By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Risk factors leading to heart disease for women and taking care of eliminating them was a key focus for cardiologist Gilbert Katz during his visit to the Go Red Ladies Night Out event at the Courtyard By Marriott convention center in Junction City Friday night.

Katz said those factors can range from smoking and obesity to lack of exercise. “There are some you can’t change like family history and menopausal state but there a lot of others that can be helped.”

Katz said some of the questions he is normally asked is when a person should go to the hospital, what symptoms should they ignore, “when can they stay home, which generally I tend to advise when in doubt get some help rather than stay home with a heart attack.”

A heart healthy diet can include low salt and low cholesterol food items.

Family medicine nurse practitioner Tiffany Naccarato said the Go Red for Women event was designed to raise awareness about cardiovascular heart disease in women. ‘But beyond that we’re just trying to focus on uplifting women and trying to talk to them about whole health, including mental, physical spiritual health and just hit home that the community supports that.”

One key point is that women often forget themselves while taking care of others. Naccarato agreed. “Absolutely, you hit the nail on the head. We tend to put everybody else first and de-prioritize our self, but I always remind my patients that if momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy. and that’s true with your health to.”

This was the fifth year for Go Red for Ladies Night Out in Junction City.