Public Awareness Events

St. Jude Medical Sponsors Buffalo's Heart Beat '07

Community Outreach Aims to Improve Cardiac Health in the African-American Community

St.Jude Medical recently sponsored "Heart Beat '07 - The A-B-C's of a Healthy Heart," the first community health fair of its kind in Buffalo, NY. The event, which was held on Saturday, Feb. 10, was designed to educate the public on cardiac health issues, ­­­particularly those issues facing the African-American community.

"Statistics show that African Americans suffer disproportionately from cardiac conditions such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease and Sudden Cardiac Arrest" said Raul Vazquez, M.D., of the Urban Family Practice in Buffalo. "The goal of Heart Beat '07 was to increase awareness and understanding of these conditions, thereby helping the citizens of Buffalo to make better, more informed decisions about their health."

Heart Beat '07 featured a series of lectures presented by leading local physicians on topics such as reducing high blood pressure, understanding heart failure risk and preventing stroke. In addition, the health fair emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, with several area organizations offering complimentary health screenings or cooking demonstrations throughout the event.

In total, 292 individuals attended Heart Beat '07. Included in that group was a Buffalo citizen who was screened for blood pressure and measured at a very dangerous rate of 220/140. The individual, who also had other symptoms of cardiac failure, was sent to the hospital for immediate treatment.