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Mercy Health Center hosts women's Day of Dance for Health
The Fort Scott Tribune
Mercy Health Center will unite the region's women with 70 other communities across the U.S. through the fifth annual national Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Health on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The event will combine the fun of dancing to different forms of music, such as ballroom dancing, rock 'n' roll, country-line, Zumba, clogging and even belly-dancing, with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other women's health issues.
This is the second year that residents of Bourbon County and beyond will participate in the event. Almost 300 women took part in the Day of Dance for Health in 2008, and an even larger crowd is expected this year. Nationwide, more than 90,000 participants are expected to dance for their health.
"The joy that comes from dancing can have a profound and wonderful impact on our overall health," said Tanya Abreu, president and national program director of Spirit of Women. "On February 28, doctors, nurses, medical professionals, community leaders and citizens throughout the U.S. will all come together to share how they heed their own advice. They will dance and help educate women about healthy choices they can easily incorporate into their lifestyles, as well as personal warning signs women should be clued into."
Taking place from 9 a.m.-noon at the Fort Scott Middle School, the event will include dancing, a prominent physician speaker, various health screenings and other activities to remind participants that heart disease prevention can be a fun and energizing experience.
Day of Dance for Health events are presented by affiliate hospitals of the Spirit of Women Health Network in 70 cities across the United States.
As Day of Dance for Health takes place during Heart Health Awareness Month, participants are encouraged to wear red shoes, the symbol designed to encourage women to take action for their heart health.
Dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking or riding a bike -- as many as 200-400 calories per hour. If done on a regular basis as a form of exercise, many health benefits result including weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management (lowering), increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength and an overall sense of well-being. In addition, dancing can help develop new social connections as well as enhance and strengthen relationships.
Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death for American women. One in two women will die of heart disease, yet they continue not to personalize their individual risk for cardiovascular disease, according to Abreu.
The Day of Dance for Health is a free event, but tickets are required and are limited to two tickets per person. Tickets are available at three locations in Fort Scott: The Mercy Health Center Registration Desk at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.; The Mercy Medical Plaza Registration Desk at 902 South Horton; and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall St.
For more information about the Day of Dance for Health, call the Spirit of Women Coordinator at (620) 223-2200 ext. 2610.
The 2009 National Day of Dance for Health is presented by the Spirit of Women Health Network, Good Housekeeping magazine, WomenHeart, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Inc., Chattem, Inc., the P.A.D. Coalition and the National Stroke Association.
Spirit of Women is a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women's lives with innovative health and community programs. Spirit of Women enables participating hospitals to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support.
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