Patients with heart failure and certain other chronic medical conditions should not exercise outside in very hot and humid weather. This is because their hearts have less reserve capacity to transport heat from the body and their hearts can become overworked.
In addition, many heart failure patients are also trying to balance the fluid levels in their bodies by taking diuretic medications that rid the body of excess water and reduce their ability to sweat. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop in heart failure patients just by their sitting in a house or car that is not air-conditioned or by being outside in the sun for too long on very hot days.
Tips for people living with heart failure:
• Continue your usual exercise, but move indoors to an air-conditioned space (try walking laps at the mall).
• Do not stay in a building, house or car without air conditioning.
• Weigh yourself daily at the same time and with the same amount of clothing. If your weight drops more than two to three pounds from your normal weight, call your doctor to see if your medications need adjusting.
• Be cautious and take frequent cooling breaks when you are outdoors.
• Drink cool water rather than cold water because the body absorbs cool water faster.
• Do not drink juices or sodas during exercise as they are not absorbed well during exercise.
• Sports drinks are not required for salt and mineral replacement if you eat a healthy diet.
If you experience symptoms of heat exhaustion, move to a cool place, remove any extra layers of clothing, begin drinking cool water and seek medical attention if you do not feel better after one hour. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include:
• Heavy sweating
• Muscle cramps
• Dry tongue and thirst
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
--Janice Meadows MBA, BSN, CEN
Assistant Vice President, Frances Langford Heart Center
Showing posts with label Heart Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heart Disease. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Knowing Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack Can Be a Lifesaver
In 2007, Port St. Lucie resident Barry Lombard experienced discomfort in his upper chest and thought it was merely indigestion. When it began to worsen, he immediately went to Martin Memorial Health Services at St. Lucie West, where he learned he was having a heart attack. The very next day, interventional cardiologist Stephen McIntyre, MD, performed stent placement surgery on Lombard at the Frances Langford Heart Center at
Martin Memorial.
Sometimes it can be hard to determine whether chest pain is simply indigestion or a heart attack. For Lombard, seeking medical care at the onset of symptoms helped avoid complications. Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack, and knowing how to respond, could save a life.
These symptoms may appear in men and women:
• Chest pain, pressure or squeezing
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Tightness in the chest
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, arm or jaw
• Heartburn or indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
• Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
These symptoms are more common in women:
• Indigestion or gaslike pain
• Recurring chest discomfort
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Sense of impending doom
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Discomfort or pain in the arms, stomach, jaw, neck or between the shoulder blades
• Difficulty sleeping
• Cold sweat
If you or someone you are with has one or more of these symptoms, don’t delay. Call 911 immediately. Lombard’s ability to recognize the signs of a heart attack helped him receive quick treatment, which allowed for a faster recovery and a better outcome.
“After the surgery, I felt great,” Lombard recalls. “The doctors, nurses and everyone in between were always one step ahead. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience considering the severity of the situation. The staff at the heart center made a very difficult time seem easy.”
Lombard’s trip to the heart center was also a learning experience. Now, at age 68, Lombard shares with family, friends and neighbors the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, and he assures them that they will receive excellent care at Martin Memorial.
“Since visiting the heart center, I’ve had other unrelated health concerns,” says Lombard. “When I was faced with the choice of where to have my knee surgery, it was an easy decision. I went to Martin Memorial.”
Note: This article originally appeared in Martin Memorial’s “For Your Health” magazine. For more on this and other health related topics, visit mmhs.com.
Martin Memorial.
Sometimes it can be hard to determine whether chest pain is simply indigestion or a heart attack. For Lombard, seeking medical care at the onset of symptoms helped avoid complications. Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack, and knowing how to respond, could save a life.
These symptoms may appear in men and women:
• Chest pain, pressure or squeezing
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Tightness in the chest
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, arm or jaw
• Heartburn or indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
• Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
These symptoms are more common in women:
• Indigestion or gaslike pain
• Recurring chest discomfort
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Sense of impending doom
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Discomfort or pain in the arms, stomach, jaw, neck or between the shoulder blades
• Difficulty sleeping
• Cold sweat
If you or someone you are with has one or more of these symptoms, don’t delay. Call 911 immediately. Lombard’s ability to recognize the signs of a heart attack helped him receive quick treatment, which allowed for a faster recovery and a better outcome.
“After the surgery, I felt great,” Lombard recalls. “The doctors, nurses and everyone in between were always one step ahead. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience considering the severity of the situation. The staff at the heart center made a very difficult time seem easy.”
Lombard’s trip to the heart center was also a learning experience. Now, at age 68, Lombard shares with family, friends and neighbors the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, and he assures them that they will receive excellent care at Martin Memorial.
“Since visiting the heart center, I’ve had other unrelated health concerns,” says Lombard. “When I was faced with the choice of where to have my knee surgery, it was an easy decision. I went to Martin Memorial.”
Note: This article originally appeared in Martin Memorial’s “For Your Health” magazine. For more on this and other health related topics, visit mmhs.com.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Education Critical to Recognizing Signs, Symptoms of Heart Failure, Heart Attack
Amy Eversole, MD, a cardiologist on staff at Martin Memorial, recently explained during a lecture the common causes of heart failure.
These contributing factors may include: damage after a heart attack, high blood pressure, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), diabetes, family history of heart disease, obesity, congenital heart disease, irregular heartbeats, excess alcohol consumption and a diet high in salt.
She also noted that it is critically important to be aware of the classic symptoms of a heart attack, as well as the symptoms that may not be recognized immediately. Receiving treatment immediately can be lifesaving for people who suffer a heart attack.
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack in men and women include:
• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs and abdomen
• Sweating
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck arm or jaw
• Heart burn or indigestion, with or without nausea and vomiting
• Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
The symptoms more common in women are:
• Indigestion or gas-like pain
• Recurring chest discomfort
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Sense of impending doom
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
If you think you could be having a heart attack, call 911. If you need cardiac care and have questions regarding services at Martin Memorial's Frances Langford Heart Center, please call our patient educator at (772) 221-2094.
These contributing factors may include: damage after a heart attack, high blood pressure, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), diabetes, family history of heart disease, obesity, congenital heart disease, irregular heartbeats, excess alcohol consumption and a diet high in salt.
She also noted that it is critically important to be aware of the classic symptoms of a heart attack, as well as the symptoms that may not be recognized immediately. Receiving treatment immediately can be lifesaving for people who suffer a heart attack.
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack in men and women include:
• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs and abdomen
• Sweating
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck arm or jaw
• Heart burn or indigestion, with or without nausea and vomiting
• Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
The symptoms more common in women are:
• Indigestion or gas-like pain
• Recurring chest discomfort
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Sense of impending doom
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
If you think you could be having a heart attack, call 911. If you need cardiac care and have questions regarding services at Martin Memorial's Frances Langford Heart Center, please call our patient educator at (772) 221-2094.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Your Heart is the Star of the Show in New Informational Video by Martin Memorial
If you have a heart, this video is for you.
Martin Memorial recently created an informational video designed to provide education not only about how your heart functions, but also offers tips on how to keep it beating for years to come.
The video, called “A Heartbeat Away,” is available on YouTube at youtube.com/user/MartinMemorial or by visiting our Web site at mmhs.com.
Information on the video includes facts about the actual anatomy of the heart, statistics outlining the extent of heart disease in the United States, as well as suggestions on how to prevent the disease.
