Kishwaukee Community Hospital is celebrating National Heart Month by inviting NIU students and DeKalb area residents to four free evening programs to discuss heart problems.

The first program, “Heart Attack: Recognizing and Discussing Your Risk,” will be presented Wednesday by William K. Lee, a board-certified cardiologist.

The program will include a videotape emphasizing risks, symptoms and prevention of heart attacks. There also will be informational pamphlets available.

Lee said 25 percent of victims never have symptoms prior to their attacks. However, 60 percent have a “chest discomfort complex.”

Chest discomfort complex consists of a heaviness and burning in the chest which spreads to the neck and jowls. Lee said the arms, especially the left arm, also are affected.

According to Lee, people who suffer a high risk for heart attacks are those with a family history of attacks, smokers and members of the 40 to 50 and 65 and older age groups.

A fast-paced lifestyle, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels also are causes of attacks, Lee said.

Motivation is the key to changing one’s diet or a pressure-filled life, Lee said. “Some people can stop smoking, and some people can’t,” he said.

Concerning the program, Lee said, “Public education is very important in cutting down risk.”

The second program will be “Eating Healthy—Your Heart Will Love The Difference” on Monday. Jeannette Vaupel, a registered nurse and private nutritional consultant, will host the presentation.

Bo Fernhall, NIU’s Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation director, will present “Exercise and Fitness” on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The last program, “Stress, Biofeedback, and Your Healthy Heart,” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24. Jerry Lane, an administrator of the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board, will give the lecture.

All four programs will begin at 7 p.m. in the Murphy Community Health Education Center at KCH.

In addition, free blood pressure screenings will be held each night at 6:30 p.m. Screenings also will be held on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon at Wal-Mart on Sycamore Road and at Eagle Food Store on South Fourth Street.

A KCH spokesman said cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes also will be available at the hospital. Adult classes are Saturday, Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon and Feb. 11 from 6 to 10 a.m. Children’s classes will be offered Feb. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be a $10 fee for each class.

egistration for any of the classes or programs should be made in advance by calling the hospital at 756-1521, extension 3352.

The spokesman said KCH’s celebration of National Heart Month this year is “a little more ambitious than usual.”