St. Francis Heart Center offers free heart-healthy courses in September

INDIANAPOLIS – Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Prevention is the key to lowering your chances of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure. St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes, programs, health fairs and screenings throughout September to improve the community’s health through education and prevention.

Starting Sept. 1, nine “Change of Heart” and one “Ask the Doc” classes will be offered in the Indianapolis and Mooresville areas. All of the events are open and free to the public.Several of the Change of Heart classes will be held at the St. Francis Heart Center’s Community Center, located on the southeast corner of St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Registration is required. Call 317-782-4422 or register online at StFrancisHospitals.org/heart for these and many other classes throughout the fall.

Good Health Starts Here
Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Reduce Stress
Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Ask the Doc: How to Protect Yourself from Stroke
Presented by Carl Rouch, M.D.
Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Cooking for Your Heart
Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Super Shopping
Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.
Kroger, 5911 Madison Ave.

Heart Smart Dining
Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Good Health Starts Here
Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville
(1201 Hadley Road)

Creative Cuisine
Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Exercise for Your Heart
Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Good Health Starts Here
Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center

Ask the Doc: How to Protect Yourself from Stroke
Critical arteries don’t just lead to the heart – they also lead to the head and legs. Cardiologist Carl Rouch, M.D., will discuss the importance of keeping the carotid artery leading to the brain free of plaque and disease, decreasing the risk for stroke. Class attendees may sign up for a free carotid artery screening.

Creative Cuisine
New and different ingredients make cooking meals more fun and nutritious. Surprise your family with healthy meals made from the simple recipes taught in this class. Taste prepared samples as you learn.

Cooking for Your Heart
Healthy cooking leads to a healthy life. Learn how to choose the right ingredients that pump up the nutritional value of your favorite recipes. Taste testing during this class is encouraged!

Exercise for Your Heart
If you can’t find time to exercise or aren’t sure what the best exercise is for you, this class is for you. Discover that exercise can be healthy and fun. Learn how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Good Health Starts Here
Discover the building blocks of nutrition and how fats, carbohydrates and protein affect your body. Learn about healthy fats, the benefits of fiber and sodium requirements in your diet. This class offers the foundation for the remaining classes in the series and is just the beginning of a healthy lifestyle!

Heart Smart Dining
Americans eat nearly half their meals away from home. How can you control what you eat when you don’t cook for yourself? Learn how to make wise menu selections and eat smart while dining out.

Reduce Stress
Learn to identify the causes of stress in your life and how to improve your health in this class. The instructor is James Nicolai, M.D., medical director of the Franciscan Center for Integrative Medicine.

Super Shopping
With all the new and changing products on the shelves, grocery shopping can be overwhelming. Learn where to find the healthy foods and avoid packaging tricks while touring the grocery store with our dietician. Discover how food labels make you a smarter shopper.