February is American Heart Month, and Lake Regional Health System is encouraging community participation to raise awareness and support for heart care. According to recent data, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing all cancers combined. In 2022, about one in five Americans who died from heart disease were under the age of 65.
“At Lake Regional Health System, we are committed to fighting heart disease,” said Kevin McRoberts, FACHE, CEO of Lake Regional. “We offer lifesaving services to the region, standing ready to provide emergency heart attack treatment, as well as heart valve repair, pacemaker placement, and other advanced heart procedures. At Lake Regional, we have invested in our heart program, and we invite our community to support us as we continue to advance local heart care and celebrate American Heart Month.”
Lake Regional has outlined several ways for individuals to participate during February:
– Community members can wear a special “Every Beat Counts” red long-sleeve T-shirt on Go Red Fridays throughout February. The shirts are available for $25 at lakeregional.com/HeartMonth while supplies last.
– Baxter’s Lakeside Grille will feature a special Heart Month menu during February with proceeds supporting local heart care.
– Customers at Lake Regional Pharmacy locations in Osage Beach, Camdenton and Eldon can round up their purchases by $1 at checkout to contribute.
– A blood drive will be held Monday, Feb. 9 at the hospital. Donors will receive a crewneck sweatshirt and may enroll in the 56-Day Challenge for an opportunity to win up to $56,000 in VISA gift cards over the year.
– Giveback Days will take place at Buffalo Wild Wings in Lake Ozark (Sunday, Feb. 15) and Pizza Hut in Osage Beach (Thursday, Feb. 5). On these days, mentioning Lake Regional when ordering results in a donation of 20% of proceeds toward local heart care.
The initiative aims both to increase public awareness about cardiovascular health risks among younger adults and encourage financial support for expanding regional cardiac services.
