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Comprehensive Strategies for a Healthy Heart | CVI

Admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

In a world where heart disease remains a formidable adversary, you need to take steps to reduce its chances of affecting you. From dietary wisdom to exercise, healthier choices and proper monitoring can make the difference between a long life and one cut short by heart disease.

Have Healthy Habits for a Healthy Heart

Healthy habits are the cornerstone of shielding ourselves from the lurking threat of heart disease. When you adopt a healthier lifestyle, getting in practice of taking care of yourself, you will reap the rewards of having less risk of heart disease in the future.

Healthy Food, Healthy You

Healthy habits are the armor that shields our hearts from the ravages of disease, fortifying our bodies with strength and resilience against the unseen threats lurking within. By nurturing our bodies with mindful choices and nurturing our minds with wellness, we carve a path towards a heart that beats with vitality and longevity.

Maintaining a healthy diet is not just about fitting into a favorite pair of jeans or achieving a certain physique – it’s an investment in the well-being of our most vital organ: the heart. By nourishing our bodies with nutrient-rich foods, we provide the heart with the essential building blocks it needs to function optimally, reduce the risk of heart disease, and pave the way for a vibrant and energetic life.

What should you eat more of?

Creating a heart-healthy diet does not need to feel limiting. There are many foods which can create amazing menus and provide you with variety. On whole, you want to make sure you include these foods in your diet to promote a healthy heart:

Fruits and Vegetables: Great suggestions include leafy greens, broccoli, avocados, bananas, and berries. Many of these provide high fiber for your diet, which helps remove the bad cholesterol from your body before it gets absorbed. Fiber attracts water, then forms it into a gel which slows digestion and helps prevent blood glucose surges.
Whole Grains: When you eat whole grain foods, you can potentially reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. It helps reduce your cholesterol levels as well as your blood pressure. Not all grains are equal, though. Steer clear of refined grains which have sugar, salt, and saturated fat in them.
Fat-Free or Low-Fat Dairy: Unflavored milk, yogurt, and cheese are neutral towards heart health, however, low-fat, or reduced-fat options can help combat high cholesterol. Because butter, cream, and ice cream are high in saturated fats, they are best eaten in small amounts.
Protein-rich Foods: Many foods contain protein, but some are better than others to prevent heart disease. Foods which are processed as little as possible are the best choices: chicken breast cooked directly are good, while turning it into nuggets will add ingredients that reduce the benefits. Good sources of protein include:
- Legumes, nuts, and seeds
- Fish and seafood
- Poultry
- Eggs

What are good snack foods?

The best snacks are unprocessed. If you like a crunch, seek bell pepper slices, carrots, nuts, or even popcorn. If you prefer something sweet, you can enjoy some grapes, raisins, or apples. Other satisfying snacks could include cherry tomatoes, low-fat yogurt, whole grain crackers, or low-fat cheese.

What should you eat less of?

There are foods that are best avoided if you seek to prevent heart disease, though occasionally you might be able to indulge in them as a treat. These foods are often high in saturated or trans fats, sugars, salt, or are highly processed. Here are some of them, and suggestions for alternatives:

Red Meat. Beef, veal, and lamb are high in cholesterol, so while they taste amazing, remember they can be especially bad for your arteries and limit them to small portions and frequency. That “other white meat,” pork, is also one of the “red meat” category, so keep that in mind. Alternative options include plant-based proteins or chicken, turkey, or fish.
Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Processed Meats. The cheeseburger with bacon may be a dietary staple, but it’s going to give you high levels of saturated fat topped with excessive amounts of sodium. Both increase the risk of heart disease. Frankfurters and deli meats like salami, ham, and pastrami should also be taken in small doses. Instead, try peanut butter, roasted chicken, or egg salad for your lunch sandwich.

Get Up and Go

Sometimes it is hard to exercise, but if you combine a healthy diet with it, you’re participating in the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease. Exercise can also help reduce other conditions that affect your heart: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes to name a few.

Getting started might take a bit, but you can build up to your goals. Remember that no matter how slowly you go, you’re lapping everyone on the couch.

When you exercise, try to do more than just one thing. One recommendation is to spend about 150 minutes per week on moderate aerobic exercise, 75 minutes a week in vigorous aerobic activity, and have two or more strength training sessions per week.

