In recognition of Heart Month, an event titled “Breakfast with the Cardiologist” with Robert Lichtenberg, M.D., F.A.C.C., will take place at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.
The American Heart Association is promoting a heart healthy campaign by designating February as Heart Month and encouraging people to wear red.
Dr. Lichtenberg, on staff at MacNeal Hospital, is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Cardiovascular Disease. He is the medical director for the Berwyn Public Health District. Dr. Lichtenberg received the Vanguard Compassionate Caregiver Apart which recognizes nurses, physicians and other direct care givers to go “above and beyond.”
“This promises to be a great lecture,” said Jill Wagner, marketing director at the Oak Park Arms. “Dr. Lichtenberg is a very charismatic speaker who always has surprises in store for his audiences.”
Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. It’s caused by the buildup of plaque in arteries leading to the heart. It also might be called hardening of the arteries. Fatty material and other substances form a plaque build-up on the walls of coronary arteries which supply blood and oxygen to the heart. This buildup causes the arteries to get narrow and decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
Some risk factors for heart disease like age, gender, genes, and race are factors that one cannot change. Controllable risk factors like diet, exercise, lifestyle, medical treatment, and presence of other diseases can be changed and adjusted. Fortunately making healthful changes can help to control or prevent heart disease.
“Simply walking more or participating in an exercise routine can greatly improve the overall cardiac health of an individual,” Wagner said. “We encourage our residents to take advantage of the onsite fitness programs, wellness center, professional partners in care management and our heart healthy menu selections in the Georgian Room Restaurant.”
Participants who attend the breakfast/lecture are invited to wear something red. It’s a pretty good bet Dr. Lichtenberg will.
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit http://www.oakparkarms.com.