For example, did you know that your heart is the strongest muscle in your body? That it completely circulates your blood every 20 seconds? That your circulatory system is 62,000 miles long?
Heart disease affects thousands of Martin and St. Lucie county residents each year. Since the Frances Langford Heart Center opened in August 2006, more than 750 open-heart surgeries and 6,100 cardiac catheterizations have been performed.
“We wanted to provide our community with an informative and entertaining message about the heart and the importance of taking care of it,” said Janice Meadows, assistant vice president for the Martin Memorial Frances Langford Heart Center. “Our hope is that people will watch this video and share the valuable information with their families and friends so that we can help reduce their risk of heart disease.”
Martin Memorial recently created an informational video designed to provide education not only about how your heart functions, but also offers tips on how to keep it beating for years to come.
The video, called “A Heartbeat Away,” is available on YouTube at youtube.com/user/MartinMemorial or by visiting our Web site at mmhs.com.
Information on the video includes facts about the actual anatomy of the heart, statistics outlining the extent of heart disease in the United States, as well as suggestions on how to prevent the disease.
For example, did you know that your heart is the strongest muscle in your body? That it completely circulates your blood every 20 seconds? That your circulatory system is 62,000 miles long?
Heart disease affects thousands of Martin and St. Lucie county residents each year. Since the Frances Langford Heart Center opened in August 2006, more than 750 open-heart surgeries and 6,100 cardiac catheterizations have been performed.
“We wanted to provide our community with an informative and entertaining message about the heart and the importance of taking care of it,” said Janice Meadows, assistant vice president for the Martin Memorial Frances Langford Heart Center. “Our hope is that people will watch this video and share the valuable information with their families and friends so that we can help reduce their risk of heart disease.”
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cardiac Screening Provides Information on Heart Health for Women and Men
On Saturday, March 28, women and men of all ages can find out valuable information that could save their lives.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, but prevention and early detection can play a critical role in helping to avoid heart attacks. That’s why Martin Memorial is holding a cardiac screening event from 7-11 a.m. on March 28 called “A Matter of the Heart” at Martin Memorial Hospital South, located at 2100 S.E. Salerno Road in Stuart.
Participants will receive a gender-specific EKG reading, a lipid blood test, blood glucose test and a blood pressure check for $49. They can also receive a carotid artery ultrasound to check their vascular health, along with the previous tests, for $75.
Participants are encouraged to bring a spouse, a friend, a relative or anyone else who might benefit from learning this valuable information. The EKG, lipid blood test, blood glucose test and blood pressure check will be available for two people for $84, while the carotid artery ultrasound in addition to those tests is available for $127 for two people.
Following the tests, cardiac nurses will be available to provide information on heart health.
The tests are potential indicators of heart disease risk. EKGs measure the heart’s electrical impulses. Because of differences in symptoms and heart rhythms in men and women, gender-specific EKGs were developed to differentiate between the sexes. Lipid blood tests measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in a person’s system. High levels of cholesterol can contribute to heart disease. Blood glucose tests indicate how well your body processes glucose, or sugar. This can be an indicator for prediabetes or diabetes, which is a leading contributor to heart disease. And because high blood pressure can lead to a number of ailments, including heart disease and stroke, controlling it is crucial.
To make an appointment for the event, call (866) 361-HOPE (4673). Registration is required by March 26 to guarantee a screening time.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, but prevention and early detection can play a critical role in helping to avoid heart attacks. That’s why Martin Memorial is holding a cardiac screening event from 7-11 a.m. on March 28 called “A Matter of the Heart” at Martin Memorial Hospital South, located at 2100 S.E. Salerno Road in Stuart.
Participants will receive a gender-specific EKG reading, a lipid blood test, blood glucose test and a blood pressure check for $49. They can also receive a carotid artery ultrasound to check their vascular health, along with the previous tests, for $75.
Participants are encouraged to bring a spouse, a friend, a relative or anyone else who might benefit from learning this valuable information. The EKG, lipid blood test, blood glucose test and blood pressure check will be available for two people for $84, while the carotid artery ultrasound in addition to those tests is available for $127 for two people.
Following the tests, cardiac nurses will be available to provide information on heart health.
The tests are potential indicators of heart disease risk. EKGs measure the heart’s electrical impulses. Because of differences in symptoms and heart rhythms in men and women, gender-specific EKGs were developed to differentiate between the sexes. Lipid blood tests measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in a person’s system. High levels of cholesterol can contribute to heart disease. Blood glucose tests indicate how well your body processes glucose, or sugar. This can be an indicator for prediabetes or diabetes, which is a leading contributor to heart disease. And because high blood pressure can lead to a number of ailments, including heart disease and stroke, controlling it is crucial.
To make an appointment for the event, call (866) 361-HOPE (4673). Registration is required by March 26 to guarantee a screening time.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Event Provides Information About the “Heart of a Woman”
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Americans, killing 870,000 people in the United States each year.
That includes more than 459,000 women, despite a common misconception that men are more likely to be affected by heart disease.
To provide women with education on the causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention of heart disease, Martin Memorial is hosting the third-annual “Heart of a Woman” event.
The event will take place Friday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart.
“It is critical that women learn not only what the treatment options are for heart disease, but equally important is how they can help prevent it from occurring,” said Susan Kujawa, a registered nurse in the Martin Memorial cardiology department and a co-chair of the Heart of a Woman committee. “That knowledge could mean the difference between life and death.”
The event will feature an informative presentation from interventional cardiologist Stephen McIntyre, M.D., who will speak on heart disease and preventative measures women can take. There will also be a presentation from pediatrician Genon Wicina, M.D., who will discuss childhood obesity and the effect it can have on heart disease in adulthood.
There will also be a live fashion show, courtesy of the Shoppes of Harbour Bay, that will preview spring fashions. Raffle items and a “shopping passport” with many discounts will be provided for all who attend.
“Women are often the caregivers in families, so it is important that they understand how heart disease can impact not just themselves, but their loved ones as well,” said Nancy Vagedes, cardiology manager at Martin Memorial and a co-chair of the event. “Through the Heart of a Woman event we want to provide women with tools to reduce the risks of heart disease, while at the same providing an enjoyable atmosphere.”
Tickets for the event are $75 per person, with proceeds going to the Martin Memorial Foundation, and can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
That includes more than 459,000 women, despite a common misconception that men are more likely to be affected by heart disease.
To provide women with education on the causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention of heart disease, Martin Memorial is hosting the third-annual “Heart of a Woman” event.
The event will take place Friday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart.
“It is critical that women learn not only what the treatment options are for heart disease, but equally important is how they can help prevent it from occurring,” said Susan Kujawa, a registered nurse in the Martin Memorial cardiology department and a co-chair of the Heart of a Woman committee. “That knowledge could mean the difference between life and death.”
The event will feature an informative presentation from interventional cardiologist Stephen McIntyre, M.D., who will speak on heart disease and preventative measures women can take. There will also be a presentation from pediatrician Genon Wicina, M.D., who will discuss childhood obesity and the effect it can have on heart disease in adulthood.
There will also be a live fashion show, courtesy of the Shoppes of Harbour Bay, that will preview spring fashions. Raffle items and a “shopping passport” with many discounts will be provided for all who attend.
“Women are often the caregivers in families, so it is important that they understand how heart disease can impact not just themselves, but their loved ones as well,” said Nancy Vagedes, cardiology manager at Martin Memorial and a co-chair of the event. “Through the Heart of a Woman event we want to provide women with tools to reduce the risks of heart disease, while at the same providing an enjoyable atmosphere.”