Aerobic exercise does not need to be just running or walking. Swimming is a fantastic way to help make your heart work and keep you healthy. Even regular, everyday activities can help, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or gardening.

Let the Scales Be Your Guide

Having excess weight, especially around the middle of your body, can add to the risk of heart disease. When determining if it would be advantageous to you to lose weight, you can either speak to your general practitioner or check out your body mass index on a BMI calculator. Here is the CDC’s BMI calculator. When the BMI shows at 25 or higher, it is considered overweight and creates an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. If you lose even a small amount you can decrease certain fats in the blood, lower your blood sugar, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Quality Sleep, Better Heart

Lack of sleep is the silent saboteur of heart health, stealthily unraveling the intricate rhythms of our cardiovascular system. In the dark hours of deprivation, our hearts whisper of exhaustion, burdened by the weight of unrest. Each missed beat echoes the urgency of prioritizing rest, for in the sanctuary of slumber lies the key to guarding our hearts against the shadows of disease.

Most adults do best with at least seven hours of sleep per night. If you have difficulties sleeping, create a sleep schedule that you stick to. If you’re getting the hours but still feel exhausted during the daytime, you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Not only does sleep apnea cause snoring and prevent you from having the energy to go through the day, but it also can increase the risk of heart disease.

Say No to Tobacco

If you want to reduce your risk of developing chronic heart disease and you are a smoker, quitting is your best option. Even if you’re not a smoker, secondhand smoke can increase the chances of heart disease. Smoking is the cause of most cases of coronary thrombosis in people under 50 years old. Cigarette smoke reduces the oxygen in the blood, which causes the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. The heart then must work harder to get enough oxygen to your brain.

Quitting is amazingly effective: even in as little as a day, your risk of heart disease starts to drop. After a year without smoking, you have reduced the chance to about half of that of a smoker.

If you need help quitting, you can get support, including coaching, a plan, educational materials, and more at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Less Alcohol for More Health

If you reduce the amount of alcohol, you consume you can reduce your blood pressure. A suggestion is to limit drinks for men to no more than one per day and for women one per day. Binge drinking can also damage the heart as it can cause a sustained increase in your blood pressure. If you have been drinking and you encounter these symptoms, you may be experiencing alcoholic cardiomyopathy:

shortness of breath
swelling of the legs, feet, and ankles
fatigue
weakness
dizziness or fainting
loss of appetite
trouble concentrating
a rapid and irregular pulse
a cough that produces a frothy, pink mucus
a change in urine output

Keep Up with Your Medical Conditions

When you seek to maintain optimal heart health, it’s essential to stay attuned to your medical conditions. Here are some things to consider when it comes to medical conditions which will help reduce your risk of heart health.

Control Your Blood Pressure

When you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you need to make sure you keep it monitored. Checking it regularly at your doctor’s office, a pharmacy, or at home can help you catch problems quickly and rectify them.

This is especially important for heart health, as high blood pressure has the potential to damage your arteries by making them less elastic. With more rigid arteries, your heart doesn’t receive the blood and oxygen it requires. This can also lead to angina.

Take Your Prescriptions

It is of utmost importance to make sure you take any medications for high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes as prescribed without fail. If you miss your medications, it could increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failures, or other complications. Even over the counter medications could be dangerous to skip.

Regular Health Screenings Matter

Regular health screenings are the compass guiding us on the path to wellness, illuminating potential risks and paving the way for proactive care. Like clockwork, these screenings mark the rhythm of our journey towards longevity, reminding us that prevention is not just an occasional act, but a lifelong commitment to nurturing our most precious asset—our health.

To prevent future heart conditions, make sure you get regular health screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Without testing them, you might not know they are issues until the damage to your heart has already happened. All three of these are main causes of heart issues, so be prepared and be aware.

Recognizing and Responding to Heart Emergencies | CVI

Admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Nobody wants a medical emergency to happen, especially to a loved one, however when it does, there are things you can do to help minimize the damage and give your loved one a better chance at recovery.

Recognize the Signs

Knowing the signs of the heart-related emergency can help you prepare for the paramedics and treat your loved one while you wait for their arrival.

