This February, Hadassah is shining a spotlight on the leading cause of death worldwide — heart disease — and asking you to help spread the word about how our Hadassah heart initiatives are saving lives in the United States, Israel and around the globe.
With our finger on the pulse of all matters of the heart — heart health, that is — Hadassah and the Hadassah Medical Organization are helping more people live longer, healthier lives. Newsweek recognized the Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem Cardiology Department for excellence in its 2022 and 2021 lists of the world’s top hospitals. Every day, the Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center for Women, the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Unit and the Irma and Paul Milstein Heart Center are leading the way with innovative cardiac care and groundbreaking heart research. And Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus now houses the first advanced cardiac catheterization unit serving Jerusalem’s northern neighborhoods.
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and men, yet is often under-diagnosed and under-treated in women, whose symptoms present themselves differently than male heart attack symptoms. Understanding the differences can save lives and Hadassah chapters around the United States are educating their members and communities, just as our hospitals’ outreach programs save lives in Jerusalem, the West Bank and beyond. At the same time, our US advocates are speaking out to advance women’s heart research.
Start American Heart Month right. Here are nine ways you can get involved, speak out, care for your own heart and help save lives with Hadassah.
- Sign Up Now: Wherever you are, join us on February 28 for "Hadassah ❤ YOU: Building Healthy Habits Together," an online event that will bring together experts and the Hadassah community nationwide to share ideas, inspirations, secrets and tools for a heart-smart lifestyle.
- Watch This Powerful Patient Story, “When It’s Not Indigestion”: Senior Israel travel expert Beth Spack, a Hadassah life member, shares her powerful story, including how Dr. Gabby Elbaz-Greener, head of the Structural Heart Intervention Program, helped save her life when what she thought was indigestion was really a 99% blockage in an essential artery.
- Watch Our New Heart-Healthy Cooking Demo: In this new Hadassah cooking video, “Roasted Veggie & Chickpea Salad,” certified health coach Lilly Cadoch shares tips for bringing Mediterranean basics into your diet — a delicious way to make your meals heart-healthy.
- Keep a Healthy Heart: Make It a Habit: Embark on a four-week wellness journey to a healthier heart with Hadassah. Track your best health habits and goals in Hadassah’s new Heart Health Journal while learning tips to eat smart, keep moving, de-stress, and celebrate community. Keep yourself motivated with this printable and portable tool.
- Speak Out for Heart Health: Take action and urge your legislators to prioritize women’s heart health research in the 118th Congress.
- Let Your Heart Be Warmed: Fayez Hasheem, a Palestinian boy from Gaza, has undergone more medical procedures than most 80-year-olds, according to Dr. Sagi Gavri, director of HMO’s Department of Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Gavri, who treated over 250 children from the Gaza Strip with heart problems, has saved Fayez’s life three times.
- Giving Does a Heart Good: Our heart health initiatives wouldn’t be possible without the support of Hadassah donors. Please consider making a donation.
- Get a Move On: Exercise is an integral part of safeguarding yourself from heart disease. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week provides significant protection. Get your heart pumping with this short Retro Beats Dance Party cardio fitness session with instructor Luisa Narins, Hadassah membership department chair.
- Stay Tuned: Later this month, we’ll be sharing new ways you can connect with Hadassah’s heart initiatives, including the next Hadassah On Call podcast episode, featuring the director of Hadassah’s Catheterization Department, and two new cooking videos.
From the Archives
- Get Heart Smart: Learn how to take charge of your heart health in this 2022 Hadassah seminar.
- Sleep On It: Not getting enough sleep — at least 7 hours a night — may play a role in heart disease. In this 2021 Hadassah On Call podcast episode, Dr. Joel Reiter of the HMO sleep clinic shares tips for catching more Zs.
- Stress Less: Stress can lead to poor health behaviors linked to increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Find a sense of calm by meditating with master yoga teacher and meditator Lisa Bondy.
- Be Social: Join us this Heart Month on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Share our stories of heart breakthroughs at Hadassah’s hospitals and tag us on your own posts — from heart-healthy dinner pics to picturesque hiking paths. #Hadassah #HeartHealth
Read More About Heart Innovation at Hadassah’s Hospitals
- In a First for Israel, Hadassah Uses New Device That Removes Blood Clots
- Arab Women Train at Hadassah to Become Health Promotion Leaders
- Pollin Center Study Identifies Benefits of Heart Centers for Women
- An Israel First: Aortic Valve Transplant Via Carotid Artery at Hadassah