A group of panelists discuss heart health from personal experience and a medical perspective Thursday at the City Club in downtown Lima.
LIMA — On the final day of American Heart Month, hundreds of women gathered for fellowship and to share their stories.
Lima hosted the third annual Lima Women Have Heart on Thursday afternoon at the City Club. Four women joined the luncheon to discuss the importance of heart health. The panelists included Stacey Myers-Cook, Natalie Lammers, Dr. Sidra Shah and Melanie Woods.
Cook shared her personal experience with heart disease. After going to the luncheon a year ago as a television journalist, Cook went this year as a speaker advocating for other women.
“All my life I have had aches and pains,” Cook said. “It was January last year, and I went to Ohio State and I did a story about kids. I got my gear out of the car, and I had the worst shooting pain.”
After a time of not feeling well, Cook said she continued throughout her work day and finally went home. She went to the doctor and then to her cardiologist the following Monday. The physicians informed Cook she had 100% blockage and needed heart surgery.
“When he came in to tell me I was having heart surgery, I told him about my episodes (of sickness) I have been having for almost three years,” Cook said. “He said that is a sign. It can be a symptom of heart disease.”
Cook also informed the women she was one of four family members who needed surgery.
“The key thing is you change not only mentally but physically,” Cook said. “One thing I remember every morning is that I can not let those scars dictate who I am, but I have to remember who I am and be that. A lot of you in this room help me to do that every day in my job.”
Woods encouraged women to share their stories for healing and their mental health.
“There is a lot of talk in healthcare about how exercise is important,” Woods said. “If you did not know, you can exercise your behavioral health. You can take your behavioral health on a run and run your mouth down to the nearest friend, to your church, talk to your pastor or run to the altar.”
Dr. Shah also said women play many roles but cannot live to their fullest potential if they are not healthy.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