Heart Attack

When the flow of blood that brings oxygen to a part of the heart muscle becomes blocked, a heart attack may occur. It is essential to seek medical attention immediately when this happens. The signs of a heart attack include:

Chest pain is like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or aching.
The pain spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly.
The patient may have a cold sweat.
The patient suffers from fatigue.
They might experience heartburn or indigestion.
They undergo lightheadedness.
Sudden dizziness may occur/
They feel nausea.
They experience a shortness of breath.

Angina

Angina may be triggered by physical activity, stress, heavy meals, or extreme weather. While the symptoms may be relieved within 5 minutes, it’s still best to seek medical care immediately.

The patient’s chest feels tight, dull, or heavy.
In some women, the chest might have sharp pains, like a stabbing feeling.
The pain is not localized. It may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back.

Prepare Yourself

The first thing to remember when your loved one is having a cardiac emergency is: “Don’t Panic.” Call 9-1-1, then take a deep breath to clear your head. Rushing around will just cause chaos and possibly frighten the person who is having the emergency. Once you are calm, you are ready to help not only your loved one, but the EMTs.

Prepare Your Loved One

Preparing a loved one for the arrival of an EMT is like arming them with a shield of readiness, a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. The most important thing to do is to instill calm amidst chaos, to reassure them that help is on the way, and to remind them that in the hands of these heroes, safety and care await.

The first thing to do is to keep the loved one calm, if they are conscious, and try to stay with them as much as possible until help arrives. Review their medical history in your mind: have they had cardiac episodes before? Do they have medications for their heart? What signs are they showing? Are they conscious?

What to Do if Your Loved One Has Lost Consciousness

If they have lost consciousness, there are things you can try. If they aren’t breathing or you do not find a pulse, you should begin CPR to keep the blood flowing. Here is a great CPR guide by the Red Cross.

If Your Loved One Shows Signs of a Heart Attack

If your loved one is showing signs of a heart attack, adjust them into an upright position. The preferred one is a lazy W. If they have prescriptions, this is the time to get them to take them…whether it’s a GTN or nitroglycerin. If they become unconscious, start CPR and update the ambulance service that the situation has gotten worse. This will boost the priority.

Should your loved one not feel better, and are not allergic to aspirin, it’s a good idea to get them to chew and swallow a low-dose aspirin to help keep the blood from clotting. Do not do this if your loved one has been told never to take aspirin.

If Your Loved One Shows Signs of Angina

If your loved one is showing signs of angina, there are other steps to take. First, if they have been prescribed Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) spray or tablets, have them take it, then wait five minutes. If they continue to feel the pain or experience breathlessness, give them a second dose. As with a heart attack patient, if they’re not allergic to aspirin or forbidden from taking it, they can take 1 low-dose tablet. Chewing helps it go through the system faster.

In any case, make sure the paramedics know your loved one has had aspirin.

Prepare For the EMTs

For the best chance of your loved one’s survival, you want to make sure the EMTs can get to them and help them without interference. Here are some steps to make sure they can do their jobs more effectively:

Unlock and open the doors.
Check the path to your loved one and make sure it’s clear. This may involve moving furniture or clutter that will slow them down.
If you have a pet, even if they are friendly, isolate them in another room. This will not only help prevent the paramedics from getting distracted but will also make sure the pet doesn’t escape through an open door.
Write down a list of your loved one’s medications, allergies, and medical history.
Plan for who is going to follow the ambulance.
Pack some of your loved one’s personal items and take them with you. Don’t give them to the paramedics, as that will slow them down.

Exercise for Heart Health | CVI of Central Florida

Admin — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Exercise plays a pivotal role in maintaining heart health. It strengthens your heart muscle, enhances its efficiency in pumping blood throughout your body, and leads to improved circulation. It also reduces high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity: all factors that can contribute to heart disease.

Aerobic Exercises for Heart Health

Aerobic exercise involves engaging in repetitive activities that prompt the metabolic system to utilize oxygen for energy production. It typically encompasses heart-pumping routines that elevate the heart rate and breathing. Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking or swimming, can significantly contribute to heart health. This form of exercise enhances cardiovascular function, strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, and helps to lower the risk of heart-related conditions, ultimately promoting overall cardiovascular well-being.