Tickets for the event are $75 per person, with proceeds going to the Martin Memorial Foundation, and can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Cardiac Screening Could Provide Information That Can Save Your Life
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, but prevention and early detection can play a critical role in helping to avoid heart attacks.
That’s why Martin Memorial is holding a cardiac screening event on Jan. 24 at the Martin Memorial St. Lucie West MediCenter.
Women will receive a gender-specific EKG reading, a lipid blood test, blood glucose test and a blood pressure check, and will also have the opportunity to receive a carotid artery ultrasound to check their vascular health.
The tests are potential indicators of heart disease risk. EKGs measure the heart’s electrical impulses. Because of differences in symptoms and heart rhythms in men and women, gender-specific EKGs were developed to differentiate between the sexes. Lipid blood tests measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in a person’s system. High levels of cholesterol can contribute to heart disease. Blood glucose tests indicate how well your body processes glucose, or sugar. This can be an indicator for prediabetes or diabetes, which is a leading contributor to heart disease. And because high blood pressure can lead to a number of ailments, including heart disease and stroke, controlling it is crucial.
Heart disease can be a lethal condition, but understanding your potential risks could help minimize the damage it can cause. Talk to your doctor to determine what your risks are and whether these tests would be right for you. They may provide information that can save your life.
That’s why Martin Memorial is holding a cardiac screening event on Jan. 24 at the Martin Memorial St. Lucie West MediCenter.
Women will receive a gender-specific EKG reading, a lipid blood test, blood glucose test and a blood pressure check, and will also have the opportunity to receive a carotid artery ultrasound to check their vascular health.
The tests are potential indicators of heart disease risk. EKGs measure the heart’s electrical impulses. Because of differences in symptoms and heart rhythms in men and women, gender-specific EKGs were developed to differentiate between the sexes. Lipid blood tests measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in a person’s system. High levels of cholesterol can contribute to heart disease. Blood glucose tests indicate how well your body processes glucose, or sugar. This can be an indicator for prediabetes or diabetes, which is a leading contributor to heart disease. And because high blood pressure can lead to a number of ailments, including heart disease and stroke, controlling it is crucial.
Heart disease can be a lethal condition, but understanding your potential risks could help minimize the damage it can cause. Talk to your doctor to determine what your risks are and whether these tests would be right for you. They may provide information that can save your life.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Martin Memorial in 2008: Year in Review
As 2008 prepares to sink slowly into the sunset, now is a fine time to reflect on the things that have happened to us in the past year – for better or worse.
Recently I read an article on cnn.com that highlighted its top health stories of 2008, and it made me think back to what might be the top stories at Martin Memorial in the year gone by. Being the official Season of Lists of the Top Things That Happened in the Last Year, I came up with – ta da! – a list of some of our own health highlights from 2008.
1. Mark Robitaille named president and chief executive officer. In October, Martin Memorial welcomed a new president and CEO for the first time in 19 years. Robitaille served as the health system’s senior vice president and chief operating officer since 1991 and started his career here in 1976. He took over for Richmond Harman, who retired after 30-plus years at Martin Memorial.
2. Total Cancer Care comes to Martin Memorial. In January we announced our partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center on an exciting new research program that could help revolutionize the way cancer is treated. This collaboration will develop a new research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
3. Martin Memorial announces off-site emergency department coming to St. Lucie West. The Martin Memorial Emergency Center at St. Lucie West, scheduled to open Fall 2009, will meet the critical medical services shortage currently facing residents of western St. Lucie County by bringing them timely emergency care close to home. The emergency center will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, but will not provide inpatient beds.
4. The 500th open-heart surgery is performed at the Frances Langford Heart Center. In October, surgeons reached the milestone on a woman in her 50s. It took a little more than two years to reach the mark after opening in August 2006 and in that time hundreds of lives have been saved at the Frances Langford Heart Center.
5. Martin Memorial goes tobacco free. We joined hundreds of other health care providers across the country by prohibiting the use of tobacco on any Martin Memorial property starting Oct. 1.
There are plenty of other things that could fit on this list as well. The Martin Memorial Foundation continued to raise funding critical to our mission of providing access to health care, with the 14th-annual Chrysanthemum Ball leading the charge. We continue our battle to build a hospital at Tradition. And Martin Memorial was a key member of the Life Sciences Initiative of Martin County, which is working to bring life sciences research to the county.
It’s been a fascinating year, but there’s much more to come in 2009. And you can continue to read all about it right here.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Recently I read an article on cnn.com that highlighted its top health stories of 2008, and it made me think back to what might be the top stories at Martin Memorial in the year gone by. Being the official Season of Lists of the Top Things That Happened in the Last Year, I came up with – ta da! – a list of some of our own health highlights from 2008.
1. Mark Robitaille named president and chief executive officer. In October, Martin Memorial welcomed a new president and CEO for the first time in 19 years. Robitaille served as the health system’s senior vice president and chief operating officer since 1991 and started his career here in 1976. He took over for Richmond Harman, who retired after 30-plus years at Martin Memorial.
2. Total Cancer Care comes to Martin Memorial. In January we announced our partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center on an exciting new research program that could help revolutionize the way cancer is treated. This collaboration will develop a new research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
3. Martin Memorial announces off-site emergency department coming to St. Lucie West. The Martin Memorial Emergency Center at St. Lucie West, scheduled to open Fall 2009, will meet the critical medical services shortage currently facing residents of western St. Lucie County by bringing them timely emergency care close to home. The emergency center will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, but will not provide inpatient beds.
4. The 500th open-heart surgery is performed at the Frances Langford Heart Center. In October, surgeons reached the milestone on a woman in her 50s. It took a little more than two years to reach the mark after opening in August 2006 and in that time hundreds of lives have been saved at the Frances Langford Heart Center.
5. Martin Memorial goes tobacco free. We joined hundreds of other health care providers across the country by prohibiting the use of tobacco on any Martin Memorial property starting Oct. 1.
There are plenty of other things that could fit on this list as well. The Martin Memorial Foundation continued to raise funding critical to our mission of providing access to health care, with the 14th-annual Chrysanthemum Ball leading the charge. We continue our battle to build a hospital at Tradition. And Martin Memorial was a key member of the Life Sciences Initiative of Martin County, which is working to bring life sciences research to the county.
It’s been a fascinating year, but there’s much more to come in 2009. And you can continue to read all about it right here.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Beat Goes on at Frances Langford Heart Center
Let me share with you a story that starts with Hope At Every Turn, becomes Hope is a Heartbeat Away and continues with The Beat Goes On.
Martin Memorial has been a beacon of hope within our community for many years. Those within this community will tell you how Martin Memorial has provided the much-needed health care services that the community demanded, thus providing Hope at Every Turn.
In August 2006, Hope became a Heartbeat Away. The Frances Langford Heart Center opened its doors to the Treasure Coast. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The feeling was overwhelming. The Ocala Heart Institute at Martin Memorial Health Systems team was in place to provide adult cardiac surgery. Two interventional cardiologists were ready to perform angioplasty and/or stent placement. And like shoppers looking for a bargain on the day after Thanksgiving, people were lining up to receive such services that were once only available a great distance away from home.
