Community Members Connect Over Cabernet and Cardiology

In honor of February being American Heart Month, and with a community filled with individuals in the health and life sciences fields, we decided to put their heads (and their hearts!) to the test. 

Our Cabernet and Cardiology event invited community members to catch up over complimentary red wine and light snacks while testing their cardiovascular knowledge. And for those that RSVPed ahead of the event, they were entered into a raffle to win a basket of heart-healthy treats! Our winner, as pictured above, was Chris McFarland, Research Coordinator for Pitt's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

At the actual event, attendees were greeted with a variety of red wines and snacks and were asked to cast their vote on the question “Is red wine (in moderation) good for your heart health?” – but not before they answered five heart-related trivia questions:

1. High blood pressure can hurt your health in many ways. Which of these organs can be affected by the condition?

a. Brain

b. Heart

c. Kidneys

d. All of the above*

2. Why is high blood pressure sometimes called the "silent killer"?

a. High blood pressure makes it difficult to talk

b. High blood pressure usually doesn't have any symptoms*

c. High blood pressure doesn't make any loud noises

3. "_________" happens when plaque builds up in the arteries and limits how much blood can get to your heart.

a. Arrhythmia

b. Atherosclerosis*

c. Atrial fibrillation

4. Which of the following is more likely to contribute to your high blood pressure?

a. Physical activity

b. Salt/sodium intake*

c. High cholesterol level

d. Ice cream

5. How much physical activity is enough?

a. 20 minutes every day

b. 90 minutes a day once you are in shape

c. 150 minutes per week*

*CORRECT ANSWER

Not surprisingly, given the participants’ background (and their research partnerships with other fields, like cardiology), they all correctly answered the first three questions! And majority fared well on the additional two questions. 

Speaking of questions, they shared their daily average step count and their thoughts regarding the topic of if red wine is healthy, in moderation, for your heart and all agreed it was. Cheers to that and all the healthy hearts that make up our Bridgeside community!