TRUST YOUR HEART WITH EXPERIENCE.
L-R: Frank Sartor, MD; Sajith Rai, MD; Keith White, MD;
Szu-Wei Domingue, MD; Blaine Borders, MD
These surgeons represent 46 years of combined experience performing heart and vascular surgeries.
One Heart Care Fact: 36.3% of Deaths Nationwide are CV Disease-related: 2,383 Daily -- 99 Hourly -- 1.7 Per Second
The risk factors for cardiovascular disease are family history, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, tobacco usage, poor
nutrition, and physical inactivity. Please discuss with your primary
care physician if you have any risk factors.
Cardiovascular Services
TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK
HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS
SERVICES
DESIRED BLOOD LIPID LEVELS
HYPERTENSION GUIDELINES
REDUCING YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE
WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE
Our health care professionals, specially trained in cardiac care, offer a full range of cardiovascular services. From educational presentations in preventive care, to highly advanced treatment options, to cardiac rehabilitation, St. Francis Medical Center provides cardiac patients medical expertise suitable to their levels of need.
• The specially trained nurses and technicians of St. Francis Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Services can evaluate the heart’s size, structure, and function using echocardiogram (sound wave tests), electrocardiograms, stress tests, and nuclear medicine studies.
• Using tests in the Cardiac Catheterization lab measuring pressures, along with blood samples and x-rays, physicians determine the presence and extent of heart disease.
• The specially trained staff of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab assist the physicians provide “balloon” angioplasty and stent (mesh wire tube) to open blocked arteries, often precluding the need for open heart surgery.
• Specially equipped and staffed operating rooms are ready for those who do need open heart surgery. Registered nurses with training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Critical Care attend patients immediately after surgery. The Cardiac Telemetry Units allow patients in private rooms to receive constant cardiac monitoring with cardiac nurses close at hand.
• The Cardiac Rehabilitation team of nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, and physical therapist work with heart patients and their families to help the patient regain a normal, healthier lifestyle.
• Treatment is individualized to meet each patient’s needs.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
• Pressure, pain, or tightness in the chest, arm, between the shoulder blades, neck, shoulder, or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Cool, moist skin
• Nausea or vomiting
• A burning feeling in the chest or upper stomach
You may experience only some or none of the above symptoms. Don’t take a chance – if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms seek medical help immediately.
Services
Risk Assessment
• Lipid testing (a more precise blood test that measures all components of cholesterol)
• Blood pressure Screening
Noninvasive diagnostic tests
• Electrocardiography
• Echocardiography
• Exercise stress testing
• Nuclear cardiac imaging
• Holter monitoring studies
• Peripheral vascular imaging
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories
St. Francis Medical Center has 3 state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories.
Cath lab services:
• Coronary angiography (creates images of arteries to determine thickening)
• Coronary angioplasty (placement of slender devices called stents to expand vessels.)
• Peripheral arterial angioplasty (arteries in the abdomen, legs, or neck)
Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Electrical study and correction of heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia)
• Pacemaker implantation to correct slow heart rates
• Defibrillators and other electrical corrective devices to prevent death in patients with serious heart disease
Cardiovascular Surgery
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques for bypass and valve repair
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Heart Valve repair and replacement
Vascular Surgery
• Surgery of the aorta and peripheral vessels
• Minimally invasive vascular surgical techniques (arteries in the abdomen, legs, and neck)
Cardiac Rehabilitation
• A comprehensive program of education and monitored exercise to help people who have experienced cardiovascular disease including heart attack, bypass surgery, or angioplasty
• The goal is to set and attain a goal for healthy living and symptom management
• Physician referral is required
Desired Blood Lipid Levels
Total Cholesterol
• Less than 200 mg/dl – Desired blood cholesterol
• 200 – 239 mg/dl – Borderline-high blood cholesterol
• 240 mg/dl or higher – High blood cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol – High density lipoprotein (“good cholesterol”)
• Greater than 40 mg/dl (male) – Desirable HDL cholesterol
• Greater than 50 mg/dl (female) – Desirable HDL cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol – Low density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”)
• Less than 100 mg/dl – Desirable LDL cholesterol
• 130 – 159 mg/dl – Borderline-high LDL cholesterol
• 160 mg/dl or higher – High-risk LDL cholesterol
Triglycerides
• Less than 150 mg/dl – Desirable triglycerides
• 150 – 199 mg/dl – Borderline-high triglycerides
• 200 – 499 mg/dl - High triglycerides
• 500 mg/dl or greater – Very high triglycerides
Hypertension Guidelines
Millions of people whose blood pressure was considered borderline high or even normal will now learn they fall into the “prehypertension” range, based on new, more aggressive high blood pressure guidelines from the National Institute of Health.
