Patrick Swayze’s Rx for Heart Health: Dance!

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Patrick Swayze addresses a crowd of over 500 at RWJUH's third annual Day of Dance.

More than 500 women and men, including Golden Globe nominated actor Patrick Swayze, attended Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s third annual Day of Dance for Women’s Heart Health, an event that shows women they could stick to an exercise program if they like the exercise they’re doing.

Patrick Swayze answers questions for the media.

“Whatever gets people dancing makes me a happy man,” said Swayze, who rose to fame in the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing.

Swayze, who said his father and grandmother died from heart disease, commended the hospital for participating in a national Day of Dance celebration that took place in more than 30 cities in February. He said he hoped the events would raise awareness about heart disease and inspire more women to adopt heart-healthy habits – like dancing.

Dr. Jeff Levine from NBC's The Biggest Loser prepares to address the crowd.

“This event that’s happening at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, which is one of the leading cardio/heart hospitals in the country, is the same event that’s happening at many hospitals all through the United States,” he said. “Few people realize that heart disease kills more women than any other cause of death, and it’s so completely preventable, with diet and exercise. If all the women that were here today spread that word, it would start a chain reaction all over the country.”

The Day of Dance event also featured Jeffrey Levine, MD, a recent participant on NBC’s weight-loss reality show, “The Biggest Loser,” and a physician on the medical staff of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The day’s activities included educational presentations, health screenings and dance demonstrations.

Members of the crowd get a quick dance lesson.

More than 200,000 women die from heart disease each year, roughly the same as the number of men, yet women – and sometimes their doctors – often face a greater challenge in recognizing cardiovascular disease.

Many women typically do not exhibit what the medical community has come to regard as the classic symptoms of coronary artery disease. Normally, people associate having a heart attack with a crushing pain in the chest. In fact, many women will report fatigue, shortness of breath or just a vague sense of not feeling well.

“At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, we are especially sensitive to the fact that women experience very different symptoms than men,” said Dr. Lacy. “This event is an excellent way to educate women about those symptoms and teach them how to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.”

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Selected as one of three hospitals nationwide to offer the first self-contained implantable artificial heart, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a 600-bed academic medical center and innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care in medicine. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care and women's and children's care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness. The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer has rated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers. The Leapfrog Group rated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is also a three-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence.

Attention members of the media: For more information on this release, please contact the Department of Public Relations (732) 937-8521