May 1, 2007

Retail Roundup

Spa R&R holds event for education and research

Twenty-four women came to Spa R&R on Monday, March 26 to be fitted for new bras and to help Research for Cardiac Disease for Women, by each donating $10. You may not realize, but more women die of cardiac disease than cancer.

Dr. Violet Johnson, former professor of nursing and owner of Spa R&R got the idea from her favorite person, Oprah Winfrey when she had an Essential Body Wear representative measure everyone in the audience, who were all wearing the incorrect-fitting bras.

As a nurse, Johnson knew that wearing the wrong fitting bra, especially if you are well endowed, can cause backache. Less endowed women can be enhanced with a well fitting bra, giving her outer clothing a more finished look and enhancing her figure.

The women had riotous fun. There were lots of giggles and several people went off to dinner at Aqui's Restaurant afterwards.

Among the facts the women learned about heart disease are:

• Heart disease is the leading killer of women

• More women die from cardiovascular disease than all forms of cancer

• Men have more heart attacks than women, but women have a higher death rate

• Warning signs of heart attack in women are discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back, uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath comes along with chest discomfort. Symptoms may also include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

• Large federally funded studies aimed at determining risk factors for heart disease did not include women.

• Reports from the Government Accounting Office in the early 1990s noted that women were not included in studies demonstrating the safety and efficacy of therapies for cardiovascular disease.

• Because women tend to develop heart disease later than men, many women are still excluded from clinical trials on the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

Johnson plans to hold more educational seminars at Spa R&R. She held one last year on understanding menopause with Dr. Sutherland of El Camino Hospital.

She plans to hold a teen class for healthy skin on Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m. The cost is $25 per person. On Sunday, July 15, she plans to hold a noon fashion show. Other upcoming classes include cardiac care for women; women and money; and a stress management visualization therapy.