UMH Plans Full Slate of Events Celebrating American Heart Month

Uvalde Memorial Hospital (UMH) will be celebrating American Heart Month throughout February to bring increased awareness to heart disease and its effects.

UMH employees will kick off the month wearing red on Friday, February 2 for National Wear Red Day. Community members are invited to participate and can share photos wearing their red attire on the hospital’s Facebook page.

The following week, join UMH and board certified cardiologist Dr. Shawn Ragbir as he hosts Cupid’s Shuffle, a community walk, at Uvalde Memorial Park on Saturday, February 10 from 9:00-10:00am. This is an opportunity for a fun, safe walk where you can learn about heart health and meet new friends. Physical therapists from the UMH cardiac rehabilitation team will also be on hand to teach basic exercises and lead a walkers’ warm-up and cool-down. Participants should meet at the park’s amphitheater.

At the end of the month, UMH will be celebrating more in depth with Dr. Shawn Ragbir at UMH’s Heart to Heart forum on Tuesday, February 20 from 5:30-7:00pm at El Progreso Memorial Library. Dr. Ragbir will candidly cover women and cardiovascular disease, microvascular heart disease, Broken Heart Syndrome, whether baby aspirin is a daily necessity, and more.  Dr. Andrezj Stypko will also be on hand to touch on the relation of diabetes to heart disease and the importance of wound care and regular foot exams for individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Join the physicians for an open, understandable discussion and short question and answer session. The evening will be free of charge and open to the public, and include free blood pressure checks, light refreshments, and giveaways.

Throughout the month UMH will be offering free blood pressure checks and heart health tips each Tuesday morning from 9:00- 11:00am at various locations. Locations include February 6 at the hospital’s lobby; Tuesday, February 13, at the Sabinal Nutrition Center at 417 W Rheiner Avenue; Tuesday, February 20 at the Herby Ham Adult Activity Center located at 248 FM 3447; and ending on Tuesday, February 26 at the Uvalde Nutrition Center at 420 West Nopal Street.

“We’re excited to have a full slate of events to celebrate American Heart Month with our community,” stated Adam Apolinar, UMH chief executive officer.

“Each event that we are hosting is open to the public and free of charge. With heart disease as the leading cause of death in Texas, and across the nation, we hope that our community members will join us throughout this month to learn more and take a proactive approach to their heart health,” Apolinar added.