Rush University Medical Center is offering a free women’s heart   health event and blood pressure screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 21. The program will be held on the Rush campus at the Searle Conference Center, located on the fifth floor of the Professional Office Building at 1725 W. Harrison St., Chicago, Room 542 Brainard.

Although heart disease affects both women and men almost equally, women often have different symptoms and respond differently to treatment than men do. “The Culture of a Woman’s Heart” is Rush’s annual event which discusses heart disease in women and the role ethnicity has in influencing risk factors.

This year’s keynote address, “Prescription for a Happy, Healthy Heart,” by Dr. Annabelle Volgman, cardiologist and medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women, will be followed by break out sessions based on ethnicity for African-American, Asian, Caucasian, Latina and – new this year – Indian women. Blood pressure screenings will be provided for participants with results discussed in the breakout sessions, which will be led by a team of physicians, nurses and nutritionists.

Attendees will receive free parking in the Rush garage. Lunch will be served. All attendees will be entered into a free drawing for fun prizes.  To register, please call (888) 352-RUSH (7874) or visit the “Events and Classes” page at www.rush.edu.

About the Rush Heart Center for Women

The Rush Heart Center for Women is the first heart program in Chicago devoted exclusively to provide women a team with the experience to address their unique needs. At the Rush Heart Center for Women, women with heart problems are diagnosed and treated with great sensitivity and innovation by a team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionists and cardiothoracic surgeons who are supported by the comprehensive resources of a world-class academic medical center. Women without overt heart disease are assessed and advised on how to prevent heart disease and stroke.