MUHC holds public lecture on cardiovascular health

You and your heart: a lifetime affair

Heart attacks account for one out of every ten deaths in Canada. Forty thousand Canadians die suddenly of heart disease every year and countless others are hospitalized with heart failure. However, by following a few simple guidelines individuals can reduce their risk of heart disease.

In a lecture entitled "You and Your Heart: A Lifetime Affair," Dr Magdi Sami, a professor of cardiology at McGill University and a cardiologist with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), will describe how to reduce the risk of heart disease, and the latest research on how to improve survival and quality of life of heart disease patients.

"We are misled by the idea that people with heart problems are all elderly and overweight – victims of heart attacks can be as young as 20 and have a normal weight," says Dr Sami. "Maintaining a healthy heart is a relatively easy thing to do. Many patients who end up with heart problems could have easily avoided them by observing simple, healthy lifestyle choices such as avoiding smoking, controlling blood pressure and exercising regularly.

"The goal of this lecture is to provide information in an informal setting – we are letting individuals know their potential risk for heart disease and what preventative measures they can take to improve their cardiovascular and overall health."

This event will be held on June 10, 2004 at 6:30 pm in the JSL Browne Amphitheatre at the Royal Victoria Hospital.