HeartThrob Café offers delicious, nutritious lesson
"The good news is, you can prevent and control high blood pressure by taking action."--- Carlene Womack

Lunch is on the house at the HeartThrob Café Friday, Feb. 15, provided you give them a couple hours of your time to learn more about heart-healthy nutrition and high blood pressure.

ETHAN (East Texas Health Access Network) provides these cooking classes about once a month in their kitchen at 117 W. Houston St. in Jasper.

The class is free and open to the public provided you give them a call in advance at 384-2099 so they know how many meals to prepare.

Beginning at 10 a.m., ETHAN's registered dietician Jeanine Johnson will explain how people can make small lifestyle changes to improve their health.

ETHAN's executive director Carlene Womack says the classes are designed to assist in prevention and management of specific diseases, but that everyone can benefit in terms of increased knowledge of good nutrition.

This class will specifically address high blood pressure because heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women; it kills 32 percent, six times as many as breast cancer, according to Womack.

High blood pressure often has no warning signs or symptoms. It can occur regardless of race, age or gender. It increases risks of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

"In the medical camps we have held over the last three years an alarming pattern has been seen; 77 percent of everyone screened has pre-hypertension and/or stage 1 or 2 hypertension. We are seeing this in old and young alike," Womack said. "The good news is, you can prevent and control high blood pressure by taking action."

The classes are offered at no charge to anyone who signs up. Class starts at 10 a.m. followed by a light lunch. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 384- 2099.