Not pictured is Evelyn Bilbo.
February is Heart Health Month, and members of Gamma Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma took that to heart in their meeting Thursday, February 8.
Guest speaker Mary Jane Schrock, RN, spoke on heart health – women’s heart health in particular.
She talked about factors – age, diabetes, race, and whether an immediate family member had died of a heart attack.
Symptoms that are common for men experiencing a heart attack – chest pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating down left arm – are not always present for women. The symptoms may be the same but are not necessarily so.
In fact, for women, a heart attack is often a silent heart attack. Mary Jane had asked Kathy Slay to accompany her to the meeting to speak about her own experience – her silent heart attack.
She had a feeling on her left side – not pain, just a feeling – and she had recurring shortness of breath. Being a diabetic, she thought that was the problem. It was only later, when other problems surfaced, that she found out she had had a heart attack.
Everyone can help themselves be heart healthy, Mary Jane said:
* Don’t smoke
* Change sweets to nuts, whole grains, fruits and very lean meats
* Do healthy activities – walk, swim, go to Silver Sneakers
* Do three-minute power exercises – run in place, jumping jacks
* Limit alcohol intake
* Manage stress – find ways to cope
* Don’t stress about having a heart attack. Have regular check-ups.
For diabetics, Kathy recommended getting A1C checked every three months.
Remembering Cindy
Also in this meeting, members honored the late Cindy Johnson, Miss Tippytoe, who was a Delta Kappa Gamma member.
Nancy Karrick conducted a Ceremony of Remembrance for Cindy with eulogy by Sissy Phillips.
“During her lifetime, she was all the Society represents – a key woman educator,” Nancy said. “She performed her educational tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. Whatever she attempted, she carried through responsibly. She sought to enrich the lives of those she taught and those with whom she worked. Intellectual and professional growth were her constant goal.”
Cindy’s nickname – Miss Tippytoe – came from her ministry with the area’s school children.
