Too few women realize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health risk. In fact, more women than men die of heart disease each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. To help women understand the realities of heart disease – and give them the tools to fight it – St. John’s Mercy is sponsoring the Heart to Heart Fair in February.

The fair will be held at West County Center on Friday, Feb. 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required by visiting www.stjohnsmercy.org/hearttoheart or by calling 1-866-450-0575.

Heart to Heart Fair attendees can receive free heart-health screenings and learn how to reduce their risk for this life-threatening disease.

The Heart to Heart Fair will feature lifestyle presentations, medical information and free heart-health screenings for women and their loved ones. Screenings will include blood pressure, body mass index, and finger-stick blood screenings for cholesterol, blood glucose and triglycerides. Fasting is not required. Results will be viewed immediately by a St. John’s Mercy health care professional who will recommend appropriate follow-up care as needed.

“Empowering women to take better care of their hearts is critical,” says Virginia Frank, vice president of operations at St. John’s Mercy. “Through efforts like the Heart to Heart Fair and our PULSE program, we are striving to help more women beat the odds.”

Women may also schedule a follow-up appointment with the PULSE nurse educator in the weeks following the Heart to Heart Fair. This one-hour, one-on-one consultation includes a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and a customized personal action plan to help reduce heart disease risk. The fee for this visit is $40, or $25 with screening results from the Heart to Heart Fair.