Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville will present a timely discussion of heart disease in women on the day before Mother's Day. Bud Edmondson, MD, FACP Retired, will talk about the disease, its symptoms, and what women can do to prevent the disease. The free luncheon meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Edmondson, a retired internal medicine physician who focused on preventing coronary disease, explains some crucial facts about heart disease. What women need to know, he emphasizes, is that the disease manifests differently than it typically does in men, so that it is all too easy to miss the early symptoms. And it can be deadly.“After menopause,” he states, “women develop coronary heart disease as fast as men, and this disease kills more women than all cancers combined, including breast cancer.”

After the untimely death by heart attack last year of a beloved Good Shepherd parishioner, Dr. Edmondson reviewed the data and realized that he might be able to help the women of Good Shepherd and the wider community take steps to prevent heart disease. He urges, “Please join us—and bring a friend.” Reservations can be made by calling the church office, 389-3397, but the church will not charge for this event. Heart-healthy food is being planned by Suzy Christensen, who has done a workshop on nutrition.

The series of workshops at Good Shepherd began several week ago, motivated by Father Bill Breedlove's goal of improving health and wellness in our community. Additional workshops are as follows:

May 23, 10:00 a.m.--noon: Cheri Pinner, RN CNOR, on Medication Reconciliation (by appointment only)
June 6, 10:00 a.m.--noon: Keith Christensen, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, on Mindfulness Practices
June 20, 10:00—11:00: Pat Jordan on Yoga-lates: Introductory Exercise Experience
July 11, 10:00—noon: Sharon O'Dell, RN, on How Good Fats Can Improve Health
July 25, 10:00 am—noon: George Heilner, MA Clinical Psychologist, on Myers-Briggs Personality Type and Wellness

Good Shepherd is located at 495 Herbert Hills Drive, about one mile east of Walgreens. The church website is www.goodshepherdhayesville.org.