More than 500 attend St. John?s women?s retreat

St. John's Health System's first Totally Healthy Woman retreat drew more than 500 women Nov. 16-17 to Chateau on the Lake in Branson. According to Su-sanne Miller, vice president of women's services, St. John's used the retreat to promote education and empowerment among women. Specifically, she said, the event focused on menopause and cardiovascular disease.

"Cardiac disease is terrible among women," Miller said, adding that it's often overlooked. "The problem with women (and cardiac disease) is we do not exhibit the same symptoms that men do," she said.

While men often have chest pain or pain radiating down the arm during a heart attack, women might have such symptoms as an upset stomach or back pain, Miller said, adding that it's important that women understand potential symptoms of cardiac disease so that they don't delay getting treatment.

National speakers included Sue McKenzie and Dr. Kathryn Klein Havens, whose seminar, "Personal Vi-sion, Powerful Voices," is designed to provide women with empowering information about menopause and perimenopause.

Between seminars, St. John's employees provided yoga classes and massages for event attendees. An exhibit hall provided information about St. John's services, as well as opportunities for guests to take advantage of free gifts and prize giveaways.

Miller said the retreat drew attendees from about 26 counties in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, and about one-fourth of attendees were from the Branson region.

Miller partnered with Charles Wollard, vice president of cardiovascular services at St. John's, and Susan Blackard, St. John's vice president of corporate health, to put on the event, and she said the trio already is busy planning the next Totally Healthy Woman retreat.