An upcoming health fair for women in the Augusta area will focus on cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women in Georgia and the nation. The February 9, 2002 event will be hosted by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Office of Women's Health, in collaboration with the Georgia Commission on Women, Doctors Hospital, Medical College of Georgia, St. Joseph Hospital, University Health Care System, Saturn of Augusta and Augusta State University.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims more lives each year than the next seven leading causes of death combined," said Dr. Dee Baldwin, executive director of the DCH Office of Women's Health. "We are encouraging women to take charge of their health by learning about the disease and taking better care of themselves."

The event, "Take Charge of Your Heart: A Health Fair Especially for Women," will be held Saturday, February 9, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (registration begins at 9:30 am) at the Augusta State College Sports Complex, 3109 Wrightsboro Road in Augusta. Dr. Paul Cundey, Jr., MD, FACP, FACC, will address "Women and Heart Disease: The Unappreciated Epidemic." The health fair will feature free cholesterol screenings, blood pressure screenings, bone density screenings, heart healthy cooking, giveaways and much more.

"Traditionally, cardiovascular disease has been regarded as a man's disease," said Dr. Baldwin. "We know now that women face as great a risk as men." According to the 1999 Georgia State of the Heart Report, women accounted for 52% of the total cardiovascular related deaths in Richmond County. In neighboring Columbia county women accounted for more than 50% of cardiovascular related deaths.

For additional information, please contact:
the DCH Office of Women's Health at (404) 463-5040 
or call the MCG Health Care Referral Center at (706) 721-CARE (2273) or 1-800-736-CARE (2273)