Buscar

While February is recognized as American Heart Month, it’s important to prioritize your heart health 365 days a year. Cardiologists play an integral role in our overall health and wellbeing – they are the experts when it comes to preventing and treating heart and vascular diseases. Dr. Jad Al Danaf of Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health shares eight reasons to visit a cardiologist. 1. Abnormal EKG The American Heart Association states an electrocardiogram, abbreviated as EKG or ECG, is a recording of the heart’s electrical activity to measure the rate and rhythm of the contractions in the upper and lower chambers of the heart. An EKG detects heart problems or abnormalities. If you have an EKG that shows abnormal results, you’ll want to see a cardiologist. An abnormal EKG can mean many things, such as irregular heart rate, heart rhythm abnormalities in the shape or size of the heart, medication side effects, and more. A cardiologist is most qualified to evaluate an abnormal EKG and determine the cause. 2. Immediate family history of heart disease or sudden cardiac death Knowing your family health history is essential to identify if you’re at risk for certain health conditions such as heart disease. For example, if you’re aware of anyone in your immediate family who had or has had heart problems or passed away from sudden cardiac death. In that case, you’ll want to discuss it with a cardiologist so they can determine if screenings, medications, or lifestyle changes are needed to help lower your risk. 3. Chest pain or shortness of breath with exertion If you have chest pain or shortness of breath that starts or worsens with activity, it may indicate a heart problem, and you should schedule a visit with a cardiologist immediately. Severe chest pain might be a sign of a heart attack or other serious medical emergency. If you’re experiencing severe chest pain, shortness of breath, or any other signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. 4. High blood pressure Have you had a high blood pressure reading? If so, it’s recommended to consult with a cardiologist for further evaluation. High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage arteries, reducing blood flow and oxygen to your heart and brain.

Read More About 8 Reasons to See a Cardiologist

Meet a couple that's all heart. After each had a heart attack one year apart, they committed to Renown's new Healthy Heart Program and support each other along the road to heart health. Almost a year to the day that Janis VanHorn had a heart attack, her partner, Carl Edson, had one too.  "That kind of doubled the dose of making sure that we were doing everything that we could to continue with our life," VanHorn says. "It's a very life-altering thing.” And after Edson's quadruple bypass open heart surgery, he was grateful for the simple act of getting into the car with the woman he loves. "I was so relieved," he says. "I didn't realize how precious life was until that moment." The couple see the same cardiologist, Richard Seher, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, who recommended they participate in Renown's new Healthy Heart Program, a 12-week, 36-visit intensive cardiac rehabilitation curriculum that includes monitored exercising and cooking classes. Now they're both familiar faces at the program, which is located at the Renown South Meadows Medical Center. After several weeks, Edson says he has lost 10 pounds and VanHorton has lost inches and feels more toned. Tackling the program together has brought the couple closer and given them the opportunity to fuel one another's health goals and longevity. "I would be lost without this man," VanHorn says," and anything I can do to help him live longer, I'm going to do that." Edson adds, "She is to me my whole life, and I mean that sincerely. There's no one else I can turn to that has helped me in my life as she has, and I'm just trying to return the favor in a big-time way. She is my everything."

Read More About Carl and Janis Team Approach to Renowns Healthy Heart Program

When lifelong trekker and adventurer Dorismae Weber learned her aortic valve was shutting down, she was afraid she was losing something she loved most: her daily walks. But following a trans catheter aortic valve implantation, Weber reclaimed her walking shoes — and her life. This is her story. An avid walker and traveler, Dorismae Weber’s life changed dramatically when she was exploring Mongolia and began having trouble breathing. Weber, 84, learned her aortic valve was shutting down. “It’s scary when you lose what you’ve always done,” Weber says. “I’ve walked all my life, and it’s always been the place I’ve gone to for comfort, for solving problems, for just enjoying. But all of a sudden, I couldn’t do this anymore.” Weber was not a candidate for traditional open heart surgery because she had heart surgery in the past. Then Weber learned about about trans catheter aortic valve implantation, also known as TAVR. She went to see Renown cardiologist Jake Ichino, MD, who put her through a battery of tests before performing the procedure. “Unlike the standard traditional open heart surgery, TAVR is a less invasive approach,” Dr. Ichino says. “We traditionally go up the artery of the leg with a catheter tube device and then we implant a valve without opening the chest.” After the TAVR procedure, Weber was once again able to complete her daily five-mile hikes. “When I woke up, all I can tell you is that I looked around and I thought, ‘I have a whole new life ahead of me — when I was told there was very little left,'” Weber says. She has also planned a trek just below the arctic circle with the environmental group Earthwatch. “I’m here because I had that procedure,” Weber says. “I’m here because they offered that procedure. And I’m very grateful for it, because I wouldn’t be here without it.” To learn more about TAVR, visit Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health.

Read More About How Dorismae Reclaimed Her Life and Walking Shoes with TAVR

Heart disease is the number one killer of women – claiming one life every minute – yet many women don’t know that the signs of heart attack may not be the same symptoms they’ve learned about all their lives. In women, nearly 71% experienced unusual exhaustion in the weeks before, 50% had trouble sleeping and 42% suffered shortness of breath. Most importantly, about 43% had no chest pain. Women and Heart Attacks: The Subtle Symptoms In both men and women, the most common symptom is pressure or pain in the mid chest, but there are also more subtle signs. “Women can experience a heart attack without chest pain,” explains Letitia Anderson, M.D., cardiologist with Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health. “It is not uncommon for women to experience extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting and pain in the abdomen or back as their primary symptom.” Other symptoms can include: Neck or jaw pain Fullness or pressure that goes away and comes back The feeling of a rope being tied around your body and squeezed Some doctors have reported seeing patients who just didn’t "feel right." One woman simply felt more tired than usual while cleaning, while another woman reported feeling winded carrying boxes to the basement. Admittedly these are symptoms many of us would shrug or sleep off versus going to the hospital for immediate care, which is why it’s important to pay close attention to the warning signs. “Women are good at being the caregiver for the rest of the family and writing off their own symptoms as something minor, like indigestion or a muscle pull,” says Dr. Anderson. “Remember that heart attacks have early warning signs, and if they are recognized and treated in time, a heart attack can be prevented and heart damage avoided.” When You Need to Call 911 Paying attention to your body is key. If you’ve experienced any unusual or flu-like symptoms, struggled to breathe or just don’t feel right – give yourself a gut check and ask if you’ve honestly felt this way before. If you’re worried at all, you need to seek emergency care. Do not wait – call 911 immediately Take an ambulance to the hospital if at all possible Try to stay calm and take deep, slow breaths until medical help arrives.

Read More About Women and Heart Attacks: Subtle Signs to Know