A yearlong campaign to address some of the community’s most pressing health issues is underway in Mercer and Lawrence Counties. Sponsored locally by Sharon Regional Medical Center, the American Heart Association’s Healthy For Good™ movement provides activities and education to help community members make healthy changes that last.v Highlighting the initiative is the new “Healthy Steps Walking Program”, which encourages the community to take the first steps toward becoming Healthy For Good. Each month, Sharon Regional Medical Center will host a fun walk, during which participants will have the opportunity to talk to medical professionals to learn about healthy living and ask questions about cardiovascular health.

The first walk in the Healthy Steps Walking Program will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 at LindenPointe. Representatives from Sharon Regional Medical Center and the American Heart Association will meet participants in the parking lot along Christy Road to detail the program before walking along LindenPointe Trail. Future walks are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month.

The Healthy For Good™ movement consists of four pillars:

• Eat Smart. - Make healthy, delicious choices wherever and whenever you eat.
• Add Color. - Make life more colorful with fruits and vegetables.
• Move More. - Infuse more movement in your life for optimal health.
• Be Well.- Create balance, vitality and wellbeing through self-care.

“Sharon Regional Medical Center is committed to being on the forefront in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease, and to provide high-quality, safe patient care,” said Joseph Hugar, President of Sharon Regional Medical Center. “We are proud of our many awards and recognitions we have earned for our heart care services, and we are meeting needs through the expansion of our programs. We have been working diligently to recruit new cardiology specialists including a cardiothoracic surgeon to join our team. All of this means that patients and their families are able to receive advanced cardiac care services, including open heart surgery, in their own community at Sharon Regional without having to travel to larger cities.”

The campaign’s marquis event is the Healthy For Good Heart Walk, set for Thursday, October 11, 2018 at Buhl Park. Dr. Brandon Mikolich, cardiologist at Sharon Regional Medical Center will chair the walk, along with his father, co-chair and fellow cardiologist, Dr. J. Ron Mikolich.

“The Healthy For Good Heart Walk is a great way to invest in your health and that of future generations, while honoring those who have been impacted by heart disease, stroke and congenital heart defects,” said Dr. Brandon Mikolich. “This year we are encouraging participants to keep ‘heartwalking’ throughout the year. Heartwalking is more than raising money for the cause or going for a walk, it’s an ongoing, personal commitment to move more by taking small, consistent steps to being Healthy For Good.”

Walking or participating in any exercise that raises your heart rate can boost your energy, strength and mood, while fending off serious health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol and bone loss. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week for adults and 60 minutes of physical activity per day for children.

“Research has shown adding more steps to your day could add years to your life,” said Rebecca Gruitza, Division Director for the American Heart Association in Mercer and Lawrence Counties. “Moving more doesn’t have to be hard – take the stairs, park further away, ditch the conference room and take your meeting on a walk. The key is to find activities you enjoy and make them part of your daily routine.”

Look for additional details about the Healthy For Good Heart Walk and other events throughout the year.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Sharon Regional Medical Center

Sharon Regional Medical Center is your community healthcare provider; a 220 licensed, acute care bed hospital with 19 satellite centers throughout the region. As a Joint Commission accredited hospital, Sharon Regional proudly offers specialized services including the Heart and Vascular Institute, emergency heart attack/stroke treatment, cancer care, orthopedics/sports medicine, minimally invasive surgery, bariatric surgery, emergency care, a breast care center, and a family birth center now designated as a Highmark Blue Distinction Center + for maternity care. For more information, visit www.sharonregionalmedical.org.

For Media Inquiries: Sean Dreher, [email protected], 412-208-3577