KIPS BAY — NYU Langone Medical Center is offering a host of free services Thursday designed to increase awareness and education about heart health.
The Heart Health Fair, sponsored by the medical center’s Cardiac and Vascular Institute, will feature a menu of free services including screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, circulation and bone density. There will also be several lectures and demonstrations centered on smoking cessation, Tai Chi, stress management and relaxation techniques.
“I think that there is a lot of information out there,” said Dr. Jonathan Whiteson, director of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Center at NYU Langone Medical Center. “But then again, sometimes it can be too much information. It’s confusing. It’s conflicting. It may not be what your doctor said, and sometimes it’s downright wrong.
“The reason for this [health fair] was to make sure that we put out the right information,” Whiteson added.
The event typically attracts around 300 people and is completely free. In addition to the testing and lectures, patients are also treated to a consultation with the medical professionals on hand to explain what their test results mean, explained Ana Mola, a nurse practitioner for the Cardiac and Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.
“A health fair allows us to also experience the right patient encounter we should be having with all our patients,” Mola said.
“It’s awareness and empowerment,” she added. “So you do make an impact on people’s lives.”
The Heart Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, inside the Alumni Hall at NYU Langone Medical Center.