Hope is a heartbeat away. There are many stories to tell and many lives saved. I can tell you about the 40 year old that had no prior cardiac risk factors that was taken urgently to the operating room for bypass surgery; the life saved after a traumatic knife stabbing; the young mother who had a valve replacement; the dissecting aneurysm that was repaired; the young girl experiencing a heart attack that coded several times and was successfully treated. The stories go on. For these individuals treated at The Frances Langford Heart Center, Hope was a Heartbeat Away.
The beat goes on. The Frances Langford Heart Center continues to thrive. This past month the Ocala Heart Institute at Martin Memorial Health Systems surpassed 500 adult cardiac surgeries at the Frances Langford Heart Center. The number of cardiac interventions since inception has exceeded 1,400. Martin Memorial’s Frances Langford Heart Center is a welcomed addition to the health system and will continue to provide a much-needed service to this community.
--Melissa Zinderman, RN
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Martin Memorial has been a beacon of hope within our community for many years. Those within this community will tell you how Martin Memorial has provided the much-needed health care services that the community demanded, thus providing Hope at Every Turn.
In August 2006, Hope became a Heartbeat Away. The Frances Langford Heart Center opened its doors to the Treasure Coast. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The feeling was overwhelming. The Ocala Heart Institute at Martin Memorial Health Systems team was in place to provide adult cardiac surgery. Two interventional cardiologists were ready to perform angioplasty and/or stent placement. And like shoppers looking for a bargain on the day after Thanksgiving, people were lining up to receive such services that were once only available a great distance away from home.
Hope is a heartbeat away. There are many stories to tell and many lives saved. I can tell you about the 40 year old that had no prior cardiac risk factors that was taken urgently to the operating room for bypass surgery; the life saved after a traumatic knife stabbing; the young mother who had a valve replacement; the dissecting aneurysm that was repaired; the young girl experiencing a heart attack that coded several times and was successfully treated. The stories go on. For these individuals treated at The Frances Langford Heart Center, Hope was a Heartbeat Away.
The beat goes on. The Frances Langford Heart Center continues to thrive. This past month the Ocala Heart Institute at Martin Memorial Health Systems surpassed 500 adult cardiac surgeries at the Frances Langford Heart Center. The number of cardiac interventions since inception has exceeded 1,400. Martin Memorial’s Frances Langford Heart Center is a welcomed addition to the health system and will continue to provide a much-needed service to this community.
--Melissa Zinderman, RN
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Making a Commitment to Healthy Living
OK, so I haven’t blogged in a long time. I have been asked several times to commit, but always find an excuse to postpone it. As with most things in life, you must want it, need it, have to have it, in order to commit to it. IT can be anything, from eating right, balancing a check book, proposing to the one you love or simply remembering to say thank you. As the Cardiovascular Patient Educator of the Frances Langford Heart Center I am committed to educating patients, nurses, our community and most importantly our children.
According to the American Heart Association, the rise in childhood obesity has become an epidemic that is sweeping the nation. This generation is the first in history to be expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Obesity can lead to diabetes, hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia.
Research and time have proven that education can prevent and reduce many disease processes. Our goal is to prevent heart disease through education. Our children need to be active, eat healthy and maintain an ideal body weight. The number of obese, inactive diabetic children is on the rise which can lead to heart disease.
As a parent I find myself allowing my children to eat unhealthy, play hours of video games and not educating them on the need to prevent the above mentioned life threatening disease processes. Like many parents we do this out of convenience. Do we ever take a moment to realize that this convenience may ultimately harm them? I am the parent, as such, I provide nourishment, activity and daily schedules for my children.
What can I do to change this? I have cleaned out my pantry. Good healthy snacks have replaced the “junk” food. Video games and TV are limited to 30 minutes a day. My children are actively involved in sports, spend more time outdoors and are benefiting from leading a healthy lifestyle.
Sure my children were very sad, cranky and upset for several days. Their snack cakes were gone, they couldn’t finish their video game or sit on the couch for hours. Now, they make smart choices, because I am providing only healthy choices. It’s amazing how simple it is to recondition a young one. Our entire family has benefited from this lifestyle change.
As for educating other children, I recently visited Mrs. Sanchez’s fourth grade class at Crystal Lake Elementary. They’re studying anatomy and physiology this semester. I provided the series on the cardiovascular system. As a bonus, I challenged each student to keep their heart strong, eat right, be active, and maintain an ideal body weight.
I am hopeful that these smart, enthusiastic children will go home and encourage their parents to commit to making a lifestyle change in order to prevent heart disease.
--Melissa Zinderman, RN
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Frances Langford Heart Center
According to the American Heart Association, the rise in childhood obesity has become an epidemic that is sweeping the nation. This generation is the first in history to be expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Obesity can lead to diabetes, hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia.
Research and time have proven that education can prevent and reduce many disease processes. Our goal is to prevent heart disease through education. Our children need to be active, eat healthy and maintain an ideal body weight. The number of obese, inactive diabetic children is on the rise which can lead to heart disease.
As a parent I find myself allowing my children to eat unhealthy, play hours of video games and not educating them on the need to prevent the above mentioned life threatening disease processes. Like many parents we do this out of convenience. Do we ever take a moment to realize that this convenience may ultimately harm them? I am the parent, as such, I provide nourishment, activity and daily schedules for my children.
What can I do to change this? I have cleaned out my pantry. Good healthy snacks have replaced the “junk” food. Video games and TV are limited to 30 minutes a day. My children are actively involved in sports, spend more time outdoors and are benefiting from leading a healthy lifestyle.
Sure my children were very sad, cranky and upset for several days. Their snack cakes were gone, they couldn’t finish their video game or sit on the couch for hours. Now, they make smart choices, because I am providing only healthy choices. It’s amazing how simple it is to recondition a young one. Our entire family has benefited from this lifestyle change.
As for educating other children, I recently visited Mrs. Sanchez’s fourth grade class at Crystal Lake Elementary. They’re studying anatomy and physiology this semester. I provided the series on the cardiovascular system. As a bonus, I challenged each student to keep their heart strong, eat right, be active, and maintain an ideal body weight.
I am hopeful that these smart, enthusiastic children will go home and encourage their parents to commit to making a lifestyle change in order to prevent heart disease.
--Melissa Zinderman, RN
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Frances Langford Heart Center
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much Understanding Heart Failure is Key!
A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog about Tim Russert’s death from a heart attack. What are the odds that another celebrity would die of heart failure about a week later? Tim Russert died of coronary thrombosis, which is the rupture of a cholesterol plaque in an artery. George Carlin was a comedian/actor who burned the candle at both ends. He had a heart attack at the age of 41, which may have been precipitated by his admitted drug use. On June 22, the 71 year-old went to the hospital with chest pain and passed away from heart failure. I wanted to know more – What is heart failure?
I talked to Dr. Amy Eversole, Cardiologist at Stuart Cardiology; she explained that there are different types of heart failures:
Systolic heart failure is when the heart is not contracting well; therefore, the heart cannot pump with the necessary force to push enough blood into circulation. This is the most common type of heart failure.
Diastolic heart failure is when the muscle of the heart is very thick and does not relax well, preventing blood from filling the heart.
Heart failure has many causes; it can be the last stage of heart diseases or circulation diseases. The weak pump action of the heart means that less blood is sent to the kidneys; they respond by retaining water and salt which increases fluid buildup in the body and causes widespread damage. The most common causes of heart failure are hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease.