Aerobic exercise is the symphony that orchestrates harmony within our hearts, composing melodies of vitality and strength. Its benefits reverberate through the chambers of our cardiovascular system, amplifying endurance, resilience, and the rhythm of life itself. With each beat, we march towards a healthier heart, guided by the cadence of aerobic movement.

Before embarking on the journey of fitness, consult your doctor as your trusted navigator, ensuring safe passage through the seas of exercise. Their guidance is the compass that steers you towards health, navigating potential hazards and charting a course tailored to your unique needs. In the quest for wellness, their wisdom is the anchor that grounds you, ensuring a voyage marked by safety, success, and lasting vitality.”

Jogging and Walking

The most popular form of aerobic exercise, the difference is the intensity. A person walking the dog or taking a stroll on the beach is getting exercise and can get your heart started. This is great for people who cannot handle high-impact exercise or who are just beginning their exercise regime.

Jogging increases the intensity gradually, so you can minimize the risk of injury while getting your heart pumping more.

There are ways to avoid getting hurt when you’re out for a jog.

Get the correct gear. Make sure that running shoes fit you properly and offer you the best support possible.
Don’t go for too much cushioning for your shoes. While more padding may lead to less impact, studies have shown that shoes with too much cushioning increase the likelihood of getting hurt.
Practice your Posture. If you’re jogging with your head down or your shoulders slumped, you’re increasing the stress on the rest of your body. Make sure your eyes remain up and focused ahead. Push your shoulders back and down. Lift your chest. Engage your core.
Talk to your doctor before you start jogging. Especially if you are overweight or it’s been a while since you’ve exercised, you’re going to want to make sure that this is the right path for you.

Swimming

In contrast to those living in northern regions who might find excitement in embarking on invigorating ski trips, Central Florida residents are fortunate to possess a remarkable asset: water.

Swimming is an amazing option for aerobic exercise, all without the discomfort associated with high-impact exercise. The water will support 90% of your body weight and can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in women by about 30-40%. It reduces blood pressure, raises the level of HDL, and keeps the layer of cells lining your arteries flexible.

Dedicating 30 minutes per day to swimming can help you lower your blood pressure lower, improve your breathing, and increase your circulation. Additionally, it also boosts your metabolism.

Swimming’s additional benefit is that it is a time-saver. Every 30 minutes of swimming is the same as doing 45 minutes of land-based exercise. Here are a few swimming exercises for beginners:

Do laps with a kickboard and buoy. Go from one end to the other unaided, first. Then use a kickboard and just use your legs. On the third lap, use the pull buoy and just use your arms. If you do this for about 15-20 minutes, you’ll get an amazing workout.
Perform repetitions. Swim for five minutes and take breaks for about 15 to 30 seconds. Use a kickboard for five minutes. Do this pattern three times.
Alternate between swimming and water walking. If you swim a lap then walk briskly back to your starting point for 15 to 20 minutes, you will have a strong aerobic workout. You may need a buoyancy belt in deep water.

Cycling

There are many benefits to cycling, whether indoors on a recumbent bike or outdoors in the fresh air. This aerobic exercise can boost your heart, blood vessels, and lungs…and the intensity is entirely up to you. You’ll breathe more deeply and raise your overall fitness level…which has many benefits besides just helping your heart. Your muscles grow stronger, your mood improves, you can lose weight or prevent cancer or other diseases. It can even reduce the risk of dementia. Here is some advice for your cycling routine:

Start slow. Approximately 30 minutes per day is good.
For a more intensive workout, add hills or inclines.
Remember to warm up and cool down. It’s important. If you stop too quickly, you may experience muscle cramping.

Adding Strength to Your Heart

A balanced exercise regimen is the best way to prevent heart disease, and this includes strength training. These exercises help reduce fat and build muscle, which in turn improves heart health and blood pressure.

Strength training forges the foundation of a resilient heart, sculpting its strength and fortitude with each lift and press. Its benefits ripple through the sinews of our cardiovascular system, enhancing endurance, resilience, and the rhythm of vitality. With each flex, we empower our hearts to beat with unwavering strength, propelling us towards a future brimming with health and vigor.

