Verde Valley Medical Center invites the community to its “Heart of the Matter” cardiac education topic Monday, Jan. 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This month’s lecture, “All You Wanted to Know about Lipids and Were Afraid to Ask,” will be presented by Kenneth Bescak, M.D., diagnostic cardiologist.

Managing lipid levels helps people with high cholesterol lower their risk of heart disease. A lipid profile is a group of tests often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease, and includes total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), LDL-cholesterol (often called bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. When any or all results are significantly outside desirable ranges, risk of a cardiac event is increased. If they are only slightly outside the desirable level, diet, exercise, and/or medication may be sufficient to reduce the abnormal levels, thereby reducing the risk.

The complimentary program will be presented at VVMC, 269 S. Candy Lane, Cottonwood, in Conference Rooms B and C. For easiest access to the conference rooms, park in the visitor lot on Candy Lane, and enter through the Outpatient Services entrance. To reserve a seat, please RSVP to 639-6551. Walk-in attendance also is welcome.