Other common causes of heart failure are:
Damage after a heart attack
Valvular heart disease
Myocarditis
Diabetes
Family history of heart disease
Obesity
Congenital heart disease
Cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats
Excess alcohol consumption
A diet high in salt
The signs and symptoms of heart failure are:
Shortness of breath or exertion occurring at rest
Swelling in legs and abdomen
Difficulty sleeping
Palpitations
Decreased urine production
Nausea and vomiting
People who survive heart failure need to be followed closely by a physician or cardiologist. They usually have to control their blood pressure through medication such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics, digoxin and beta blockers to improve blood circulation and control body fluid.
Cardiologists recommend the following:
Eliminate smoking and alcohol consumption as both decrease the pumping efficiency of the heart
Avoid foods high in salt and restrict your fluid intake
One of the most important things you can do for the health of your heart is to EXERCISE!
-- Sophie Sawicki
Marketing Representative
Friday, June 20, 2008
Russert's Death Prompts Health Questions
The sudden death of Tim Russert, political analyst for NBC and host of “Meet the Press,” came as a shock to many Americans. Russert, 58, died of a massive heart attack that was caused by the rupture of a cholesterol plaque in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis. The autopsy revealed he also had an enlarged heart.
A stress test had been performed not long before his heart attack and he had performed well. In the wake of his death, people began to wonder what could have been done to prevent his death at such a young age.
Like everybody else, I was pretty shocked by his death and I wanted to know more about what happened. So I spoke with Dr. Richard Blankenbaker, an interventional cardiologist at the Frances Langford Heart Center, and asked him a couple of questions:
Q: What is coronary thrombosis?
A: It is a condition where the blood flow to the heart is blocked by a clot in a coronary artery. In Tim Russert’s case, a cholesterol plaque built up on the inside wall of the artery and then ruptured, exposing cholesterol into the blood stream which leads to formation of blood clots and causes a heart attack.
Q: What is an enlarged heart?
A: As the name suggests, enlarged heart is an increase in the size of the heart. An enlarged heart may be caused by a thickening of the heart muscle because of increased workload. (This increased workload can be due to heart valve disease or high blood pressure, for example). Long-term damage from blocked arteries can also cause an enlarged heart.
Q: How do you prevent heart disease?
A: Atherosclerosis is the process in which deposits of fatty substances – cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances – build up in the inner lining of an artery. This condition develops within us over decades. What happened to Tim Russert is very hard to predict – there is not a single test that shows an imminent plaque rupture – however you can help prevent or reduce the complications related to plaque rupture.
If you have a family history of cardiac diseases, or if you are overweight , have a sedentary life, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you are a candidate for cornary disease or other cardiac disease which can lead to a heart attack. Have routine screenings and get a full check up at least once a year.
While Dr. Blankenbaker points out that there isn’t a test that shows an imminent plaque rupture, there are several tests available that can diagnose potential heart problems. That includes things like a stress test, EKGs, duplex carotid ultrasound, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram.
If you are concerned about cholesterol plaque, you can get a CRP blood test, which analyzes your blood for the presence of substances called C Reactive Proteins. Elevated CRP are indicators of inflammation in the blood. Coronary angiography – a non-invasive test to assess for plaque buildup – is another modality for detection of coronary artery disease in high risk patients.
Talk to your physician or your cardiologist if you have concerns and would like to be tested. If you need a physician, you can call our referral line at (866) 995-HOPE (4673).
--Sophie Sawicki
Marketing Representative
A stress test had been performed not long before his heart attack and he had performed well. In the wake of his death, people began to wonder what could have been done to prevent his death at such a young age.
Like everybody else, I was pretty shocked by his death and I wanted to know more about what happened. So I spoke with Dr. Richard Blankenbaker, an interventional cardiologist at the Frances Langford Heart Center, and asked him a couple of questions:
Q: What is coronary thrombosis?
A: It is a condition where the blood flow to the heart is blocked by a clot in a coronary artery. In Tim Russert’s case, a cholesterol plaque built up on the inside wall of the artery and then ruptured, exposing cholesterol into the blood stream which leads to formation of blood clots and causes a heart attack.
Q: What is an enlarged heart?
A: As the name suggests, enlarged heart is an increase in the size of the heart. An enlarged heart may be caused by a thickening of the heart muscle because of increased workload. (This increased workload can be due to heart valve disease or high blood pressure, for example). Long-term damage from blocked arteries can also cause an enlarged heart.
Q: How do you prevent heart disease?
A: Atherosclerosis is the process in which deposits of fatty substances – cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances – build up in the inner lining of an artery. This condition develops within us over decades. What happened to Tim Russert is very hard to predict – there is not a single test that shows an imminent plaque rupture – however you can help prevent or reduce the complications related to plaque rupture.
If you have a family history of cardiac diseases, or if you are overweight , have a sedentary life, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you are a candidate for cornary disease or other cardiac disease which can lead to a heart attack. Have routine screenings and get a full check up at least once a year.
While Dr. Blankenbaker points out that there isn’t a test that shows an imminent plaque rupture, there are several tests available that can diagnose potential heart problems. That includes things like a stress test, EKGs, duplex carotid ultrasound, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram.
If you are concerned about cholesterol plaque, you can get a CRP blood test, which analyzes your blood for the presence of substances called C Reactive Proteins. Elevated CRP are indicators of inflammation in the blood. Coronary angiography – a non-invasive test to assess for plaque buildup – is another modality for detection of coronary artery disease in high risk patients.
Talk to your physician or your cardiologist if you have concerns and would like to be tested. If you need a physician, you can call our referral line at (866) 995-HOPE (4673).
--Sophie Sawicki
Marketing Representative
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Fit vs. Fat Debate Goes On
Back in the 1970s, when I was an impressionable youth, I remember watching football games with my dad and laughing hysterically when the Miller Lite beer commercials came on.
By now they are the thing of parody, but at the time I used to love it when the former professional athletes like ex-catcher Bob Uecker or old defensive lineman Bubba Smith would argue the merits of the low-calorie beer.
“Tastes great!” one would yell. “Less filling!” yelled the other. Soon, the entire bar was shouting back and forth and really, the winner was the American consumer, because it had a beer that featured both great taste and was less filling. Or so the ads would have you believe.
I thought of all this, randomly, as I read yet another study that tries to provide the authoritative voice on a matter of importance to Americans. And while it doesn’t have a catchy slogan, it goes something like this: “It’s OK to be a little overweight!” claims one group of researchers. “No it isn’t!” rebuts the other.
Monday’s latest volley studied nearly 40,000 women with an average age of 54 for a dozen years. Nearly a thousand of them developed heart disease.
The study concluded that, when compared with women who were at normal weight and physically active, there was a 54 percent higher risk for developing heart disease for active women who were overweight and 87 percent higher for active women considered obese. But for women who were overweight and inactive, the risk for heart disease was 88 percent higher than active, fit women and even higher for obese, inactive women.
Again, this study is far from conclusive. Another will likely come out next week contradicting this one. Still, there are so many benefits to being active and reducing your weight – including prevention of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, some cancers and more – that it’s a good rule of thumb for your overall health.
Now, if only someone would come up with a quirky catch-phrase, every one would be doing it.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
By now they are the thing of parody, but at the time I used to love it when the former professional athletes like ex-catcher Bob Uecker or old defensive lineman Bubba Smith would argue the merits of the low-calorie beer.
“Tastes great!” one would yell. “Less filling!” yelled the other. Soon, the entire bar was shouting back and forth and really, the winner was the American consumer, because it had a beer that featured both great taste and was less filling. Or so the ads would have you believe.
