Mount Sinai South Nassau goes red for Women Day

By FARRAH SALAZAR

Intern

Beverly Gilchrist-Hobson, 55, a Freeport resident, shared her personal story of recovery from hypertension and heart failure to raise awareness of heart disease, the leading cause of death in women. She told her story at Mount Sinai South Nassau on Feb. 3, surrounded by the cardiovascular team, hospital staff, and attendees who were all sporting red attire in support of Go Red for Women Day.

Gilchrist-Hobson described her initial symptoms led her to believe that she had Covid-19 or a respiratory infection until she was barely able to catch her breath. Cardiologist Sherry Megalla was contacted after an electrocardiogram detected weakness in the heart’s electrical system, high blood pressure and a chest x-ray showed fluid in the lungs.

“I was presented with a new world of realities,” Gilchrist-Hobson said, “I was terrified but I worked with Dr. Megalla and the Mount Sinai Cardiac Rehab Team who gave me the confidence I needed.”

Gilchrist-Hobson began her heart health journey upon her diagnosis and with help from the cardiovascular team, now her heart health has improved up to 45 percent. She recommends turning on some music and just dancing in the kitchen to boost physical activity.

“Most importantly, in addition to the medical practitioners, participate in your own heart health journey - you have to do the work,” said GilchristHobson.

Speakers and hospital staff at the event highlighted the importance of learning about the silent killer.

“We are proud to stand alongside Mount Sinai South Nassau,” said the Executive Director of the American

Heart Association in Long Island, Tara Lee, “this year the AHA is focused on CPR for heart month.” Each year 350,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest and so the AHA is challenging every household to have someone learn CPR to be the beat in the community.

“My message is easy - visit heart.org to take the CPR challenge to learn this lifesaving technique,” said Lee.

Mount Sinai Health System employees had the opportunity to take care of their own heart health during free screenings.

“I try to stay on top of it during annual check ups,” said Brenda Hill, an EEG Technician at Mount Sinai South Nassau, while getting her blood pressure checked, “I really recommend anyone to be part of this event and get checked out.”

Eileen Hinrichs, chairperson of the Holistic Council at Mount Sinai South Nassau, is in charge of stress management for staff and patients. Hinrichs suggests two resources to manage stress while having a busy lifestyle - Insight Timer, a smartphone app, with a variety of music tracks, access to live events and meditation guides and VeteransYogaPractice.org, a website that hosts free yoga classes online for veterans, military families and community members.

Heart failure is a disease that can be reversed with the help of medication and lifestyle changes. Dr. Megalla spoke on the importance of getting tested regularly and to spread the word to family and friends that can be imperative in reversal.

“I think everyone is on social media these days,” Dr. Megalla said, “I think it is a great way to spread awareness on cardiovascular health.” Social media has so far had an impact as the, #heartheatlhawareness has about 1.6 million likes on Tik Tok.