"Heart Aware" – Denise Gimbel, RN, MPH

Posted by Richard L. Roberts 
 
Lisa Evans introduced speaker Denise Gimbel: A nurse and health educator, received her AA degree from CuestaCollege and a Master's degree in Public Health (MPH), Education and Nutrition from LomaLindaUniversity.  She is the Coordinator for FrenchHospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Department.  She heads up the hospital's Heart Aware, a free on-line cardiac risk assessment program.
 

Ms. Gimbel said that the program is designed to educate the public about their risk for heart disease, America's number one killer.  One person dies from heart disease an average of every 37 seconds and half of those who have a heart attack don't even know they are at risk.  Her passion and her goal are to identify people with unrecognized heart disease and help them take mitigating action to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

            Her focus is to encourage businesses to encourage their employees to visit an on line site and take a free risk assessment.  The results lead to a customized confidential report that discusses the risk factors and recommendations for lifestyle modifications to reduce the risks.  A free 30 minute personal consultation with a reduction specialist is also available for further assessment and assistance.  An employee risk profile is also available that will assist the employer in further employee planning and education opportunities.  

            Gimbel reviewed heart attack warning signs: chest discomfort, other upper body discomforts, and shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.  Quick treatment can stop a heart attack in its tracks and she encourages people who think they are experiencing heart attack symptoms to immediately call 9-1-1 for an ambulance.  EMT's are trained in quick treatment actions to avert long term damage.

            People should be aware of their pre heart disease conditions: family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, previous symptoms of heart disease, overweight, physical inactivity and cigarette smoking.  These risk conditions can be reduced by managing your high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, stop smoking, become physically active through regular exercise, reduce your weight, medications, etc.

            She encouraged everyone to go on line and take the free 7 minute test that could save your life and offered her services to businesses who would like to assess their employees for heart disease risk and establish a risk reduction program.  Simply log onto www.frenchmedicalcenter.org and click on Prevent a Heart Attack.  Nearly 2400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day-don't be one of them.  For further information or to discuss heart disease issues, contact Denise Gimbel: 542-6280 or denise.gimbel@chw.edu .