Members of the Farmville community spent Valentine’s Day morning seeking to learn more about their heart health during a community heart health fair held at Centra Southside Community Hospital.

The fair included blood pressure screening, glucose testing, and cholesterol screenings to check blood sugar levels and offering pamphlets describing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

Following the activities, participants could enjoy a breakfast of coffee, fruit and pastries.

Marketing Director Kerry Mossler said in an earlier report that participants could, in addition to the tests, correspond with health professionals on site about heart health. 

“You can also meet face-to-face and chat with health professionals to learn about heart healthcare, strokes risks, etc.,” Mossler said.

Sandra Davis, a nurse at Centra Southside, was taking blood pressure readings with Consula Wiley. Davis said the event offers community members and Centra employees a chance to check up on their heart health.

“It’s great,” Davis said about the event. “We do it every year. It’s a great thing for the community.”

Nurse Kacie Hailey took the various heart health tests and said the event offers the community a chance to learn about ways to maintain a healthy heart.

“(It’s) great for all of the community to come in to get heart health screenings to help make better choices,” Hailey said.

Nurse Paula Romaine noted the signs and symptoms of a stroke, which can be remembered in an easy-to-recall acronym, FAST.

F stands for facial drooping, A for arm weakness, S for speech difficulty and T stands for time to call emergency services.

Romaine said the best chance of treating stroke patients is to make sure emergency service personnel can administer a certain medication within three hours or up to four and a half hours of the patient first showing symptoms of a stroke.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for both stroke and heart attack, the Centra website cited.

Heart attack symptoms include, according to the website, chest discomfort or chest pain, described as squeezing or uncomfortable pressure, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness and discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, teeth or stomach.

Those with any of the above symptoms of heart attack or stroke are encouraged to call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.