on how to maintain a healthy heart.

For more information, please call Carol Steinke, Public Health Nursing Supervisor at 860-543-8860 or email steic001@hartford.gov.