Mega Events in September Allow Heart Health Campaign to Reach Tens of Thousands of Hispanics During Cholesterol Aware...( WASHINGTON Sept. 4 -- A series o...),Health

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A series of mega events in Hispanic communities around the country will showcase the 2007 Heart Health Campaign during September, Cholesterol Awareness Month.

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is in the midst of its 2007 Heart Health Campaign which is bringing life-saving health education information and cholesterol screenings to communities across the nation with a particular focus on four major cities: Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; New York, New York; and Houston, Texas. More than 1,000 people have already had their cholesterol screened and prominent elected officials have participated in screening events, helping to bring the message to their communities.

Thousands of people will participate in Hispanic community events this month where a team of health professionals will be on-hand to provide important information about heart health and provide thousands of free cholesterol screenings on-location.

Community Urgency

According to studies published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hispanics are the group least likely to have been screened for high cholesterol, with between one-third and one-half of all Hispanics not screened within the past 5 years. Of those found to have high cholesterol in clinical research, only half were aware they had high cholesterol. High cholesterol does not have physical symptoms, a fact that makes this campaign's public education and screening events so important.

"The free cholesterol screenings we have brought to communities have saved lives," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and author of SALUD - A Latina's Guide to Total Health. "We have an urgent message, one that has already reached millions of Hispanics through our work this summer and we are committed to doing even more to deliver screening and education as part of Cholesterol Awareness Month."