a heart for health
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Courtney Fitzwater

Awareness of cardiac health is at the heart of all the upcoming “red” events in Jonesboro and across the country. Sponsored locally by Cardiology Associates Foundation (CAF), this annual project seeks to open the eyes of women to the risks of heart disease.

CAF is a The Heart Truth National Partner with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Last year, the foundation was one of three organizations in the country to receive The Heart Truth grant of $75,000. Also, last year during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, CAF was recognized as a national partner at the Red Dress Collection 2009 Fashion Show for efforts to increase heart awareness among women.

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in this country,” said Dr. Courtney Hoffman, the foundation’s 2010 Red Dress chairman. “Most women are not aware of the risk factors for heart disease. I think educating people will help them take more individual responsibility for their health.”
Hoffman, a Jonesboro native, Arkansas State University alumnus and an optometrist at Wood-Hoffman Vision Clinic, described several incidents in her personal life that brought home the fact that even young people need to be aware of heart health.

One involved a family member in her 30s who experienced shortness of breath on a casual walk and stopped at a neighbor’s house for help. She was having a heart attack, and early medical intervention saved her life. Also, one of Hoffman’s partners, Doug Wood, was asymptomatic but went to his doctor for a checkup and major blockages were found in more than one artery.

For these and other reasons, Hoffman is determined to be a model of good health for her family. Her husband, Matt, is also an optometrist with Wood-Hoffman, and they have two children, Allison, 7, and Bennett, 5.

“I want to be an example for my children,” she said. “I run and do yoga, and my husband exercises. We make it a point to sit down together as a family for healthy meals.”

But, health, to Hoffman, involves more than taking care of the physical body.
“I feel like being a whole person is important. We try to incorporate our faith into our home. I want my children to have a connection with a community of people who really are about you, and you really care about them. I want to teach them to give generously and to keep their priorities in perspective — things are not important, people are.”

Hoffman’s well-rounded approach to health and well being is surely a model for others, as is her dedicated work as Cardiology Associate Foundation’s 2010 Red Dress chairman.

Project Red Dress
This local design competition goes along with promoting the red dress as the national symbol for the awareness of women and heart disease. Competitive categories include: professional, amateur, ages 13-18 and ages 9-12. Dress sketch deadline is Feb. 5. Completed dress must arrive by Feb. 23. Dresses will be on display at The Mall at Turtle Creek Feb. 25-27 and will be modeled at the Red Dress Fashion show on Feb. 26. For more information, call 932-6402.

National Wear Red Day
Friday, Feb. 5, is National Wear Red Day, a day when Americans will take women’s health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.

African American Women’s Health Conference
Heart disease disproportionately affects women of color. Cardiology Associates Foundation and The Heart Truth Women of Color initiative will present a conference on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Bernards Auditorium. Dr. Roosevelt Gilliam will be the guest speaker.

Red Dress Fashion Show
“It’s Raining Red” is the theme for the 2010 Red Dress Fashion Event set for Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Valley View Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by Cardiology Associates Foundation, this unique fashion and entertainment event provides women a personal and urgent wake up call about the risks of heart disease.

Red Dress Weekend at The Mall at Turtle Creek
The National Red Dress Collection will be in center court of The Mall at Turtle Creek Feb. 25-27, along with the Project Red Dress entries. Heart health screenings, fitness and nutrition presentations, educational material and prize drawings, including a $1,000 gift card to the mall, will take place throughout the weekend at the former Ann Taylor Loft store.