KNOWING YOUR HEART RISK FACTORS KNOWING YOUR HEART RISK FACTORS

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February isn’t just about love. February is also American Heart Month, which reminds us to take care of our hearts and consider our risk factors. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the US and accounts for more than 15,000 deaths in Missouri each year.

Everyone is at risk for heart disease. Some risk factors are beyond your control, such as age or family history. Others, like blood pressure and cholesterol, often can be controlled through lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) and/or medication.

The term “heart disease” includes several heart conditions. The most common is coronary artery disease, which occurs when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, become narrowed and blocked by plaque. Plaque may also rupture and cause blood clots that can block arteries. Coronary artery disease can lead to a heart attack.

Heart attacks may happen suddenly, but many people have warning signs, sometimes up to a month before.

You should be familiar with the following warning signs so you can recognize a heart attack early and get help right away:

• Discomfort/pain in center of chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back

• Discomfort in arm(s), back, neck, jaw or stomach

• Shortness of breath

• Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness

• Pain/pressure that occurs with exertion and is relieved with rest Symptoms vary between men and women. Chest pain remains the most common heart attack symptom, but women are more likely than men to experience some of the other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

For a serious type of heart attack called ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), rapidly administering specific therapies can reduce the risks of complications and death. Reopening the blood vessel as soon as possible decreases the amount of damage that is done to the heart muscle.

Freeman West Hospital is designated as a Level I STEMI Center. This means Freeman has a consistently proven plan and record of dealing with every aspect of STEMI. Freeman is one of only 17 hospitals in Missouri to be classified under the top-level designation. The designation is part of the state’s Time Critical Diagnosis System, which identifies hospitals specially equipped to treat STEMI, stroke and trauma patients and improves both the speed and quality of care.

Freeman also received the 2022 Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI Gold Recognition Award and 2022 Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus Award from the American Heart Association. Freeman is one of only 240 hospitals nationwide to receive the American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2022. The award recognizes Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.

Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute provides all cardiac services in one convenient location. Services include preventive care, emergency interventions, diagnostics, open-heart surgeries, structural heart clinic, rehabilitation, cardiology clinics and education.

To learn more about Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute, visit freemanhealth.com/hearts.

Parsons, KS

February 9: Grief Companions Support Group meets second Thursday of each month, 6 p.m., Elm Haven West. Call 620.704.1110.

February 14: Breast Cancer Support Group, 3:30 p.m., Cancer Center conference room. Meets second Tuesday of each month. Call 620.235.7516.

Via Christi Hospital - Pittsburg, KS

February 22: Cancer Support Group, 3 p.m., Cancer Center conference room. Meets fourth Wednesday of each month. Call 620.235.7900.

Joplin, MO

Every day: Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings. Call 888.740.4568.

Every Monday: Tips for Living a Healthy Life, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., South YMCA, 3404 W. McIntosh Circle. Free; registration required. Call 417.625.2492.

Every day: 12-Step Recovery Meetings, Alano Club, 1800 E. 30th. Call 417.623.9645.

February 14: Brain Injury Support Group meets every second Tuesday, 12-1:30 p.m., The Independent Living Center, 2639 E. 34th. Contact 417.659.8086 for information and referral.

February 22: Grief Support Group meets every fourth Wednesday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m., Hospice Compassus, 2216 E. 32nd St., Ste. 201. Call 417.623.8272.

Freeman Health System

Joplin, MO

All events are free and open to the public, unless noted; support group meetings are cancelled on days Joplin R-VIII Schools close due to inclement weather.

February 2: Freeman Early Detection Screenings, by appointment, Freeman Screen Team Resource Center, 1130 E. 32nd St., Ste. C. Early Detection Screenings include abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke/carotid artery screenings, as well as osteoporosis risk assessment. Fees vary. Call 417.347.6555 for an appointment.

February 7: Expresso Yourself Breast Cancer Support Group, 5-6 p.m., Joplin Avenue Coffee Company, 506 S. Joplin Ave. Enjoy a coffee courtesy of Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute. Our monthly breast cancer support group enables members to share, gain helpful information and useful tips, and form new friendships. Enjoy listening to a special guest from time to time. RSVP to Marcella at 417.347.2662.

February 7: AHA Family and Friends CPR, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Freeman Screen Team Resource Center, 1130 E. 32nd St., Ste. C. Friends & Family CPR is open to the community. This is not a certification course, but a participation card will be given. Class will cover adult, child and infant CPR, choking and AED techniques. Cost of course is $25. To register, call Shelby Allen at 417.347.5646.

February 8: Freeman Cancer Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute, 3415 McIntosh Circle. Call Lisa Paugh or Kelley Wheeler at 417.347.4000 for more information.

February 10: Galentine’s Day Sip & Shop, 4-8 p.m., Ramsay Event Center, 107 E. 6th St. Grab your gals for a guilt-free ladies’ night out! The evening includes shopping while enjoying delicious libations from our food and beverage partners. This event will raise money for the Freeman Helping Friends Mammogram Fund, which provides mammogram screenings to local women in need. Tickets can be purchased at freemanhealth.com/galentines. For more information call, 417.347.4624 or email scurrence@freemanhealth.com.

February 16: Freeman Caregiver Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Joplin Senior Center, 2616 S. Picher Ave. Are you a caregiver interested in having a safe haven to share your feelings? Receive information about resources and coping mechanisms, gain advice on what lies ahead, make new friends and learn how to deal with family members. Door prizes will be given out. RSVP to Kathy Mason at kdmason@freemanhealth.com or 417.347.8463.

February 21: Ozark Center Daytime Autism Support Group, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism, 2808 S. Picher Ave. Open to people with autism, parents and caregivers. Call 417.347.7850 for more information.

February 21: Bariatric Weight-Loss Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Freeman Business Center Conference Rooms, 3220 McClelland Blvd (back entrance). Designed to help those who have had bariatric surgery. For more information, call 417.347.1266.

February 27: Freeman Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Freeman Business Center Conference Rooms, 3220 McClelland Blvd (back entrance). Save a life. Donate blood. Appointments are strongly encouraged to manage donor flow. To schedule your appointment, call 417.227.5006 or go to cbco.org/donate-blood. For more information, call 417.347.4603.

National Alliance on Mental Illness - For information on NAMI, call 417.781.6264 or visit www.namijoplin.org. Meetings held at the NAMI building, 219 W. 2nd St., in Joplin.

Every Monday: NAMI Basics, 6-8:30 p.m. A signature education program for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses.

Every Tuesday: NAMI Connection Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Self Injury Support Group, 5-6 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Family Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Dual Diagnosis Support Group, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Post-5/22 Stress Counseling Sessions, 10 a.m.

Every Thursday: Family to Family Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m. For families or caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Includes current information about most major mental illnesses; information about medications, side effects and strategies for medication adherence; developing strategies for handling crises and relapse; focusing on care for the caregiver.