Because the risk of heart disease and stroke begins to increase at a blood pressure of 115/75 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), health experts lowered the acceptable normal range to urge more aggressive and earlier treatment of high blood pressure.
The guidelines are included in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC7) on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
Previous classification (1997)
• High – 140/90 or above
• Borderline – 130–139/ 85– 89
• Normal – 129/84 or below
• Optimal 120/80 or below
New classification (2003)
• High – 140/90 or above
• Prehypertension – 120-130/80-89
• Normal – 119/79 or below
Key points from the guidelines:
• If you have a blood pressure of 120 to 139 systolic (the upper number in the blood pressure measurement) over 80 to 89 diastolic (lower number), you are considered prehypertensive. You need to begin lifestyle modifications to prevent stroke and heart disease. Lifestyle modifications include losing weight, exercising, limiting alcohol, following a heart-healthy diet, cutting back on salt, and quitting smoking.
• The increase in stroke and heart disease risk begins at blood pressures as low as 115/75 mg/Hg and doubles with each increase of 20 mm/Hg systolic blood pressure and 10 mm/Hg diastolic. For example, if your blood pressure were to increase from 115/75 to 135/85, your risk of stroke and heart attack would double.
• The lifetime risk for high blood pressure is much greater than previously thought. Ninety percent of those who, at age 45, do not have hypertension will eventually develop it.
• If you are older than 50, a systolic blood pressure over 140 mm/Hg is a more important risk factor for stroke and heart disease than your diastolic blood pressure.
• Most people who need medication to control their high blood pressure should take a thiazide-type diuretic either alone or with another hypertension medication. You may need initial treatment with other classes of medication such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB’s), beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers if you have other conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease.
• Most people with high blood pressure will need two or more medications including a thiazide-type diuretic to lower their blood pressure to below 140/90 mm/Hg, the goal for people with uncomplicated hypertension. If you have other conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease, your goal blood pressure is lower: 130/80.
Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease
While some risk factors for heart disease are out of your control (age, family history), there are many things you can do to reduce your risk. And, thankfully, these steps will improve your overall health and reduce your risk of other diseases, as well.
Watch Your Diet
Excess weight puts extra strain on the heart, raises blood pressure and causes other circulatory problems. Eat foods low in saturated fat, low in cholesterol, high in fiber, and high in omega – 3 fatty acids. Your diet should consist of fish, fruits, vegetables, cereals, beans, grains, and canola and olive oils. A high total of cholesterol level and/or low HDL (the good cholesterol) can cause plaque buildup in your arteries. Get your cholesterol level checked.
Do Not Smoke
Smoking increases blood pressure, reduces oxygen intake, causes blood clots and lowers HDL levels. It is especially bad for women taking birth control pills. If you smoke, quit now.
Reduce Stress
Holding anger in can be harmful to your heart. In fact, angry men are three times likely to die of sudden cardiac death. People who are lonely, depressed and isolated are five to seven more likely to die from heart disease. Toxic emotions can constrict arteries and cause blockages. Find an exercise and/or meditation program to help release these emotions.
Get Your Blood Pressure Checked
High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and puts pressure on blood pressure walls. It often has no symptoms.
Women and Heart Disease
Every year since 1984, more women than men have died from cardiovascular disease. Most women think that cancer is their leading killer. They are wrong. It’s heart disease. In fact, nearly twice as many women die of cardiovascular disease than from all forms of cancer.
Critical questions to ask your doctor:
• What screening or diagnostic tests for heart disease do I need?
• If I have a close family history of heart attack, am I at greater risk?
• What are my numbers and what do they mean?
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol – total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides
• Body mass index and waste circumference measurements
• Blood sugar level (could indicate diabetes).
• What is the best way for me to quit smoking?
• How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
• What’s a heart-healthy eating plan?
• What are the warning signs of heart disease or heart attack?
• If I experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack, what steps do I need to take?
Women’s Symptoms of Heart Disease may be different
The risk factors and treatment for heart disease are the same for women, but often their symptoms of heart disease are different. Women may not experience the typical crushing chest pain that men may feel.
Women should be aware of the more subtle signs of heart trouble – abdominal discomfort, a feeling like heartburn, chest tightness. If you are feeling these symptoms, don’t hesitate to have them evaluated by your physician. State that you are concerned about the possibility of heart disease.
