RS Women’s Heart Health Symposium

The RS Women hosted a Heart Health Symposium on February 7. A panel of experts shared their insights and fielded our questions. Here is a summary of the panel:

Rabbi Jill Maderer gave a spiritual welcome: No “shaming” here just support , education and advocacyJennifer Hudson Fight the Ladykiller–a powerful message in an introductory video..

Doctors Lillian Cohn, Internist and Nazanin Moghbeli, Women’s Cardiology Takeaways :

• HEART DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN
• It is important to know your “numbers”: BP Hypertension a major risk factor. (It is advisable to ask for a second BP reading in office. While standing.)
• NUMBERS TO KNOW: HDL (good) LDL (bad) Cholesterol,Triglycerides, Hemoglobin A-1 C if you have (or are at risk for) Diabetes, BMI for weight maintenance/ obesity prevention
• KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY to share with physician
• BE SURE YOUR PHYSICIAN SHARES ALL YOUR NUMBERS WITH YOU
• Comprehensive evaluation recommended every 3 years if healthy. But preferable every year.
• Healthy Lifestyle/ Diet/Exercise/no Smoking mitigate risks!
• Advisable to worry less about side effects of Rx Statins. Focus on cholesterol numbers and the benefits of statins.
• Women’s arteries/vessels are smaller than men’s. Women at higher risk of stroke. Plaque is softer. More easily dislodged. (Men’s harder more calcified.)
• Hearts of younger women believed to be protected by estrogen. However from menopause and beyond not so. HRT—hormone replacement therapy—is very much questionable post menopause and must be discussed thoroughly with physician.
• Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Symptoms of heart attack in women can be very different from men (ie back pain, nausea) or can be the same as men. (Chest pains, shortness of breath.)

Dr. Raina Merchant, Emergent Cardiology: “Staying Alive” CPR video: CRITICAL INTERVENTION FOR CARDIAC ARRESTS. TIMING LIMITED AND DIFFERENCE BTW LIFE AND DEATH.

• CPR greatly simplified recently. No more mouth to mouth. Just call 911 and do chest compressions.
• Portable AED at RS is at Mt Vernon stairs.
• There is a science to “broken heart syndrome” has to do with imbalance in the parasympathetic nervous system. Can also explain how a surprise party can cause a heart attack.

Findings of recent studies on Depression as a risk factor are mixed, however panelist Dr Bill Uffner, psychiatrist, shared a powerful story about his rounds as a resident in the early 70’s with the renowned cardiologist, Dr Williamm Lykoff. None of Dr Lykoff’s residents then answered his question correctly: “What is the number one predictor of heart disease”. The correct answer was Depression!
Dramatic Psychosocial changes post attack greatly increase risk of depression. Compromises treatment/ recovery and successful outcomes.

Thank you to Betsy Fiebach for organizing the symposium and for the summary.

Shema: Free Speech & The Citizen’s Freedom to Hear

Our portion of the week, parashat New Hampshire, has gotten me thinking about democracy and free speech. When the campaign results were in on Tues. evening, I watched all of the primary speeches, victory and defeat. Maybe I’m just shmaltzy, but I’m a patriot, and I was moved by most of the candidates’ devotion to serving our country.  Whether I agreed with their policies, I paid particular attention to the candidates who spoke about the way they listened to their constituents, heard the stories and experiences of every day Americans.

I’m not naïve; the New Hampshire primary also brings out the cynic in me. I am disillusioned by a society that claims to be a democracy, but continues to give a disproportionate voice to campaign funders, and to early season primary states.  That the first two are also overwhelmingly white states, only compounds the problem.  How is this nation to bring democracy to its citizens if it cannot hear their voices?

A midrash from Jewish tradition offers us an image, teaching: we were born with 2 ears and 1 mouth, in order to strive to do twice as much listening as we do talking.  It’s a strange lesson for such an extroverted tradition.  Yet the message is clear: listen.  Shma.  Listen.

And there are some in our American tradition who urge the same.

This semester, my alma mater Brandeis University, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the appointment of Louis D. Brandeis to the United States Supreme Court.  

The National Museum of American Jewish History is offering free admission to all visitors throughout the month of February. Thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, the Museum will welcome all visitors to explore more than 360 years of American Jewish history. Not only will visitors be able to enjoy the entire core exhibition, but also they will also have a chance to see the original, iconic 1790 letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, in which the nation’s first president proclaims “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” underscoring the new nation’s commitment to religious liberty and equality for people of all faiths.

Second Sunday Family Activities

On Sunday, February 14 from 10 am to 3 pm join us for our Second Sunday Family Activities. In the spirit of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s One Book, One Philadelphia program, which promotes reading and literacy for all ages, families are invited to grab a book and relax on a couch or comfy chair, or to find a cozy spot in the galleries to read together. Families can also make creative bookmarks to take home and use when reading some of their own books!

NMAJH Celebrates Freedom with Free February

The National Museum of American Jewish History is offering free admission to all visitors throughout the month of February. Thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, the Museum will welcome all visitors to explore more than 360 years of American Jewish history. Not only will visitors be able to enjoy the entire core exhibition, but also they will also have a chance to see the original, iconic 1790 letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, in which the nation’s first president proclaims “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” underscoring the new nation’s commitment to religious liberty and equality for people of all faiths.

Presidents’ Day at NMAJH

Monday, February 15 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Celebrate Presidents’ Day at the Museum and explore how American leaders impacted history, American society, and the American Jewish community.  Meet George Washington and examine his original letter written in 1790 to the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island, declaring the importance of religious freedom.Have fun with interactive story telling, and enjoy arts and crafts projects. Take history in your own hands!