Mountain View, CA - February 9, 2010 - The Women's Hospital at El Camino Hospital joins 65 health care facilities nationwide to present the sixth annual national Spirit of Women Day of Dance. The local event takes place from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, and combines free health screenings and health education with a fun-filled program of dance and exercise demonstrations ranging from ballet to Bollywood.
Dance and fitness instruction will be provided by "Dancing with the Stars" Cheryl Burke Dance Studio in Mountain View and celebrity fitness instructor Joanie Greggains, among others. The event also features informative health talks, and eight free health screenings including glucose, cholesterol, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, and foot health. After being screened, women will get an on-the-spot individual assessment from a physician or RN.
"Day of Dance not only provides women with crucial information about their progress in adopting more healthful lifestyles, but the event shows how much fun getting in shape can be," said Michele van Zuiden, Executive Director of the Women's Hospital at El Camino Hospital.
Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death for American women. One in two women will die of heart disease, yet women often underestimate their individual risk for cardiovascular disease, as do their physicians.
"Women often aren't diagnosed with heart disease or taught how to prevent it until much later than men," van Zuiden said. "This is one of the leading health concerns in the nation, which is why the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (part of NIH) has sponsored a major awareness campaign. The Women's Hospital at El Camino Hospital is making it a key goal to get more women to pay attention to their hearts--and reduce their risks."
"Exercise doesn't need to be drudgery," van Zuiden pointed out. "For example, dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, or riding a bike (200-400 calories per hour). If done regularly, it has the same effect, too--weight maintenance or loss, lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, strengthening bones and muscles and increased energy."
The 2010 National Day of Dance for Health is presented by the Spirit of Women Health Network, Good Housekeeping magazine and The Heart Truth campaign.
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.