The following is a press release from Cortland Regional Medical Center. It has been republished with permission.
Cortland Regional is proud to be a part of the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation’s, “Little Hats, Big Hearts” campaign. All babies born during the month of February will receive red hats made by volunteers from around the country to help raise awareness about American Heart Month and congenital heart defects. Volunteers from across the country have been knitting and crocheting red hats to be distributed to thousands of babies during American Heart Month, reminding moms to live heart healthy lives and to help their children do the same.
According to the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation, approximately one percent of babies are both with a congenital heart defect. Early detection and support are critical for those families. It’s important that healthcare providers and organizations like Cortland Regional promote healthy choices and behaviors that preserve ideal cardiovascular health throughout a child’s life.
“Heart health starts right from birth,” said Olga Levitskiy, RN Manager for Cortland Regional’s Maternity Department. “Supporting a campaign like ‘Little Hats, Big Hearts’ is an easy way to raise awareness while involving parents from their baby’s first moments, to be committed to their lifelong heart health and their child’s, as well.”
Heart health is an important part of happiness and wellness at every stage of life, and Cortland Regional offers different education and wellness programs for our patients and community. The medical center recently launched the Walk With A Doc™ program. Every second Monday of the month, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the J.M. McDonald indoor track, the community is invited to walk with our physician team and ask health-related questions while being active. For questions or more information about this program, please contact Carrie Sabin at (607) 428-5512.
Cortland Regional’s Respiratory Therapy department is also offering its free Smoking Cessation Program this month to help those struggling with nicotine addiction. According to the CDC, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today, and it leads to many other chronic diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. It’s not too late to join the program. For more information contact Cortland Regional’s Respiratory Therapy department at (607) 756-3807.
