February is American Heart Month – and most people fail to realize the seriousness of good heart health. Heart disease is actually the leading cause of death in the U.S. – and as part of our “Live Well Cherokee” series in conjunction with Floyd Medical Center, on Tuesday morning WEIS Radio welcomed to the studio (via telephone) Floyd Medical Center Public Relations Director Dan Bevels along with Stephanie Durall, who is the Cardiac Center of Excellence Director, and Keely Harris, Assistant Coordinator for that program.
Morning show host Jerry Baker began the conversation by asking about the risk factors that are associated with heart disease:
When asked about a “Heart Healthy” diet, it was obvious that there is an overall regime that should be followed but it was made very clear that there is a MAJOR factor to be considered
Also and this can’t be stressed strongly enough – chest pains are NOT to be IGNORED; there are several different levels and types that you should be aware of:
The visit also included discussion regarding signs and symptoms of heart disease; the steps you can take to help prevent heart disease; knowing your numbers, and that includes blood sugar levels, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol levels; and Body Mass Index, otherwise known as BMI.
For much more information and to listen to that interview in its entirety, simply click the link below:
Expertise You Can Trust
With more than 30 years of experience, Floyd is well-prepared to take care of your heart. Whether your provider has prescribed a stress test, cardiac catheterization, interventional cardiology or rehabilitation for your heart, Floyd is a trusted resource.
Recognized for Outstanding Care
Floyd is committed to continually improving the care that we provide. To help us do that, we work with accrediting agencies and quality organizations to measure our standard of care and stay on the forefront of heart care innovations. This ensures that we are following best practices so that our patients can experience the best possible outcomes. And, we have received state and national recognition for our efforts:
Emergency Cardiac Care Center
Floyd Medical Center is a designated Level II Emergency Cardiac Care Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health. We offer effective cardiac care for patients suffering a heart attack, including cardiac catheterization and angioplasty procedures. We can quickly and safely transport patients needing a higher level of care to an appropriate facility.
Accredited Chest Pain Center
Floyd Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) with Resuscitation. That means that when you come to our emergency room with chest pain, you can be assured that our heart cath lab is ready to quickly diagnose and treat the cause and get you on the road to recovery.
Advanced Certification in Heart Failure
A heart failure diagnosis is a signal to the patient and to our staff that special care is required. Our Advanced Certification in Heart Failure from The Joint Commission recognize that we have programs in place to reduce stress on our patients’ hearts while supporting self-management through education and medical expertise.
Heart Failure Gold Award
The Get With The Guidelines® Gold Quality Achievement Award for Heart Failure recognizes that our program follows specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation’s secondary prevention guidelines for patients with heart failure.
Symptoms and Conditions
Our experienced heart care team is certified and licensed in multiple areas. This allows them to provide the quickest and best care for emergencies — with a four-man team on call 24/7 to restore blood flow to the heart as quickly as possible.
Symptoms
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms may benefit from cardiology services:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Fainting (syncope)
- Fatigue
- Rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeat (palpitations)
- Shortness of breath
Conditions
Treatment and management of the following conditions is available:
- Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
- Cardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle)
- Congestive heart failure
- Heart attack
- Heart murmurs
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart)
- Valve disorders
Contact
To learn more about heart services and treatments provided at Floyd, call 706.509.6700.
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
American Heart Month isn’t just for lovers. February also reminds us to take care of our heart and consider our risk factors.
Believe it or not, heart disease can happen at any age. Some risk factors for heart disease and stroke are preventable. American Heart Month teaches us the ways we can help reduce our risks while eliminating those we have control over. Do you have one of these risk factors for cardiovascular disease? Obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol or diabetes.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Visit www.millionhearts.hhs.gov learn more about the risks and how to prevent heart disease and stroke. Use #AmericanHeartMonth to share on social media. Here are a few signs the CDC says you may be at risk for heart disease.
- High blood pressure. There are millions of people in the United States who have high blood pressure, and millions of them are as young as in their 40s and 50s. If you are one of them, make sure to have it under control.
- High cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity are all conditions that can increase your risk for heart disease. If you fall into this category, work on eating healthy and getting some physical activity in a few times a week.
- Smoking cigarettes. Over 35 million adults in America are smokers and thousands of young people are picking up the habit daily. If you’re a smoker, do your best to quit or cut down. It’s what’s best for your health.
So, if you want to stay on top of your health and try to avoid the risk of heart disease, there are a few things you can do. Don’t smoke, and if you’re already a smoker, do your best to quit. Click here for options for help. The next step you can take is managing any conditions you may have such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. Next, make heart-healthy diet decisions. Eat whole foods that are low in trans-fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. A good rule of thumb is to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Finally, get moving! Living a sedentary lifestyle will put you at a much greater risk for heart disease. Try to get in at least 20 minutes of physical activity 4-5 days a week, then build from there!
HISTORY
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the first American Heart Month to tackle heart disease in the United States.
National Day Calendar American Heart Month