February 2, 2016
West Columbia, S.C. –Lexington Medical Center encourages community members to “Just Say Know” to heart disease during the month of February, which is American Heart Month. One out of every 3 people in South Carolina dies from cardiovascular disease. And, heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the world. Knowing your risk factors and how to prevent them can save your life.
Lexington Medical Center’s “Just Say Know” campaign emphasizes four main ways people can protect themselves against heart disease:
1. KNOW the risk factors.
2. KNOW when to talk to your doctor.
3. KNOW how to lower your risk.
4. KNOW when to call 9-1-1.
Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and a stressful lifestyle. Talking to your doctor about your heart, even if you’re healthy, is important. February is a perfect time to speak with your health care provider about your overall heart health, any concerns you may have, or questions you want to ask so that you can take control of your heart health.
During the month of February, Lexington Medical Center will be lit up at night with red lights to remind community members to “Just Say Know” to heart disease. Attached with this news release is a photo of hospital employees outside the “red” hospital. We hope you can share the photo and encourage community members to live a heart healthy lifestyle.
To test your heart health knowledge, go to LexMed.com/Know to take an online quiz.
You can also schedule a hospital speaker to talk to your business, church group or organization about heart disease. Visit LexMed.com/Know or call Lexington Medical Center Community Outreach at (803) 936-8850.
Lexington Medical Center will host a FREE heart fair on Sunday, February 28 from Noon – 4:00 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in downtown Columbia. Attendees can walk through a MEGA inflatable heart, take an exercise class, and learn their blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI). Visitors can also learn about advanced technologies for heart care, meet Lexington Medical Center physicians and watch healthy cooking demonstrations.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
