“Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and yet not even half of all women in the U.S. recognize that it’s their greatest health threat,” said Indu Poornima, MD, cardiologist and director of the AHN Women’s Health Center.
PITTSBURGH (PRWEB) February 10, 2023
For more than a century, candy “conversation hearts” have been an annual staple of Valentine’s Day festivities. This year, in a nod to National Heart Month and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” initiative, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is repurposing the iconic sweet treat to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease among women.
AHN printed customized one-liners on heart-shaped candies – messages such as “Ur ♥ Is Unique” and “Know Ur Risks” – all in an effort to reach AHN patients in an unexpected but impactful way and encourage women to schedule their annual heart-health screening.
The candies are available in specially designed “Heart to Hearts”-themed stands that have been strategically placed at high-traffic OB/GYN and primary care offices throughout AHN’s footprint. The stands also feature a QR code that connects patients to AHN’s heart screening resources and information to make an appointment.
AHN Cardiovascular Institute and AHN Women’s Institute collaborated on the awareness initiative.
“Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and yet not even half of all women in the U.S. recognize that it’s their greatest health threat,” said Indu Poornima, MD, cardiologist and director of the AHN Women’s Health Center. “We’re extremely excited about this awareness campaign as the candy kiosks are an interactive, inviting way to reach women with this critically important call to action.”
The AHN Women’s Heart Center, a part of the Division of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at AHN Cardiovascular Institute, supports women through effective, preventive measures as well as the latest technologies and tools to diagnose heart disease and holistic, gender-specific care paths. In addition, clinicians work closely with patients to promote heart-healthy lifestyles, proper diets, exercise, sleep schedules and stress management.
The Center works collaboratively alongside the AHN Women’s Institute, its OB/GYN practices, and its Maternal Fetal Medicine division. Earlier this month, AHN announced the opening of its dedicated AHN Cardio-Obstetrics clinic to care for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or in the postpartum period.
For more information or to make an appointment, please visit ahn.org/womenscardio.
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About the Allegheny Health Network:
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home and community based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women’s health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 22,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.