BETHEL — “Caring for Your Heart – heart disease, prevention, symptoms, treatment options and new developments” will be the topic of a program presented by Daniel E. van Buren, board certified cardiologist, on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Bethel Congregational Church, Church Street. Snow date is Feb. 16.

To Your Health of Western Mountains Senior College offers this program to call attention to heart disease and its prevention during American Heart Month.

Van Buren is the director of cardiovascular medicine of the New England Heart Institute at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, N.H. He completed his internal medicine and cardiology training in Brooklyn, N.Y. and now resides in Bethel. He is board certified in internal medicine, adult echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular disease.

Van Buren’s talk will cover some of the most common diagnoses in the field of cardiology. He said “coronary heart disease is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries, and it remains the cause of about a third of all deaths in people over age 35.” He added that congestive heart failure is the leading cause for hospitalization in the U.S. among people over age 65.

Van Buren will also discuss atrial fibrillation. He said this common arrhythmia continues to place a huge burden on patients’ lives and our health care system. His talk will focus on a description of these disease processes, their symptoms, current therapies and new developments.

Van Buren will allow time for questions and will have handouts available.

To Your Health is sponsored by WMSC as a community service with the collaboration of Bethel Family Health Center and MSAD 44/Continuing Education. The public is invited and admission is free. Light refreshments available. For more information contact R. Tifft at 824-2053.

The To Your Health programs are open to the public without charge.