Lifespan of Rhode Island held one of its "Matters of the Heart" events for the public at the Venus DeMilo Restaurant on February 27, 2008. The event featured free health screenings including: stroke risk assessments, blood cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, body fat analysis,  and blood glucose checks. Participants got to enjoy heart healthy refreshments and a brief exercise demonstration to show how to get blood flowing to a healthier heart. Speakers at the event included J. Dawn Abbott, MD, Kristin Ellison, M.D. and Janet Long, N.P., all from Rhode Island Hospital. Fall River and New Bedford have an 8.1% rate of cardiovascular diseases among adults over 35 compared with a 5.7% statewide average. Cardiac mortality rates are 24% above state averages.
 

(Top row, left) Volunteer Sarah Weiss works with Doralice DeSousa and Robin Zaman from the Lifespan Community Health Services Department to go over the list of registrants for the event. (Top row, center) Joe Macedo of East Providence stops to get the results of his cholesterol level check from Donna Badger, RN, of the Rhode Island Hospital nursing cardiology unit. (Top row, right) Ms. Badger confers with cardiologist George McKendall, M.D. of Rhode Island Hospital. (Middle row) ICU unit secretary Gail Paradizo of Miriam Hospital checks the body fat analysis for Richard Caouette of Rehoboth. (Bottom row, left) Bill Galligan has the pulse in his right foot examined by regional vascular techonolgist Linda Saint Laurent. (Bottom row, right) Rhode Island Hospital physical therapist Tina Calise hands out information about fitness to attendees.