ELIZABETHTOWN — When Catherine Sprague started feeling more tired than usual, she didn’t think much of it.
She was occasionally short of breath, but nothing seemed serious. Like many people, Sprague assumed it was just part of getting older and staying busy.
Still, something didn’t feel right.
That feeling led her to attend a free community health screening at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital earlier this year. What was found likely saved her life.
A routine EKG showed Sprague had suffered a “silent” heart attack weeks or even months earlier. Additional testing revealed heart failure, a serious condition that required immediate treatment.
Today, Sprague is encouraging others not to ignore the opportunity to get screened.
“I probably wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t go to that screening,” Sprague says. “I felt mostly fine. I never imagined something that serious was happening.”
Her story is one reason Elizabethtown Community Hospital is inviting residents to attend its upcoming free Fall Health Screenings:
— Ticonderoga — Wednesday, Sept 9, 2 to 5 p.m. 101 Adirondack Drive.
— Elizabethtown — Thursday, Sept. 10, 2 to 5 p.m., 75 Park Street.
The events are free, open to the public and no appointment is necessary. Participants can receive blood pressure checks, glucose and cholesterol testing, oxygen checks, vision evaluations, body mass index measurements and EKGs to assess heart health. Regional community partners will also be on-site with health and wellness information.
For Jun Chon, MD, chief medical officer at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, Sprague’s experience highlights an important lesson.
“If we just go by how we actually feel, it just might be too late,” Chon says. “Many potentially serious conditions develop slowly and don’t always cause symptoms that seem alarming. That’s why preventive screenings are so important. They can help identify problems before they become life-threatening.”
The screenings are timed to help residents prepare for an active fall and winter season, whether that means hiking, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing or simply staying healthy and independent.
“Many people put their own health on the back burner because they’re busy taking care of family, work and everything else life throws at them,” Jodi Gibbs, quality and community benefit coordinator at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, says. “These screenings are a quick and easy way to learn more about your health and connect with resources that can help you stay well. We hope people will take advantage of this free opportunity.”
For Sprague, the message is simple.
“Go,” she says. “Even if you think you’re okay, go. It could make all the difference.”
For more information, call 518-585-3761 or visit UVMHealth.org/ECH.
University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital, 75 Park St., Elizabethtown, NY.