I thought of all this, randomly, as I read yet another study that tries to provide the authoritative voice on a matter of importance to Americans. And while it doesn’t have a catchy slogan, it goes something like this: “It’s OK to be a little overweight!” claims one group of researchers. “No it isn’t!” rebuts the other.
Monday’s latest volley studied nearly 40,000 women with an average age of 54 for a dozen years. Nearly a thousand of them developed heart disease.
The study concluded that, when compared with women who were at normal weight and physically active, there was a 54 percent higher risk for developing heart disease for active women who were overweight and 87 percent higher for active women considered obese. But for women who were overweight and inactive, the risk for heart disease was 88 percent higher than active, fit women and even higher for obese, inactive women.
Again, this study is far from conclusive. Another will likely come out next week contradicting this one. Still, there are so many benefits to being active and reducing your weight – including prevention of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, some cancers and more – that it’s a good rule of thumb for your overall health.
Now, if only someone would come up with a quirky catch-phrase, every one would be doing it.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Getting to the Heart of the Matter
As the marketing representative for the Frances Langford Heart Center, I work closely every day with the personnel there to educate the community about the heart center.
I go to meetings, do health fairs and organize events. It is very busy and very interesting and I feel that I have learned a lot about what the heart center does. So when I had the opportunity to be present at one of the many heart surgeries performed at the heart center, I thought it was my chance to really see in action what I put on paper for others.
Dr. Michael Crouch, one of our cardiothoracic surgeons, was performing an aortic valve replacement on a 75-year-old woman. I was very excited, but when I talked to my husband about it the night before he was a little surprised about it – he worried I might pass out. I knew that there was a possibility for me to get a little queasy during the surgery, but I was ready to take the chance of looking ridiculous if it meant having an opportunity to see a procedure take place.
We arrived early in the morning and got into scrubs. The patient was already in the operating room and sound asleep. Dr. Crouch came in and I was amazed by the calm demeanor of the entire team. Our surgeon was assisted by Dr. Paul Robertie, the cardiac anesthesiologist, and Dale Ruby was the perfusionist who was making sure that the pump machine would take over for the heart of the patient. A team that included a physician assistant, surgical technicians and nurses proved to be skilled and efficient during the operation.
When Dr. Crouch started to open the patient’s chest, the heart was beating slowly. The next thing I know, she was hooked to the pump and her heart stopped beating. Then, Dr. Crouch made an incision into her heart and showed me the aortic valve that needed to be replaced. He prepped the area and started to attach the new valve, then slid the new valve gently into its place and closed the area.
The patient heart was ready to beat on its own again and the pump was stopped so that the heart could start again. An hour after her heart was stopped, the new valve was in and her heart was beating by itself again.
This was an incredible and very humbling experience for me. I think that every time the team performs a heart surgery it is a miracle that happens.
And speaking of miracles, I did not pass out – no queasiness, not even a shiver.
--Sophie Sawicki
Marketing Representative
I go to meetings, do health fairs and organize events. It is very busy and very interesting and I feel that I have learned a lot about what the heart center does. So when I had the opportunity to be present at one of the many heart surgeries performed at the heart center, I thought it was my chance to really see in action what I put on paper for others.
Dr. Michael Crouch, one of our cardiothoracic surgeons, was performing an aortic valve replacement on a 75-year-old woman. I was very excited, but when I talked to my husband about it the night before he was a little surprised about it – he worried I might pass out. I knew that there was a possibility for me to get a little queasy during the surgery, but I was ready to take the chance of looking ridiculous if it meant having an opportunity to see a procedure take place.
We arrived early in the morning and got into scrubs. The patient was already in the operating room and sound asleep. Dr. Crouch came in and I was amazed by the calm demeanor of the entire team. Our surgeon was assisted by Dr. Paul Robertie, the cardiac anesthesiologist, and Dale Ruby was the perfusionist who was making sure that the pump machine would take over for the heart of the patient. A team that included a physician assistant, surgical technicians and nurses proved to be skilled and efficient during the operation.
When Dr. Crouch started to open the patient’s chest, the heart was beating slowly. The next thing I know, she was hooked to the pump and her heart stopped beating. Then, Dr. Crouch made an incision into her heart and showed me the aortic valve that needed to be replaced. He prepped the area and started to attach the new valve, then slid the new valve gently into its place and closed the area.
The patient heart was ready to beat on its own again and the pump was stopped so that the heart could start again. An hour after her heart was stopped, the new valve was in and her heart was beating by itself again.
This was an incredible and very humbling experience for me. I think that every time the team performs a heart surgery it is a miracle that happens.
And speaking of miracles, I did not pass out – no queasiness, not even a shiver.
--Sophie Sawicki
Marketing Representative
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Eat Well for Your Sake – and Your Kids’
Recently I sat in the cardiovascular intensive care unit with a patient who had undergone open-heart surgery. As we reviewed the nutrition therapy recommended for heart health after surgery – low fat/cholesterol/sodium, portion-controlled – he looked at me and said, “Obesity is going to bankrupt our country.”
We proceeded to discuss the dangers of an increasingly overweight American youth (more than 9 million American children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight) and the fact that if we as a nation don’t eat better and exercise more, starting with our youngsters, we will truly break the American healthcare bank.
With that in mind, I read with interest the view of Dr. Vincent Marks of the University of Surrey that our perception of an obesity epidemic, with dire consequences, has been exaggerated. This contradicts what experts have been saying for years.
A number of studies have found that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in childhood are associated with an increase in CVD as an adult. Given that CVD (including stroke, hypertension and rheumatic heart disease) has been the No. 1 killer in the United States since 1900 (except for 1918 when a worldwide influenza epidemic took first place), that is pretty strong evidence that we have to teach our children how to eat healthfully while they are young and impressionable (and we are paying for their groceries).
Four of six risk factors for CVD (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes) are nutrition related and all (including tobacco use and physical activity) are under our control.
To help you make healthier choices for you and your children (and the future of our nation), the American Heart Association presents the following strategies for individuals over the age of 2:
We proceeded to discuss the dangers of an increasingly overweight American youth (more than 9 million American children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight) and the fact that if we as a nation don’t eat better and exercise more, starting with our youngsters, we will truly break the American healthcare bank.
With that in mind, I read with interest the view of Dr. Vincent Marks of the University of Surrey that our perception of an obesity epidemic, with dire consequences, has been exaggerated. This contradicts what experts have been saying for years.
A number of studies have found that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in childhood are associated with an increase in CVD as an adult. Given that CVD (including stroke, hypertension and rheumatic heart disease) has been the No. 1 killer in the United States since 1900 (except for 1918 when a worldwide influenza epidemic took first place), that is pretty strong evidence that we have to teach our children how to eat healthfully while they are young and impressionable (and we are paying for their groceries).
Four of six risk factors for CVD (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes) are nutrition related and all (including tobacco use and physical activity) are under our control.
To help you make healthier choices for you and your children (and the future of our nation), the American Heart Association presents the following strategies for individuals over the age of 2:
- Balance dietary calories with physical activity to maintain normal growth.
- Set aside 60 minutes each day for moderate-to-vigorous play or physical activity.
- Eat vegetables and fruits daily and limit juice intake.
- Use vegetable oils and soft margarines low in saturated fat and trans-fatty acids instead of butter or most other animal fats in the diet.
- Eat whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined grain products.
- Reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods.
- Consume nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products daily.
- Eat more fish, especially oily fish, broiled or baked.
- Reduce salt intake, including salt from processed foods.
