Upcoming Health Events

Here, you’ll see a mix of in-person as well as virtual events hosted by Bergen County’s area hospitals. Make sure to register for in-person and/or virtual events.

• Drumming is wonderful way to take care of yourself, as well as lessen feelings of burnout and fatigue. Come and explore a new/old way of having fun while reducing stress. Bring your own drum or instruments. This adult-only drumming circle is scheduled for every second Tuesday of the month from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at The Valley Center For Health and Wellness, located at 1400 MacArthur Boulevard in Mahwah. To register or for more information, call 1-800-VALLEY 1 or visit ValleyHealth.com/Events. Please note: In-person attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.

• Let’s Talk About Uterine Cancer in Women of Color will be held virtually on Thursday, March 2 from 7-8 p.m. Learn the symptoms and treatment options. To register, visit ValleyHealth.com/Events.

• If you struggle with chronic heartburn or acid reflux, a new, breakthrough minimally invasive procedure may improve the quality of your life and possibly free you from long-term medication use. Learn more about the treatment option for heartburn virtually on Thursday, March 2 or June 29 from 6:307:30 pm. To register, visit ValleyHealth.com/Events.

• On Wednesdays, March 15 through Nov. 15 from 9:15-10 a.m. join Danielle Fabrizio, MS, CHES for the Mommy & Me Walking Group. Walk as a community of moms connecting and supporting each other at Westvale Park, Westwood. For additional information and questions, email Thrive@valleyhealth.com.

• Join virtually for a discussion about the challenges facing middle schoolers and teens in the digital age, focusing on what parents should know about how social media may be affecting their kids, and what they can do to help. Learning the discussion will be Nancy Jo Sales, author and journalist for Vanity Fair and The Guardian. The discussion will take place on Thursday, March 16 from 7-8 p.m.

• Cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are signs of aging eyes. Learn about the aging eye and the latest enhancements and treatments available virtually on Thursday, March 23 from 7-8 p.m. To register, visit ValleyHealth.com/Events.

• Talking to kids about food and their bodies can be a touchy subject. Hear from Valley Hospital’s obesity specialist – Sherry Sakowitz, MD, director, pediatric wellness and weight management – on the best ways to talk about food, kids’ bodies and their health. The discussion will take place on Thursday, March 30 from 7-8 p.m. Register online at ValleyHealth.com/ ThriveEvents.

• Join virtually on Thursday, April 13 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to talk about how to start a simple garden and get your family enjoying their own harvest. Register online at ValleyHealth.com/ThriveEvents.

• The support of family and friends is vital for someone living with cancer. Join virtually on Tuesday, April 18 from 7-8 p.m. to learn tips on what you can do to help support and care for a loved one after a cancer diagnosis.

• Healthy Steps is a 10-week walking program designed to encourage people of all ages in a fun and motivating atmosphere. Offered in partnership with the Ridgewood Library, the club will meet on Tuesdays, April 18 through June 20 from 9-19 a.m. at Veterans Field, located behind the Ridgewood Library, 125 North Maple Ave., Ridgewood.

• Virtual Toddler Time will be held on Friday, April 21 from 10-10:30 a.m. Join and get crafty with your little. A free craft bag will be given to the first 20 people to register via ValleyHealth.com/ThriveEvents.

• Exhaustion, numbness, anger, even trauma – the fallout from the COVID19 pandemic is significant even as coronavirus cases decrease. Join to discuss the various mental health consequences of COVID19 and ways to more effectively manage and facilitate these issues on Tuesday, May 2 from 2-3 p.m. Register online at ValleyHealth.com/Events.

• Join virtually on Thursday, May 18 from 1-2 p.m. to learn ways of keeping your child healthy – mentally, physically and emotionally – from Cecilia Godoy, MD, pediatrician. To register, visit ValleyHealth. com/ThriveEvents.

• Find out why a Mediterranean lifestyle is linked with longevity and reduced incidences of chronic conditions. Suggestions and practical tips will be provided virtually on Thursday, May 18 from 6-7 p.m. to assist you with incorporating this eating style. Visit ValleyHealth.com/Events to register.

Anational Cleveland Clinic survey examined a nationally representative, general population of Americans to determine the impact diet has on heart health. We recently discussed the survey with Gerald Sotsky, MD, chair of Cardiac Services for Valley Medical Group and director of Cardiovascular Services for The Valley Hospital. Valley’s cardiovascular program is an alliance member of Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Q: What was the survey’s most significant finding?

A: According to the survey, the cost of healthy food is the biggest barrier to eating healthy. Forty-six percent of Americans view healthy food being more expensive as the biggest barrier to eating, followed by 23 percent being lack of time to prepare food, and 20 percent being lack of recipes or knowledge of how to cook healthier food.

Q: Did the survey say anything about heart-healthy diets?

A: Yes, a Mediterranean diet is considered heart-healthy, and only 18 percent of those with heart disease or a family history of heart disease are more likely to think so. The survey found that some Americans, about 10 percent, choose fast food as the most heart-healthy option. The survey also found that 35 percent of Americans consider a low-carb diet the most heart healthy and 37 percent believe a low-fat diet is the most hearthealthy. Only 15 percent consider the Mediterranean diet healthy for the heart.

Q: What additional steps can individuals take to reduce their risk for heart disease?

A: There are many ways you can reduce your risk for heart disease. First, follow a heart-healthy diet plan. Second, stay active. The survey found that 29 percent of those with heart disease or a family history of heart disease cite being out of shape and not knowing how to start as a main barrier to exercising. Four in ten, or 37 percent, of those at risk of developing heart disease have no desire to work out compared to a quarter, or 26 percent, of those with no risk factors. It is also important to understand the relationship between food, weight loss, and overall health. According to the survey, 71 percent of Americans believe that moderate exercise has a greater impact on losing weight than diet. Those with heart disease or a family history of heart disease are more likely to believe this. While being active is important, a healthy diet is just as important. Overall, reducing your risk of heart disease starts with prevention.

The Valley Heart and Vascular Institute offers a free, comprehensive risk assessment for women and men between the ages of 20 and 79.

The screening begins with a physical exam, which evaluates blood pressure and heart rhythm, auscultation –listening to the sounds of the heart using a stethoscope – to detect heart murmurs, and biometric screenings for body-mass index and waist circumference. Together, a comprehensive risk assessment, findings of the physical exam, and biometric screenings, along with lab work analysis, are used to arrive at an ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease) risk score. This score aids in determining a patient’s 10-year and lifetime risk of developing heart disease.

To make an appointment for a cardiac screening and for more information, please call 201-447-8125 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and 201-4478535 during off hours.