RALEIGH, N.C. – Rex Healthcare launched its campaign to raise awareness about heart health Feb. 1, 2010, in conjunction with the nationally recognized American Heart Month. The campaign includes events, free health screenings and educational sessions.

Rex is also partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes to raise awareness of heart health. Throughout February, Hurricanes fans have the opportunity to enter contests to test their knowledge of heart health. Attend the games, watch them on TV and visit rexhealth.com for a chance to win an autographed Hurricanes jersey, tickets to the March 11 game and a ride on the Zamboni during the game. One grand prize winner will receive season tickets for 2011. For more information on this and other heart contests to win Hurricanes tickets, visit rexhealth.com.

“Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States,” said Deepak Pasi, M.D., with Rex Heart and Vascular Specialists. “However, there are many ways to minimize risk. Rex aims to support our community by offering simple tests, education and awareness, which can make a big difference in helping individuals stay on top of their health and prevent disease.”

Rex’s specific heart health awareness efforts this month include:

• Heart Health Tips and Screenings every Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Rex Hospital Café, located at 4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors – Wednesday, February 10
  • Heart Healthy Nutrition and Grocery Shopping Tips – Wednesday, February 17
  • Exercise for Your Heart – Wednesday, February 24; also includes free blood pressure screenings and tips for an active lifestyle
• Ask the Expert educational sessions Saturdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
  • Ask the Expert: Heartburn or Heart Attack on February 13 at the Rex Wellness Center of Raleigh, located at 4200 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607. The session will be led by Murtaza Parekh, M.D., Digestive Healthcare, and Connie Dale, RN, Rex Heartburn Center. To register, call (919) 784-7764.  Complimentary continental breakfast will be served at 8:15 a.m.
  • Ask the Expert: Diabetes and Your Vision on February 20 at the Rex Wellness Center of Raleigh, located at 4200 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607. The session will be led by Raynor Casey, M.D., North Carolina Retina Associates. To register, call (919) 784-7764. Complimentary continental breakfast will be served at 8:15 a.m.
• Free blood pressure and HeartAware screenings from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • February 10 at Rex Healthcare of Knightdale, located at 6602 Knightdale Blvd., Knightdale, NC 27545 
  • February 18 at Rex Healthcare of Wakefield, located at 11200 Galleria Ave., Raleigh, NC 27614
  • February 24 at Rex Healthcare of Cary, located 1505 and 1515 SW Cary Pkwy., Cary, NC 27511
• Mended Hearts support group meeting on February 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. Currently, Rex’s Mended Hearts is the only support group of its kind in Wake County. Meetings are held the third Monday of each month (except December) with social time beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting from 7-8 p.m. Each month features a new topic with speakers. Cardiac survivors and their friends and family members are welcome to attend. February’s speaker is Dr. Pasi.
• 21^st Annual Rex Healthcare Update in Cardiology, which brings together researchers, physicians and other clinicians from across the country to discuss best practices in cardiac care, on February 20 from 7 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, N.C.
• Nine Simple Screenings That Could Save Your Life! on Saturday, March 6 at Raleigh Family Practice, P.A., located at 4414 Lake Boone Trail, Ste. 502, Raleigh, NC 27607. At the event, Rex Heart & Vascular Center will offer a comprehensive screening program to promote early detection and education. The screening, which costs $100, includes nine simple, painless, high-quality screenings:
  • Carotid Artery/Stroke Screening
  • Cardiac Ejection Fraction/Heart Screening
  • Cholesterol Screening
  • Blood Glucose Screening
  • Blood Pressure Screening
  • Pulmonary Function Screening
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Sleep Disorders Consultation
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference

 Appointments are required. Call (919) 784-3278 to make an appointment.

In addition to the above events and health information, Rex recently established Rex Heart & Vascular Specialists. This new group of cardiologists will form the cornerstone of the development of a heart and vascular center of excellence for Rex Healthcare and expand the heart and vascular care available to patients.

Rex also offers prevention information to patients and the public through HeartAware, its online heart health risk assessment which provides cardiac awareness and information from the National Heart Organization. Qualifying participants may choose to enroll in a free, confidential, noninvasive screening program at Rex Hospital. Visit rexhealth.com for more information.

About Rex Healthcare

Rex Healthcare, a private not-for-profit system, was founded in 1894. It is a member of UNC Health Care, a not-for-profit integrated health care system, and has more than 4,600 co-workers. Its main Rex Hospital campus in west Raleigh is a 665-bed facility (439 general acute beds and 226 skilled nursing) treating more than 34,000 inpatients each year. Rex offers dedicated centers for cancer, heart and vascular, post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, same-day surgery, wellness and women's care plus dedicated services for pain management, sleep disorders, diabetes education, emergency services and state-of-the-art wound care.

Rex provides a variety of healthcare services throughout Wake County, with facilities in Apex, Cary, Garner, Knightdale, Wakefield and downtown Raleigh. Rex is the first hospital in the Triangle, and one of only 10 in North Carolina to receive Magnet Recognition, which places Rex nurses among the top five percent in the country. In 2008, Rex was listed as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters Healthcare. Rex also was named one of the top 100 (9th hospital) Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine in 2009.