National Cholesterol Education Month, USA

Main Category: Cholesterol
Article Date: 04 Sep 2005 - 20:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The National Museum of Health and Medicine, in partnership with Health Pact, is hosting a health fair in recognition of September as "National Cholesterol Education Month." More than 107 million Americans have high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association.

Understanding the facts about cholesterol can reduce risk for heart attack and stroke and can lead to a longer, healthier life. Risk factors can vary depending on age, gender, and heredity but can also depend on lifestyle, such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, stress and physical inactivity.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the museum will present a health fair highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy cholesterol and will distribute information on how to lower cholesterol levels and to lead a healthier life. Additionally, medical professionals will be on site to host free screening areas where participants can have cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body fat levels checked.

"We hope to stress the importance of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and to educate people about the seriousness of this problem," said Janet Burns, the museum's public programs director.

The National Museum of Health and Medicine was established in 1862 when U.S. Army Brig. Gen. William Alexander Hammond, the U.S. Army Surgeon General, issued orders that directed all Union Army medical officers "to collect, and to forward to the office of the Surgeon General all specimens of morbid anatomy, surgical or medical, which may be regarded as valuable; together with projectiles and foreign bodies removed, and such other matters as may prove of interest in the study of military medicine or surgery."

Today, the museum is an element of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, a tri-service Army, Navy, and Air Force agency of the Department of Defense with a threefold mission of consultation, education, and research.

The museum is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave. and Elder Street, NW, Washington, D.C. More information can be found on the web site at http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum and the telephone number is 202-782-2200. Admission and parking are free.