The Heart Network: Fiesta Del Corazón brings resources together for community

February is American Heart Month, and in honor of the commemorative occasion the Wesley Health & Wellness Center will host a Fiesta Del Corazón, a free heart health fair that brings organizations, resources and experts together. The event is held annually and is open to the public. Vendors and volunteers transform the gymnasium into a hub of valuable information and interactive demonstrations. There are fun group exercises which aim to reduce stress and promote mobility. A pop-up produce market is set up inside a nearby classroom, which provides a healthy array of colorful fruits and vegetables to the public. The heart health fair is engaging and educational and in the event of a cardiac emergency, the skills people learn can be lifesaving.  

A cardiac arrest can happen at any time and any place. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year. Every minute is critical and if lifesaving tactics aren’t immediately administered, the chances of survival are lowered. In these situations, a quick call to action can be all the difference. Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. (MHM) along with Methodist Healthcare, the American Heart Association, and AugustHeart collaborate to provide people with lifelong knowledge during Fiesta Del Corazón.  

Cardiac emergencies have the potential to affect every member of the household. At least 70% of cardiac arrests happen inside of the home, which underscores the importance of how and when to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).1 CPR increases survival chances after a cardiac arrest occurs because it keeps the blood flow active. Administering CPR also extends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive at the location.2 Hands-only CPR training is offered during the heart health fair, a technique that is commonly used when a bystander witnesses a person collapse out of the hospital. Families learn first-hand how to administer CPR using resuscitation mannikins. Trained experts stand by to answer questions and properly demonstrate the lifesaving procedure. 

Heart health is important for people at all ages, but underlying heart abnormalities can often go undetected in teenagers. High school athletes who experience a higher level of exertion and stress on the heart run a greater risk of a cardiac emergency. However, physical exams do not provide enough information to detect heart abnormalities.3 AugustHeart is nonprofit organization in San Antonio that provides free heart screenings during the heart health fair. Teenagers between 13 and 18 years of age are screened using a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) which reads the heartbeat, and if necessary, a limited echocardiogram (ECHO) is performed to capture an image of the heart. Since 2011, AugustHeart has screened close to 90,000 teens for heart abnormalities and potentially saved over 400 lives.  

Diet and lifestyle are detrimental to heart health, but nutritious options are not always readily available. A 2022 study showed communities with easy access to grocery stores and healthy food experience lower heart failure death rates. However, the study also showed communities with fewer grocery stores and limited access to healthy food had higher heart failure death rates.4 River City Produce provides a nutritious produce market during the heart health fair. Families pick from a variety of fruits and vegetables and incorporate these fresh ingredients into their meals. Each year, the produce market draws big crowds who wish to take advantage of the healthy options presented to them.  

As we enter American Heart Month, it is important to reflect on the choices we have made in relation to our own hearts. Cardiac emergencies can happen at any time, however, there are steps we can take to sharpen our abilities. Although Fiesta Del Corazón is a family centered event, it also provides a unique network of resources in the community. The activities that take place highlight the power and decision each person has over their health. MHM is proud to partner with Methodist Healthcare, the American Heart Association, and AugustHeart to share lifelong skills with the community as families seek to advance their health and well-being for generations to come.  

Fiesta Del Corazón will take place Saturday, February 1. Doors will open at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center at 9 a.m. For more information on the event, click here.

Sources:

  1. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/articles/cpr-facts-and-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOooAl9_XSL0jXQAbyVSMACOoi6KBMk2qMOz9aa2-fC88Viu5RO4K ↩︎
  2. what-is-cpr ↩︎
  3. https://augustheart.org/ ↩︎
  4. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/lack-of-access-to-healthy-food-may-raise-risk-of-death-from-heart-failure ↩︎