Brookwood Baptist Health Goes Red for Heart Month

Brookwood, Princeton and Shelby Baptist Medical Centers don red throughout February to draw attention to the nation’s leading cause of death among men and women

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 1, 2019) - As men and women across the nation wear red today in support of National Go Red Day, the Brookwood Baptist Health System too will sport the bright color. Throughout the month of February, portions of the campuses of Brookwood, Princeton and Shelby Baptist Medical Centers will be lighted red in honor of Heart Month.

As heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, February has been dedicated as a time for organizations, communities and health professionals across the country to share information and awareness about the disease. Approximately 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that’s one in every four deaths. The Birmingham area is no stranger to the condition; the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the death rate as a result of heart disease in Jefferson County at 367 per 100,000 and the death rate of Shelby County as a result of heart disease at 315 per 100,000.

“Although the statistics are staggering, the good news is that heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and work with a physician to manage their risk factors,” stated Tim Puthoff, CEO, Brookwood Baptist Health. “Our goal is that the red light will spotlight the issue in our community, bringing it to the forefront of conversation, but the light is just a small piece of what we have planned to spread awareness during the month.”

Throughout the month of February, Brookwood Baptist Health will host a myriad of different events, social media campaigns and seminars targeted at helping educate our communities on ways they can make healthy choices and work with a physician to manage their health conditions, including hosting a number of free blood pressure screenings. Heart Month seminar topics include minimally invasive heart therapies; atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF); matters of the heart for women; and cardiac MRI. Brookwood Baptist Health has a dedicated a web page where community members can find a list of cardiovascular services and resources available across the system. Click here to access the page, along with more information regarding upcoming community events.