Retirement community raises cardiovascular disease awareness

To promote awareness about a disease responsible for nearly 40 percent of Oklahoma City-area deaths every year, Concordia Life Care Community residents are working through the American Heart Association to provide cardiovascular disease survivors with 98 hand-knitted red hats and distribute more than 100 handmade red awareness bracelets.

Heart Association’s Executive Director Debbie Hite Stewart said hats will be given to cardiovascular disease survivors participating Saturday in the Southeastern Oklahoma Heart Walk, and the bracelets shared with advocates throughout the month, according to a news release.

“We are living in the state with the nation’s third-highest death rate from cardiovascular disease — awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight it,” Stewart said.

“We rely on volunteers like those at Concordia Life Care Community to help us spread the word about risk factors for heart attack and stroke, and lifestyle changes we can make to protect ourselves and our families. We are so grateful for the many hours Concordia residents spent knitting the red hats that will keep survivors warm as they walk this month, and weaving the red bracelets that will spark conversation about awareness and prevention.”

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Concordia will hold a free public lecture, “Wellness through Wisdom: Preventing Strokes and Improving Health” by Dr. Richard Vertrees Smith, medical director for the Mercy Oklahoma City Neuroscience Institute and the Mercy Comprehensive Stroke Center. To RSVP for the lecture, call 720-7200.

“Strokes are among the leading causes of death and disability in older adults, a fact that some in our community have unfortunately experienced firsthand,” said Danny Eischen, executive director at Concordia.

“Heart Month is an important opportunity for us to engage the community through education.”