The Los Angeles County Office of Women’s Health and the American Heart Association have launched a joint heart-health education and stroke prevention program targeting low-income women. Combined, heart disease and stroke account for over 50% of all deaths among Los Angeles County women.
“Heart disease is a major cause of death among women in the County. The Summer Heart Tour is designed to alert potentially at-risk women of their heart health status,” said Ellen Eidem, M.S., Acting Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Women’s Health. “Throughout the summer, the program will provide women with important screenings and information that they may not receive elsewhere.”
The Summer Heart Tour provides free comprehensive health assessments including clinical breast exams and screenings for cervical cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension. This innovative joint project is designed to reach low-income, uninsured women who would otherwise not be able to access screenings. A mobile clinic travels to various locations throughout Los Angeles County, providing information and services in English, Spanish, Armenian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese.
“The Summer Heart Tour is part our commitment to connect with hard to reach populations in our efforts to protect and improve the health of Los Angeles County residents,” said Jonathan Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “We know that health screenings are an important tool in identifying possible health problems. In addition we are working with many other concerned groups to help stop the epidemic of overweight and obesity, major contributors to heart disease”
A calendar of Summer Heart Tour screening locations is available on the health department’s website, www.ladhs.org/owh. Participants can register for screenings by calling a free multilingual hotline at 1-800-793-8090.