Professional athletes to visit Providence Holiday Heart Mart Dec. 15

Join Will Shields, Chiefs’ Hall of Famer and owner of 68’s Inside Sports Health and Fitness Clubs, Kenny Hook, Kansas City T-Bones Manager, and Matt Besler, Sporting KC and MLS Defender of the Year, as well as Providence Medical Center board-certified cardiologist Donald McSweyn, M.D. on Saturday, Dec. 15 from Noon to 2 p.m. at a Men’s Heart Health holiday event.

The free event will be held at the Providence Holiday Heart Mart at The Legends Shopping Center, Kansas City, Kan., which is located between Charming Charlie and the Yard House Restaurant.

Dr. McSweyn and area athletes are teaming up to bring awareness of heart disease this holiday season. New research indicates that three out of five men and one of two women, who are otherwise healthy at age 45, will develop heart disease in their lifetimes.

“Most people don’t know this, and during the holidays, they often overindulge in eating and drinking which can lead to a spike in their blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.,” Dr. McSweyn remarks. “Our free Heart Health event is specially designed to educate men about their hearts and risk factors for heart disease.”

To help spread the word across Kansas City, Dr. McSweyn and Kansas City sport icons will go on air with Sports Radio 810 WHB at a live remote, outside the Holiday Mart.

Participants will be able to meet athletes, get signed autographs and participate in a free and convenient 15-minute heart screening which includes cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, pulse oximetry and a leg vein assessment. Hot cider and coffee will be served.

Each guest will receive a holiday heart health assessment form and packet. The Holiday Heart Mart is staffed by clinical and cardiac professionals.

Follow-up appointments with cardiologists, primary care physicians and other specialists can be scheduled after the screenings.

“As the official hospital partner of The Legends and the community hospital in this area, we’re doing all we can to help improve our community’s heart health and make heart care convenient,” says Randy Nyp, president/CEO of Providence. “Our neighbors in the community who shop at The Legends can take advantage of this opportunity to have their heart health evaluated by our outstanding clinical professionals. A free heart assessment may be the best gift you could give yourself or a loved one this holiday season.”