Learn About Heart Health at the Library

Everyone has heard that having a healthy heart is part of living a healthy life. But how can you tell if your heart is healthy? And if it’s not, what can you do to make it healthy?

These are some of the questions the St. Louis Public Library and its community partners hope to answer on Tuesday, May 27, during a program called “Cardio Health: Risks, Intervention and Prevention.” The event, which will feature cardiologist Dr. Angela Brown and pharmacist Anastasia Armbruster, and will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 63103.

Dr. Angela Brown

Brown is an associate professor of medicine in the cardiology division at Washington University School of Medicine and director of the school’s section on hypertension. Armbruster is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and a clinical pharmacist specializing in cardiology and internal medicine at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

The Library and its partners have chosen to focus on cardio health because it is something that affects

everyone. “It’s not just old people — it’s young people too,” Brown said. “This is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S.”

During the May 27 event, Brown and Armbruster will discuss what exactly constitutes heart disease, as well as risk factors and the lifestyle interventions that can decrease someone’s chances of developing heart disease. Brown said that after the event, she hopes people will feel empowered to take charge of their own heart health, noting that there are things people can do to improve their overall heart health and live a good-quality life.

Anastasia Armbruster

“It’s all about understanding your risk factors and knowing what you need to know to live that long, healthy life,” Brown said.

Fortunately, there is a lot that individuals can do on their own to improve their heart health. Both Brown and Armbruster suggest simply talking to your doctor about your personal risks for heart disease, and making sure you get the right screenings.

“Talk to your doctor about your risk. Have a yearly checkup, and ask about your blood pressure,” Armbruster said. “Heart health is a big deal. It is important, and something you want to put at the forefront.”

“Cardio Health: Risks, Intervention and Prevention” is presented as part of “Can I Catch That?,” the 2014 Consumer Health Information Speaker Series. The series is presented by St. Louis Public Library and its community partners: HealthStreet, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, and Washington University's Bernard Becker Medical Library. For more information about this event or about health information, call 314-539-0390.

*This article was originally published in the May 2014 issue of The Healthy Planet.