--Rosemarie Lembo James, RD, CNSD, LD/N
Clinical Director of Nutrition Services
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Understanding Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.
An estimated 267,000 women die each year from heart attacks, which kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
I find this statistic to be startling! In fact, I’m sure if you ask many women today they probably would also be in disbelief.
Go Red for Wom
en is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement to help women improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Martin Memorial is a long-time supporter of the Red Dress Heart Truth campaign. Recently, Martin Memorial hosted its second-annual “Heart of a Woman” program to call attention to the rising incidence of heart disease in women through education. (The committee that put the program together is pictured at left) Heart disease is largely preventable, by living a healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk profile.
The risk factors you can’t control:
· Increasing age
· Gender
· Heredity (family health history) and race
· Previous stroke or heart attack
The risk factors you can control or treat:
· High blood pressure (hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal, which makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. If you have hypertension, you may need to lose weight and be more active. Eat less salt and more fruits and vegetables. Take your medications as prescribed and limit alcohol consumption.
· Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your arteries and heart. Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease among women. Set a quit date and stick to it.
· Lipids (Cholesterol and Triglycerides) have no symptoms, and many people who have it don’t know it. It’s important to find out what your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. Control your lipid levels with weight loss, exercise, wise food choices, and medications if prescribed.
· Inactive Lifestyle increases you’re your chances to develop heart disease. Regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity improves your cardiovascular fitness.
· Excess Weight can raise your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of getting diabetes. Adhere to a sensible program of healthy eating and regular physical activity that will help you reach and stay at a healthier weight.
· Diabetes puts you at an even greater risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. It’s vital to have your blood sugar controlled. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes.
· Stress over a long period of time and a unhealthy response to it, may create health problems in some people. Find healthy ways to handle stress.
Decide today to reduce your risk by making healthy lifestyle changes. Take care of your heart by promising to love your heart.
--Melissa Zinderman
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
An estimated 267,000 women die each year from heart attacks, which kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
I find this statistic to be startling! In fact, I’m sure if you ask many women today they probably would also be in disbelief.
Go Red for Wom
en is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement to help women improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Martin Memorial is a long-time supporter of the Red Dress Heart Truth campaign. Recently, Martin Memorial hosted its second-annual “Heart of a Woman” program to call attention to the rising incidence of heart disease in women through education. (The committee that put the program together is pictured at left) Heart disease is largely preventable, by living a healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk profile.The risk factors you can’t control:
· Increasing age
· Gender
· Heredity (family health history) and race
· Previous stroke or heart attack
The risk factors you can control or treat:
· High blood pressure (hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal, which makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. If you have hypertension, you may need to lose weight and be more active. Eat less salt and more fruits and vegetables. Take your medications as prescribed and limit alcohol consumption.
· Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your arteries and heart. Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease among women. Set a quit date and stick to it.
· Lipids (Cholesterol and Triglycerides) have no symptoms, and many people who have it don’t know it. It’s important to find out what your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. Control your lipid levels with weight loss, exercise, wise food choices, and medications if prescribed.
· Inactive Lifestyle increases you’re your chances to develop heart disease. Regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity improves your cardiovascular fitness.
· Excess Weight can raise your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of getting diabetes. Adhere to a sensible program of healthy eating and regular physical activity that will help you reach and stay at a healthier weight.
· Diabetes puts you at an even greater risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. It’s vital to have your blood sugar controlled. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes.
· Stress over a long period of time and a unhealthy response to it, may create health problems in some people. Find healthy ways to handle stress.
Decide today to reduce your risk by making healthy lifestyle changes. Take care of your heart by promising to love your heart.
--Melissa Zinderman
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Friday, February 1, 2008
Beat Your Health Enemies with Knowledge
Do you have an enemy? Come on, everyone does. Or a rival, perhaps?
If you’re a working mom, the mini-van is the enemy you love to hate. Love it for the room to cram in six runny nose T-ball players and hate it for making you feel like your mother. For a runner, it’s the ticking of the time clock when kicking it to a sprint at the finish line to beat your personal best or the 70-year-old woman who’s been running slightly ahead of you the entire 5K race. If you’re a chicken, it’s KFC.
I have an enemy. It’s cancer. It’s heart disease. It’s the deepening furrows on my brow. And I treat them as I would a business rival: gather all of the competitive intelligence about how they operate, who’s a part of the target audience and do a SWOT analysis.
Am I crazy? Some would say yes, but consider this: When you bought your last car, did you look at Consumer Reports, go online to research pricing, safety ratings, repair records? What’s your body’s disease risk rating?
Knowledge is power. That doesn’t mean that just because we know more we have to subsist on broccoli, tofu, and brown rice. Dark chocolate is good for your heart, right?
Consider the fact that if you’re a woman, until the age of 39 you have a low probability of a cancer occurrence -- just 1 in 50. But, after the age of 59, that probability skyrockets to 1 in 9. When it comes to heart disease, 75 percent of women over age 60 are affected. But don’t think heart disease hits just those in their golden years, as nearly 40 percent of women age 40 to 59 know first-hand. Are you starting to feel more powerful?
Empowering you to prevent disease and live longer is why Martin Memorial hosts screenings and forums throughout the year. Like the “Heart of a Woman” heart disease forum being held February 15 and the “A Matter of the Heart” cardiovascular screening March 15, along with many others. The forums are your opportunity to ask questions of doctors in the know and gather information to reduce your risk factors.
For complete details and to register, visit our Calendar of Events on http://www.mmhs.com/. Plan your next power play.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
If you’re a working mom, the mini-van is the enemy you love to hate. Love it for the room to cram in six runny nose T-ball players and hate it for making you feel like your mother. For a runner, it’s the ticking of the time clock when kicking it to a sprint at the finish line to beat your personal best or the 70-year-old woman who’s been running slightly ahead of you the entire 5K race. If you’re a chicken, it’s KFC.
I have an enemy. It’s cancer. It’s heart disease. It’s the deepening furrows on my brow. And I treat them as I would a business rival: gather all of the competitive intelligence about how they operate, who’s a part of the target audience and do a SWOT analysis.
Am I crazy? Some would say yes, but consider this: When you bought your last car, did you look at Consumer Reports, go online to research pricing, safety ratings, repair records? What’s your body’s disease risk rating?
Knowledge is power. That doesn’t mean that just because we know more we have to subsist on broccoli, tofu, and brown rice. Dark chocolate is good for your heart, right?
Consider the fact that if you’re a woman, until the age of 39 you have a low probability of a cancer occurrence -- just 1 in 50. But, after the age of 59, that probability skyrockets to 1 in 9. When it comes to heart disease, 75 percent of women over age 60 are affected. But don’t think heart disease hits just those in their golden years, as nearly 40 percent of women age 40 to 59 know first-hand. Are you starting to feel more powerful?
Empowering you to prevent disease and live longer is why Martin Memorial hosts screenings and forums throughout the year. Like the “Heart of a Woman” heart disease forum being held February 15 and the “A Matter of the Heart” cardiovascular screening March 15, along with many others. The forums are your opportunity to ask questions of doctors in the know and gather information to reduce your risk factors.
For complete details and to register, visit our Calendar of Events on http://www.mmhs.com/. Plan your next power play.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
Friday, December 7, 2007
A Story Straight from the Heart
It was a beautiful sunny Florida afternoon and Tiffany, who enjoyed being outdoors, was in her garden.
