Free heart-healthy classes offered to public throughout April

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes focused on cardiovascular health and wellness in April.

To register for any of the classes, call 317-782-4422 or go online at MyHeartCare.net to see the full listing of spring classes. Seating is limited for these events. The classes include:

How does blood pressure affect my heart?
Mon, April 4, 6:30 p.m.
Franciscan St. Francis Health–Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road
Presented by Harry Genovely, MD

Do you know what your blood pressure is? Do you know what it should be? Learn how high blood pressure affects not only the heart but also other vital organs. Dr. Genovely will share steps you can take to lower your blood pressure, including diet, weight loss, exercise and medication. No more excuses: learn how you can lower pressure starting today, with the advantages lasting a lifetime.

HeartScan - Identifying cardiac risk

Tues, April 12, 6:30 p.m.

Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Presented by Babu Doddapaneni, MD

Coronary arteries supply blood to your heart and can become blocked with calcium-containing plaque which can cause heart attacks.  Coronary calcium scoring, or HeartScan, is a high-tech way of detecting calcium build-up in the arteries and identifying your risk for heart disease.  Our cardiologist will describe this test and answer your questions about other heart attack risk factors.

Do you have a heart murmur?

Tues, Apr 26, 6:30 p.m.

YMCA at CityWay, 426 S. Alabama St.

Refreshments served at 6:00 p.m.

Presented by Marc Gerdisch, MD

Heart murmurs are caused by valves inside the heart that don’t close properly. Sometimes, people can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. But if the problem becomes more serious, the blood flow to the heart may be affected. Dr. Gerdisch will talk about new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies here at St. Francis. Participants will have the opportunity to sign up for a free echocardiogram screening following the program.

Change of Heart classes offered in April 2016:

Fitness Tips

Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Being fit is more than being thin.  Research shows that no matter what you weigh, increasing your fitness helps your heart. Discover how exercise can be healthy and fun.  Learn how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Cooking for 2

Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville

As we get older, our health becomes more of a priority.  After the kids leave home, it can be challenging to scale back our cooking, so dining out seems like an easy option.  In this class, learn how it really is cheaper and healthier to cook at home for two. 

Savvy Shopping

Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. at Camby Meijer, 10509 Heartland Blvd., Camby

With all the new and changing products on the shelves, grocery shopping can be overwhelming.  Walk with us through the grocery store and learn where to find the healthy foods and how to avoid packaging tricks commonly used to market foods.  Discover how food labels make you a smarter shopper.

Healthy Eating

Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Healthy eating leads to a healthy life!  Find out how much a “serving” is and how to manage a healthy weight.  Discover how fats, carbohydrates and protein affect our body.  Do you know how much salt, fiber and sugar are in the foods you buy?  This class offers the foundation for a healthy future.

Healthy Cooking Tips

Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Healthy cooking leads to a healthy life.  Adding herbs and spices to your cooking increases the flavor and enjoyment of the meals.  Learn how to choose the right ingredients that pump up the nutritional value and flavor of your favorite recipes in this class.  Recipe substitutions and cooking techniques will be discussed.

Quick meals at home

Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. at CityWay

Some days, we just don’t have the time – or the desire – to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  But that doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice eating well at home.  Learn how to fix quick and easy nutritious meals you and your family can enjoy.