With Valentine’s Day in mind, health professionals have chosen this time of year as the right time to focus on keeping the heart healthy all year long; thus, February is officially designated as American Heart Month and this week as Cardiac Rehabilitation Week.

The Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg is hosting a day of free heart health activities on Thursday, Feb.16, at the Garden Room of Orangeburg Mall. Activities include various health screenings, educational sessions, a cooking demonstration and a panel discussion on healthy-heart topics with Orangeburg cardiologists.

The schedule for this special day includes a morning screening session for cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and body fat percentage from 7 to11 a.m. An eight-hour fasting is required.

For those who cannot attend the morning session, a non-fasting screening will be offered during the hours of 5 to 7 p.m.

The Rev. Paul Hamilton, TRMC’s director of pastoral care, will present, “The Emotional and Spiritual Crisis of Heart Disease” from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a “Heart to Heart” cooking demonstration from noon to 2 p.m. by Genny Billett, TRMC dietitian/chef.

From 2 to 3 p.m. HealthPlex instructors will demonstrate weight-resistance training and aerobic exercises.

Carotid artery screenings and ankle brachial index screenings to test for heart disease and stroke risk will be offered at 3 to5 p.m., followed by a non-fasting cholesterol and blood sugar screening from 5 to7 p.m.

To reinforce the importance of the “Day Devoted to Heart Health,” a panel of Orangeburg cardiologists will brief attendees on the latest heart health topics:

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