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Business & Tech

Regular Screenings — and Chocolate — Are Good for Women's Hearts

Silver Cross Hospital offering free box of Dan's Candies with heart screenings for those who register before Feb. 28.

Chocolate is good for your heart. How’s that for good news?

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), small amounts of dark chocolate can be good for your heart. The plant phenols — cocoa phenols, found in dark chocolate, have been known to lower blood pressure and reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol levels.

Regular screenings are also good for your heart. 

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A sponsored article by Silver Cross Hospital

“Heart disease is the nation's number one killer, and women are its prime target,” says Dr. Kathleen Drinan, a cardiologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. “One in 10 women ages 45 to 64 has some form of heart disease, and this increases to one in four women after age 65.”

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Some women are at a higher risk for developing coronary heart disease than others. Risk factors are related to such things as age, hormone levels, lifestyle and diet, other illnesses and family history.

Some risk factors can be modified or even eliminated. The major risk factors that you can control are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, physical inactivity and stress. By controlling these risk factors, you may help to reduce your risk of heart disease. There are other risk factors that cannot be changed, such as having a family history of heart disease or getting older.

Are You at Risk for Heart Disease?

To help you learn if you are at risk of heart disease, Silver Cross Hospital is offering Baseline Cardiovascular Risk Assessments for just $40. The heart screening includes a 12-lead EKG; measurements of HDL/LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood glucose level, blood pressure level, and body mass index (BMI); history and lifestyle evaluation, and a personal phone consultation with a cardiovascular nurse to review results and answer questions. 

Individuals who call to schedule a Baseline Cardiovascular Risk Assessment before Feb. 28 will receive a complimentary sample box of chocolates from Dan’s Candies. Call (815) 300-7076 to schedule an appointment at one of three convenient locations:

  • Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, 1870 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox
  • Silver Cross Health Center, 12701 W. 143rd St., Homer Glen
  • Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox

And, don’t forget to mention CHOCOLATE when scheduling your appointment to receive the complimentary box of Dan’s Candies at the time of the appointment. After all, chocolate—dark and in moderation, is good for your heart!

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