2BigHearts and St. James Heart and Vascular Institute attract 100 women to free heart screening

The 2BigHearts Foundation, in conjunction with St. James Heart and Vascular Institute, part of St. James Hospital and Health Centers, attracted 100 women to a free, two-day heart screening January 27 and February 3. Eighty women ultimately were given the full screening procedure.

Heart disease, the number-one killer of women, often goes overlooked. In light of this, and the fact that Gigi Clarke, 40, and Sally Czechanski, 49, two Chicago area sisters who died tragically within minutes of each other following severe cardiac events, the 2BigHearts Foundation has sponsored a series of free heart health screenings for women. Jim Clarke Gigi’s devoted husband, established the 2BigHearts Foundation in the sisters’ memory to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

The free heart screenings were available for women who had never been diagnosed with heart disease and had not previously seen a cardiologist. The screenings took place over two days, with a cholesterol/glucose test January 27 followed by a series of diagnostic screenings February 3.

According to Barbara Zeng Kwasny, Nurse Practitioner and Manager of the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department of the St. James Heart and Vascular Institute, these screenings are designed to help women determine if they are at risk or show signs of heart disease.  “In this day and age, we have more opportunities to prevent heart disease and have the best potential to have the best health possible by identifying the risks and making lifestyle changes,” Kwasny says. “As women, we need to be proactive in identifying our risks.” Kwasny explains that cardiomyopathy, which led to Gigi and Sally’s deaths, is not easily identifiable because the warning signs can pass under the radar. “If a person is keeping up with their healthcare, a warning sign can lead to further screenings identifying the disease,” she says.

“It’s very generous of Jim Clarke and the 2BigHearts Foundation to work with St. James and provide this extensive screening,” Kwasny adds. “We hope each of the women who participated learned more about their heart health.”

The 2BigHearts Foundation strives to increase awareness of the issue of heart disease in women and works with the health care community to educate women and families about the causes and prevention of heart disease in women.

“By telling the story of my wife and her sister, I hope to stress that a similarly tragic scenario is completely avoidable with proper heart health education,” Jim Clarke says. “Had we known about their condition, both Gigi and Sally could have sought treatment that might have saved their lives. Through the work of the Foundation, Gigi and Sally’s hearts beat on, inspiring us all, reminding us that through tragedy, the greatest hopes can be born.” Kwasny encourages women who did participate in the two-day screening to take the free  “HEARTaware” Risk Evaluation available on the St. James Web site at www.stjameshospital.org. It’s a seven-minute assessment that helps determine a person’s risk profile. The completed evaluation will be reviewed by a St. James nurse practitioner to determine risk status and the need for further screening.

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