Cooley Dickinson Offers Free Cardiovascular Program

NORTHAMPTON — Community members are invited to learn from cardiovascular specialists at an educational program that will be offered Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Midwifery Care located on the Cooley Dickinson Hospital campus. The program, titled “Understanding your Heart and Arteries: Preventing Peripheral Artery Disease,” is free and open to all.

Dr. George Hartnell, an interventional radiologist, and Dr. Steven Weinsier, an interventional cardiologist, will discuss peripheral vascular disease.

PAD, also known as PVD, peripheral vascular disease, is the most common form of vascular disease. Symptoms include leg pain that occurs when walking and goes away when an individual is at rest. Other symptoms include tightness, heaviness, cramping, or weakness in the legs during normal activity.

Certain risk factors for PAD can’t be controlled, such as aging or a family history. However, community members can control many risk factors, including cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.

For more information or to pre-register for this event, call (413) 582-2713. Parking is available in front of the Center for Midwifery Care located on the hospital campus; the presentation takes place in a conference room within the center.