Contact: Rosie Smith FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. 850/718-2696
Email: rsmith@jackhosp.org
STEVEN SPENCE, MD, SPEAKS AT ST. LUKE’S BAPTIST CHURCH
Cardiovascular Disease topic at evening program meeting
Marianna, FL, December 11, 2007. Monday evening Steven Spence, MD, spoke about Cardiovascular Disease to a rapt audience gathered for St. Luke’s Baptist Church’s “Closing the Gap” program.
“Closing the Gap” focuses on Preventing Cardiovascular Disease. It is a Department of Health program to target the African American and Hispanic populations of Jackson, Liberty, and Calhoun counties.
Mrs. Sarah Pender is the coordinator of the St. Luke’s Baptist program. St. Luke’s is one of 10 faith- and community-based groups in Jackson County participating. St. Luke’s “Closing the Gap” program runs through June 2008.
Monday’s program at St. Luke’s was devoted to Dr. Spence’s presentation. He defined Cardiovascular disease, identified why it is important to know more about it, and what to do if one has the disease. The goal he said was to “live healthier, better, and cheaper” by preventing the disease.
Dr. Steven Spence took the audience through his own personal journey of weight loss and revised eating habits illustrating that while it’s tough, it can be done! Dr. Spence called on the audience to “be selfish about their health.”
When one is selfish – as in being in charge of their health – they can avoid Cardiovascular disease and other diseases such as Diabetes and its precursor, the Metabolic Syndrome. Research indicates that 20% of newly diagnosed Diabetics will have a heart attack in the next ten years.
While not much can be changed from the genetics inherited from one’s parents, a person can reduce calorie intake and increase exercise. Comparing our ancestor’s lifestyles to modern life, it takes a whole lot less energy (and corresponding calories) to go to a local fast food restaurant for a meal rather than having to grow, harvest, prepare and eat a meal.
The most fascinating point of the presentation was the concept that if one ate 250 calories fewer each day, one would lose approximately 1 pound every 2 weeks; that translates into about 25 pounds of weight loss per year.
Dr. Steven Spence grew up in Marianna, Florida, completed his medical residency at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and has practiced Medicine in Marianna for the last 7 years. He was the first Jackson Hospital scholarship student to return to Marianna to practice medicine. Dr. Spence specializes in Internal Medicine with Internal Medicine Associates of Jackson Hospital.
In addition to working in private practice, Dr. Spence is credentialed to practice at Jackson Hospital. This means he can admit patients to the hospital when their health condition warrants such action.
Jackson Hospital, a top 100 Hospital in the nation according to Thomson Healthcare, is the only Florida hospital in its size category to receive the 2006 Performance Improvement Leaders award. The Hospital provides in-patient, outpatient, and emergency care services from its main location in Marianna at 4250 Hospital Drive.
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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Steven Spence, MD, please call Rosie at 850/718-2696 or email her at rsmith@jackhosp.org. |