Taking Responsibility Healthy women create healthy communities. Ruthan Brodsky Contributing Writer Motivating women to be responsible for their own health was the goal of the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity (CALC) at a compli- mentary brunch for members and guests. Co-sponsored with DMC Huron Valley Sinai Hospital in Commerce, the event featured guest speakers and hospital resources pro- viding detailed information about steps women need to take to prevent disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle. "Gathering a group of women together to learn ways they can improve their health is important because women learn and inspire each other and they network with other women:' says Suhair Kallabat of West Bloomfield, event co-chair. "Since CALC started 50 years ago, one of our goals has been to preserve our heritage and enrich our commu- nity through awareness, advocacy and education. We also wanted to share this event with our Jewish sisters because Chaldean and Jewish women can learn from each other and sup- port one other regarding health issues that-affect both our communities." Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield was the backdrop for the 250 women greeted with coffee and biscotti on June 21. Health screenings for blood pressure readings and BMI (body mass index) numbers were available before and after the presen- tations. 14 CHALDEAN NEWS I JEWISH NEWS October 2011 The Kahn Factor Keynote speaker Dr. Joel Kahn, DMC medical director of wellness programs as well as of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation, focused on the top five health num- bers women should know throughout their lives. Kahn opened his remarks with information about how to reduce stress regardless of age. Although some level of stress is good because it keeps you focused, too much stress can be bad for your heart and mental health. He suggested breathing slowly and deeply before reacting to a stress- ful event. Paying attention to your cholesterol numbers was Kahn's recommenda- tion for women in their 20s. He reported that high Cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. In fact, not wearing a seatbelt and heart disease are the two major causes of early death in the U.S. Kahn suggests that eating a more high-nutrient diet with vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts in your 20s will help lower your cholesterol levels as you age. Eating a plant-based diet with sev- eral servings of vegetables and fruits also should be the focus in your 30s. "When the majority of your calories are from high-nutrient foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts, you can reduce cholesterol levels and maintain a proper weight:' says Kahn. "This type of diet also goes a long way to prevent diabetes." In your 40s, Kahn recommends knowing your body mass index (BMI) numbers and whether you have sufficient amounts of Vitamin D. BMI is a number calculated from your weight and height used to screen for weight categories and obesity. "BMI is not the only factor related to disease risk:' says Kahn. "Your waist circumference is also important because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related disease and other conditions such as high blood pressure and physical inactivity:" Vitamin D, on the other hand, together with calcium, encourages bone density protecting women from osteoporosis as they age. Having a CT scan to measure the calcium deposits in the coronary arteries is a procedure Kahn recom- mended for people in their 50s. "The calcification measurement from the CT scan is a good indicator of your risk for a heart attack or other heart problems:' says Kahn. Metabolic Equivalents, or MET, is a major factor for women in their 60s. MET is a term commonly used to measure metabolic rate. The result is a ratio comparing your metabolic rate while seated and resting to your metabolic rate while performing some task. More specifically, MET is used to indicate how much energy you've used for an activity and com- pared that number to the average. If you've used more energy, you may be a risk for cardiovascular and other conditions." Positive Feedback "It was wonderful to see how well attended the event was:' said Dr. Nathima Atchoo, a retired West Bloomfield gynecologist who prac- ticed for 55 years. "Dr. Kahn's infor- mation is new to many people here. I felt like these women were just wait- ing to hear this information and it was a wakeup call:' Father Anthony Kathawa of Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield discussed the impor- tance of healthy spiritual life. He was the event's special guest speaker. Emphasizing the need to balance the body and the soul, he explained we are obligated to care for our body because it is a gift. "When we neglect one area, we lose our balance and our focus:' said Father Anthony. "Balancing life means weighing priorities and by putting our faith and spirituality first, every- thing else falls into place. The other ingredients are our intellect, which includes our mind and education, and our humanity, which is our com- Dr. Joel Kahn suggests breathing slowly and deeply to counter high stress. munity. We need all three to care for our health." "Just three years ago, my health information IQ was average said Sharona Shapiro, hospital admin- istrator/director of community development at DMC Huron Valley- Sinai Hospital. "Since joining the DMC HVSH team, I've become more informed, aware and proactive regarding my health. I didn't know heart attacks were the No. 1 killer for women. I always thought women had to worry about breast cancer and men worried about heart attacks." Taking Stock "I was thrilled by the dynamic Dr. Kahn and Father Anthony as they shared with us the knowledge to care for ourselves: mind, body and spirit',' said Lois Shulman of West Bloomfield, event committee member. "They affirmed that women from all cultures and faiths are important to their families and their communi- ties. My heart jumped to acknowl- edge Father Anthony's profound comment that it is 'politics that sepa- rates us, not religion!' Our faith, our belief in God, brings us together and empowers us." LeeAnn Kirma, president of CALC, and Jeannie Weiner, an active volunteer in the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, co-chair a workgroup focusing on social action projects. "The event was outstanding and all part of the Jewish-Chaldean bridge building initiative says Weiner, of West Bloomfield. "There are car- diac issues in my family, and what I learned today will motivate me to keep taking care of myself and to live a balanced life."