Pekin Hospital to Host “Day of Dance for Health" With Over 70 Hospitals Nationwide

Pekin Hospital invites Central Illinois residents to the annual Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Health on Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 9 a.m. – noon at the First Baptist Church of Pekin located at 700 S. Capitol.  The event will combine the fun of dancing to different kinds of music with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other important health topics, giveaways, heart-healthy snacks, and more. 

Admission to the event is two non-perishable food items.  To attend the event, please call (309) 353-0662 or visit pekinhospital.org. 

Although in its seventh year nationwide, this is the second annual event for Pekin Hospital.  Approximately 400 residents are expected to get involved in this event.  Nationwide, more than 75,000 people are expected to dance for their health on February 26 in the hopes of creating healthier communities.

“Day of Dance not only increases awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, but inspires immediate action for better health.  This program has resulted in millions of consumers exposed to the powerful concept that good health can be just a dance away,” said Tanya Abreu, president and national program director of Spirit of Women.  “On February 26, doctors, medical professionals, community leaders and citizens throughout the US will all come together to fall in love with their health through dance, health screenings, community, and fun.  Women and their families will learn about healthy choices they can easily incorporate into their lifestyles as well as find out their personal warning signs and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.”

Taking place from 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, February 26, the event will include dancing, prominent physician speakers, screenings, and other activities to remind participants that preventing cardiovascular disease and a healthy lifestyle can be a fun and energizing experience.  Day of Dance for Your Health events are presented by affiliate hospitals of the Spirit of Women Health Network in over 70 cities across the US.  

Coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the single leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is the number one cause of death, but they're wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the US die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

Spirit of Women focuses on dance as a way to take steps for a healthier life because dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, or riding a bike (as many as 200-400 calories per hour). Many health benefits may result from dance if it is done on a regular basis as a form of exercise.  Benefits include weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management (lowering), increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength, and an overall sense of well-being.

Day of Dance for Your Health takes place during Heart Health Awareness Month and participants are encouraged to wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.  The Red Dress® is the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and was created by The Heart Truth® to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women.

To find a Day of Dance event in a community near you, visit dayofdance.com.  

The 2011 National Day of Dance for Health is presented by the Spirit of Women Health Network, Good Housekeeping magazine and The Heart Truth ^® campaign.

Good Housekeeping magazine—together with the Good Housekeeping Institute and the Good Housekeeping Seal—has become synonymous with the gold standard of quality and integrity.  Good Housekeeping was founded in 1885, and maintains a commitment to the modern home and to a woman’s quality of life. It publishes 15 editions worldwide, and is an internationally recognized brand that sets the standard to which all other women's service magazines aspire.

The Heart Truth^®  is a national awareness campaign on women and heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The Heart Truth created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women. The Red Dress^® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action.

About Spirit of Women

Spirit of Women is a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women's lives with innovative health and community programs.  Spirit of Women Hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and grassroots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere.  Spirit of Women enables participating hospitals to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support.  Visit spiritofwomen.org.

Visit dayofdance.com to learn simple ways to stay healthy and to find an event near you.