On this particular day, however, something unusual happened. Tiffany developed a sudden onset of chest pain, accompanied by some shortness of breath. She had been working very hard to get her garden in order, not taking any breaks; without hesitation she decided to go inside and get a drink. Surely, she thought, rehydration would relieve what she felt to be heat exhaustion.
After several minutes, the chest pain increased. What she was feeling was nothing like she had ever experienced before, so Tiffany decided to look up her symptoms on the Internet. To her surprise the results came back “heart attack,” but she didn’t have a family history of heart disease, she exercised, wasn’t overweight and didn’t have all the symptoms listed.
As she made her way through the rest of the article she developed the remaining symptoms listed on the Web page. At that moment, aside from being in a near panic, she phoned several family members and a friend. All advised her to quickly call 911.
Paramedics arrived just in time. Tiffany went into cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated. She was transported to Martin Memorial Medical Center, where the medical team at the Frances Langford Heart Center was able to open the blocked artery and save her life.
This story has a happy ending: Tiffany is alive today and recently celebrated her 29th birthday.
Heart disease is known as the silent killer, especially in women. Listed below are some quick facts about heart disease:
· Only 13 percent of women view heart disease as a health threat, even though it’s women’s No. 1 killer.
· Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills more than 480,000 women a year, about one per minute.
· Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 single killer of women over age 25.
· Sixty-four percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
· One in 2.6 female deaths are from CVD, compared with one in 30 from breast cancer.
To learn more about women and heart disease visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/.
Heart disease can be prevented, so take a moment to learn how to reduce your risk of heart disease and protect your health.
--Melissa Zinderman, RN
Cardiovascular Patient Educator/STS Data Collector
Monday, November 12, 2007
A Weighty Study
Feeling guilty about eating that third burrito from Taco Bell? Don’t! Gut bursting from one too many slices of greasy sausage pizza? Relax!
After years of being advised to eat healthy, get exercise and reduce our weight, along comes a scientific study conducted for all of us who’ve been fattening up like grizzly bears ready for hibernation feel just a little better about ourselves.
The study, which came out last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that carrying a few extra pounds may not be catastrophic to your health and can actually protect you against some diseases.
While being overweight can contribute to things like diabetes and kidney disease, it may not have any correlation with heart disease or cancer. (That’s not the case, however, for people who are obese.)
Some health experts instantly disputed the new findings. Others supported it. Still others couldn’t comment, their mouths filled with chicken wings.
I found the findings to be fantastic news as I crammed my face into a platter of cookies (visual evidence at left) that one of my coworkers brought in – all in the name of health, of course.
Granted, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a new study that claims to have all the answers to all our health questions. Picking and choosing which study to believe just because you want to keep doing the things you’re already doing isn’t necessarily a sound health strategy.
And really, just because you might be OK with a few extra pounds doesn’t mean you’d be better off without that additional weight. Besides, in a couple more days another study will come along discounting the previous one, and we’ll be freaking out about the five pounds we gained after believing heart and soul in the previous study.
Until then, however, I’ve got a plate of nachos calling my name. I think I can still fit a couple more pounds under my belt.
--Scott Samples
After years of being advised to eat healthy, get exercise and reduce our weight, along comes a scientific study conducted for all of us who’ve been fattening up like grizzly bears ready for hibernation feel just a little better about ourselves.
The study, which came out last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that carrying a few extra pounds may not be catastrophic to your health and can actually protect you against some diseases.
While being overweight can contribute to things like diabetes and kidney disease, it may not have any correlation with heart disease or cancer. (That’s not the case, however, for people who are obese.)
Some health experts instantly disputed the new findings. Others supported it. Still others couldn’t comment, their mouths filled with chicken wings.
I found the findings to be fantastic news as I crammed my face into a platter of cookies (visual evidence at left) that one of my coworkers brought in – all in the name of health, of course.
Granted, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a new study that claims to have all the answers to all our health questions. Picking and choosing which study to believe just because you want to keep doing the things you’re already doing isn’t necessarily a sound health strategy.
And really, just because you might be OK with a few extra pounds doesn’t mean you’d be better off without that additional weight. Besides, in a couple more days another study will come along discounting the previous one, and we’ll be freaking out about the five pounds we gained after believing heart and soul in the previous study.
Until then, however, I’ve got a plate of nachos calling my name. I think I can still fit a couple more pounds under my belt.
--Scott Samples
Monday, November 5, 2007
Know Thy Enemy
A friend of mine, now in his early 40s, told me recently that the last time he’d been to the doctor for a physical was just before he went into college.
And while he may have been in perfect health before going in, I’m pretty sure that, like many of us, he probably did some major damage to himself between his freshman and senior years. Tack on another 20 years of aging and there’s bound to be some wear and tear on the body.
The thing is, he was telling me this while residing as a guest in our heart unit. He has high blood pressure – and knew it – but chose not to do anything about it. Until, that is, he had to drive himself to the emergency department with chest pains.
This isn’t unusual. Dr. Julie Price (pictured at left), a family physician in Hobe Sound, said she sees the phenomenon all the time. There are people who don’t want to go to the doctor or get screenings and tests that will tell them if there are problems. And if there are, they simply don’t want to take the medications that will help solve those problems.
“My goal as a doctor is to try to prevent my patients from getting sick and dying,” Dr. Price said. “I want to offer them screenings and preventative methods so we can treat them.”
As an example, Dr. Price said that if I have my cholesterol level tested and the numbers come back high, I can still lower those levels to decrease my risk of heart disease or stroke 30 to 40 percent by treating the condition with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, and taking statin drugs.
There are all kinds of screenings and tests out there that will help doctors determine whether something’s wrong with you or not. That includes everything from mammograms to colonoscopies, blood sugar levels and pap smears.
Ultimately, the goal is to find out if you have a health problem before you know it. Because the sooner you know, the better you’ll be able to treat it.
Fortunately, my friend is doing fine. And now that he's actually seen a doctor, he's decided to follow his directions and work toward fixing the problem.
--Scott Samples
And while he may have been in perfect health before going in, I’m pretty sure that, like many of us, he probably did some major damage to himself between his freshman and senior years. Tack on another 20 years of aging and there’s bound to be some wear and tear on the body.
The thing is, he was telling me this while residing as a guest in our heart unit. He has high blood pressure – and knew it – but chose not to do anything about it. Until, that is, he had to drive himself to the emergency department with chest pains.
This isn’t unusual. Dr. Julie Price (pictured at left), a family physician in Hobe Sound, said she sees the phenomenon all the time. There are people who don’t want to go to the doctor or get screenings and tests that will tell them if there are problems. And if there are, they simply don’t want to take the medications that will help solve those problems.“My goal as a doctor is to try to prevent my patients from getting sick and dying,” Dr. Price said. “I want to offer them screenings and preventative methods so we can treat them.”
As an example, Dr. Price said that if I have my cholesterol level tested and the numbers come back high, I can still lower those levels to decrease my risk of heart disease or stroke 30 to 40 percent by treating the condition with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, and taking statin drugs.
There are all kinds of screenings and tests out there that will help doctors determine whether something’s wrong with you or not. That includes everything from mammograms to colonoscopies, blood sugar levels and pap smears.
Ultimately, the goal is to find out if you have a health problem before you know it. Because the sooner you know, the better you’ll be able to treat it.
Fortunately, my friend is doing fine. And now that he's actually seen a doctor, he's decided to follow his directions and work toward fixing the problem.
--Scott Samples
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