Safe Strength

When you start strength training, remember that quality beats quantity. You don’t want to overdo it, especially as you start. Before delving into the realm of strength training, engage in a dialogue with your doctor—a conversation that lays the groundwork for a journey of health and vitality. Their counsel is the compass guiding your path, navigating potential obstacles and charting a course tailored to your individual needs. In the realm of fitness, their wisdom is the cornerstone of safety, ensuring each step toward strength is met with confidence and care. Here are some tips to ensure your safety and a better workout:

Begin at a weight level that lets you repeat a lift or movement 10 to 20 times comfortably.
Do not work on the same muscle groups two days in a row. Muscle recovery is important.
You can space your workouts. Strength training three times a week is fine.
Do not strain when you exercise. Use slow, controlled movements.
BREATHE! Always remember that breathing is important. Exhale during the hard part, inhale when lowering or releasing.
Keep a slight bend in your elbows and knees. If you extend too far, you could hurt your joints and ligaments.
Don’t maintain a death-grip on equipment. If you grip too tightly, you can raise your blood pressure.
Keep rest periods between each exercise brief unless your doctors advise otherwise.
Only increase the weights you lift or use for resistance by two to five pounds, and only when it’s able to be done comfortably.

Squats

One excellent exercise to help build leg strength is the squat. It keeps your legs and core strong and helps keep you moving. Remember: if you move, your heart becomes healthier.

How to perform a squat:

Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes pointing slightly outwards.
If you’re using barbells, hold your hands on the bar. If you’re just using your own body, hold your arms extended in front of you with a slight bend in the elbows.
Look ahead of you. Your focus should hit a point about ten feet ahead of yourself. Keep your chest up, hinge back at the hips, and bend at the knees.
Go as deeply as you can with your chest up and heels on the ground. Don’t worry if you can’t go lower than your knees (which is called “breaking parallel”.) That will come in time.
If your knees go slightly forward at the bottom of the squat, that is all right.
Keep your spine neutral. Don’t lean forward.
Once on the bottom, keep your core muscles tight and use your heels to return to a standing position.

Plank

The plank mostly helps you strengthen your abdominal muscles, but indirectly also works on the arms, shoulders, hip flexors, and feet. It activates the back muscles, especially from the lowest rib to the pelvic bone.

How to perform a plank:
Lie on your stomach with your forearms on the floor. Keep your elbows in line with your shoulders.
Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles.
Lift your hips and both knees off the floor.
Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. Don’t let your pelvis sag.
Return to the start position and repeat approximately 5 times, to start. You can increase to 10 as you improve.

Push-Ups

Push-ups are excellent exercise for your arms. You can either do this regularly or with your knees on the ground. Harvard researchers discovered that men who performed push-ups were able to reduce their likelihood of getting heart disease up to 96%.

How to perform a regular push-up:

Lie on the ground, face-down. Keep your feet about 5-7 inches apart.
Place your palms a little farther than shoulder with apart on the ground.
Keeping your body long and straight, raise your body off the floor. Use your arms and go until they are fully extended.
Slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself back to the ground. Stop about 5 inches from the ground.
If this is too difficult, keep your knees on the floor. You can even do this standing against the wall.

Matters Of The Heart | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Pain in the chest, arm, neck and jaw—we all recognize these as signs of a potential heart attack. We know to watch our blood pressure and cholesterol. But not everyone knows that symptoms of a heart attack can look completely different for women than men, and that heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for American women. Sudden cardiac death is rising among people below 35, well before many of us think of heart disease as a pressing issue. And now, more than ever, experts say stress is contributing to cardiac complications.

Srisha Rao, MC, FACC, is board certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine and has practiced cardiology in Ocala for 20 years. Today she treats patients at Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, specializing in noninvasive cardiology, which mainly includes diagnostics like stress tests. When patients visit her for the first time, she performs initial testing to reveal key risk factors.

“When I do the risk assessment, some of the most common risk factors in women and men are the numbers for their blood pressure; their BMI, which can be a sign of obesity, which increases risk of chronic disease; family history of heart disease (especially before the age of 55 in men or 65 in women); being postmenopausal and having a history of smoking.”

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease (including coronary heart disease and hypertension) is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and about 790,000 people in the United States have heart attacks each year. Rao estimates Ocala has a higher incidence of heart disease than the national average due to the population’s overall older age.

But heart disease and heart attacks don’t just happen after 50.

