NMH Plans Women’s Heart Health Fair May 1

NEW MILFORD — Christine Baranski, two-time Tony Award-winning actress, and heart disease prevention expert Dr Joseph Frolkis are featured speakers Sunday, May 1, at the Women’s HeartAdvantage Health Fair at New Milford Hospital.

Ms Baranski and Dr Frolkis are raising public awareness to promote hearth health and they offer perspectives on how some simple changes can dramatically reduce risk factors that lead to heart disease.

They are part of a program that is open to the public and runs from 1 to 4 pm. The theme is “Take Heart.” Free screenings, thanks to support from ConnectiCare, and raffle prizes will be available, as will giveaways, food and fitness demonstrations, clowns with heart balloons, and refreshments.

Ms Baranski, a passionate advocate of women’s health issues, appeared in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) among her many film roles and won Tonys for the best performance by a featured actress on Broadway in Rumors in 1989 and The Real Thing in 1984.

Dr Frolkis is medical director of preventive cardiology at the New Milford Hospital-New York-Presbyterian Regional Heart Center. In Cleveland, he achieved national recognition for his work in preventive heart medicine. His objective at NMH is to develop a referral center to supplement the function of primary care physicians, offering a multidisciplinary program.

“I will have time, resources, and infrastructure to provide the labor-intensive help needed to evaluate patients with complicated risk factors,” said Dr Frolkis. “The goal is to get them started on a risk-reduction regime and send them back to their physician for follow-up.”

Tours of the heart center and the hospital’s sleep center are also on the program. So are free screenings for heart risk assessment, diabetes, lung function, cholesterol, and body fat.

In addition, the activities offer a heart-healthy focus in food tasting, cooking demonstrations by Adrienne’s in New Milford, chair massage, and demonstrations in yoga, Tai Chi, and “Muscles in Motion” by The Club.