Standing-Room-Only at Hearts in Hand Conference
By Allison Rowe
There wasn’t an empty seat as the lights dimmed for the “Hearts in Hand” conference in the auditorium at Henry Street’s Community Consultation Center on Thursday, September 12. The heart health workshop for women ages 50 and up opened with a video showing how four Lower East Side women are managing their heart conditions. Nearly 150 people – mostly women and a few men – listened attentively as cardiologists Susan R. Hecht, M.D., and Margaret L. Furman, M.D., both of Beth Israel Medical Center, urged audience members to commit to preventive measures like increased exercise and diet change to maintain a healthy heart.
Following the physicians’ presentations, conference attendees participated in free health screenings for blood pressure, glucose levels and more. A variety of informational resources were also made available by Henry Street and the conference co-sponsor Beth Israel Medical Center. The conference, hosted by Henry Street’s Senior Services Division, was made possible by funding provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.
