DANBURY — Did you know that one in five women live with heart disease and don’t even know it? Knowing your risk factors can save your life.

The Women’s Cardiac Program, a wellness initiative within The Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital, will sponsor a free, interactive heart-healthy program Saturday, March 13, at Danbury Hospital.

The event begins with registration at 7:45 am, and a continental breakfast will be provided. Park free in the Blue Visitor’s Parking Lot, Hospital Avenue entrance.

The half-day program, which runs from 8:15 am to noon, will take place in the John C. Creasy Center for Health Education auditorium, where attendees will receive a free, complete heart healthy screening that includes blood pressure check, body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL, and glucose. Knowing your numbers will help you understand your current risk.

Under the leadership of Susan Mani, MD, the program aims to make all women more confident and aware of what it means to be heart healthy. The heart health and wellness educational format features a series of 40-minute breakout sessions that will address a range of topics and activities that will include:

*Interactive demonstrations about exercise and nutrition featuring Jan VanWart, APRN; Michele Smallidge, RD, MS, in exercise physiology; Carly Mastroianni, BS in exercise physiology; and Nancy Salem, RD.

*Small group Question & Answer sessions with Danbury Hospital cardiovascular physicians Susan Mani, MD, Margaret Bond, MD, Teresa Daniele, MD, and Dahlia Plummer, MD.

*Feature lecture “Understand Your Heart Healthy Screening” presented by Susan Mani, MD, director of the Women’s Cardiac Program at the Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital.

Space is limited to 100 people; to register, call toll-free 866-374-0007.

In other news, the Diabetes Club of Danbury, a support group for people with diabetes, their families and friends, features a series of guest speaker programs and special presentations dedicated to discussions about living well with diabetes. The next meeting takes place on Monday, March 15, from 7:30 to 9 pm in the Creasy Center.

The featured speakers will be Neil Culligan, MD, an attending physician in the Department of Medicine and medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at Danbury Hospital. Joining him as a presenter is Heather Duggan, BSN, RN, program coordinator at the Primary Stroke Center. They will explain why diabetes is a stroke risk factor, and the importance of maintaining target levels for blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol to help prevent stroke, heart disease, or a heart attack.

The Diabetes Club of Danbury meets at Danbury Hospital on the third Monday during the months of March, April, May, September, and October.

“The goal of the free diabetes education program is to provide continuous up-to-date information and education regarding the day-to-day management of diabetes,” said Robert Ruxin, MD, certified diabetes educator and medical director of The Diabetes Club of Danbury. Dr Ruxin can be reached by calling 203-438-7339.

Visit DanburyHospital.org to learn more.