FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — St. Agnes Medical Center is seeing red.
“Wearing red is not just wearing red to just celebrate, but really to spark conversation around heart health and heart awareness,” says Glyniss D’Mello, the Director of Telemetry and Cardiovascular Services at St. Agnes.
Red lights will brighten up the hospital each night for the rest of February.
Several workers, along with the American Heart Association, sported red on Friday to mark the occasion.
The hospital also offered free blood pressure checks for the community.
“Do early screenings so that you can prevent any potential heart disease,” D’Mello said.
CDC numbers show over 60 million women in the US are living with some form of heart disease.
In 2023, heart disease killed more than 300,000 women, according to the agency.
“It’s not just older women,” D’Mello said. “It starts at the age of 20 or 30, where you have to be aware of what your numbers are. You have to know if you have high blood pressure.”
St. Agnes Medical Center has taken steps to improve cardiovascular care for its patients by bringing in advanced medical technology and minimally invasive procedures.
“Technology like our dual chamber leadless pacemaker, which reduces complications of a traditional pacemaker,” D’Mello said. “We’ve also bought technologies for transcatheter valve repair. Those are to treat leaky valves.”
By keeping these surgeries closer to home, it helps reduce stress on the patient and their families.
While there are advanced procedures and technologies to help treat heart problems, D’Mello explains living a healthier lifestyle and managing blood pressure can prevent future complications.
“Know what your cholesterol levels are,” D’Mello said. “Know what your blood sugar numbers are. Don’t wait until you’re older.”
Health experts stress prevention and proactive meetings with a doctor to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
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