Age Is Just A Number

Although most deaths due to cardiac arrest occur in older adults or patients with coronary artery disease, cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for young athletes. How often it occurs is unclear, but experts estimate one in every 50,000 sudden cardiac deaths a year is a young athlete. These deaths typically occur during physical activity, like playing a sport, and more often occurs in males than females.

Although that rate isn’t high, it is concerning because most of these victims seem to be in peak physical condition. However, these deaths are often caused by undiscovered heart defects or abnormalities.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an inherited condition that causes the walls of the heart to thicken. The thicker muscle tissue throws off the heart’s electrical system, leading to fast or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) that can lead to sudden cardiac death. HCM is not normally fatal but does tend to go undetected, and it’s the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 30.

Some people are born with coronary arteries that are connected abnormally, and they can become compressed during exercise, cutting off blood flow to the heart.

Long QT syndrome is an inherited heart rhythm disorder that causes fast, chaotic heartbeats and frequently leads to fainting. Young people with long QT syndrome have an increased risk of sudden death.

Although it’s hard to know if an abnormality has gone undetected in a young adult’s heart, there are three major warning signs that indicate something could be amiss.

Unexplained fainting, or syncope, occurring during physical activity
Family history of sudden cardiac death in relatives younger than 50
Shortness of breath or chest pain (these are also known to indicate asthma)

If your child exhibits any of these warning signs, ask their pediatrician about screening options to ensure they can play their days away safely.

To Each Her Own Symptoms

Most people are familiar with the standard symptoms of a heart attack, but what they don’t know is that heart attacks can present in different ways for women.

“Chest pain and chest discomfort are still the most common symptoms women experience, and if they have pain in the neck, jaw, back or abdomen those are signs as well,” she explains. “Females complain more of back pain, abdominal or gastric discomfort, and shortness of breath, which can signal angina, angina equivalent or coronary artery disease. The older women get, their symptoms are a lot more subtle. It can just seem like unexplained fatigue.”

Rao says women who feel fatigued more easily than they used to should see their primary care physician. They can test for common causes of fatigue, such as thyroid complications, anemia or depression. If women are experiencing a newly diagnosed, unexplained fatigue and a primary care doctor has ruled out other possibilities, this may be cause for concern.

Most women who come to Rao present with some of these symptoms, most commonly some type of pain, and want to find out if it is related to their cardiac health, or they have already had a cardiac event.

Because heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women in the United States, Rao emphasizes two things when treating her female patients.

“Prevention and modification. In younger women, I think stress is a big part of the problem, so I always stress that they should take care of themselves. Be compassionate with themselves, and be able to say no.”

And although most people understand that smoking is bad for their health in innumerable ways, Rao says women may not realize the impact it can have on them specifically.

“If a woman is smoking, her risk of heart disease is three times greater than a man who smokes, so if someone with that risk factor is experiencing symptoms, I would not ignore it.”

Change Of Heart: Preventive Measures

So is there any good news about heart disease? Sure is—the steps toward prevention are simple and achievable for everyone. By addressing some of the risk factors of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and stress, the chances of a cardiac event go down while overall health reaches a new high.

“I have an acronym I tell my patients, which is to take care of the SELF: sleep, exercise, love and food,” says Rao. “Sleep is a big problem because so much blue light sleep deprivation is highly present with today’s generation constantly being disturbed by electronics. Get a good seven to eight hours of solid sleep. It will help negate all the stress hormones in the body.”

After a restorative snooze, exercise is key. As a general rule of thumb, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends a healthy adult get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

“Inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease,” Rao says, “and research is showing this generation is much more inactive in their 20s and 30s than people were 50 years ago. Your 20s and 30s is a great time to start being active because heart disease can start very early on.”

The L stands for love, and Rao says this is her reminder to patients to engage in activities they are passionate about and spend time decompressing with people they love.

“I do advise the youngsters to go out, have some connections, do things in the community, actually seek out people rather than be on social media. Depression is linked to heart disease, so don’t isolate.”

She says stress is the main cause of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, more commonly known as broken heart syndrome.

“Broken heart syndrome, which is brought about by stressful situations, usually happens after menopause, but sudden stress can cause a person to experience chest pains and give them symptoms of a heart attack,” says Rao. “It gives credence to the fact that our minds have so much to do with heart health.”

Because of that strong connection between mental and physical health, Rao recommends patients try a few stress relief techniques, such as mindfulness, yoga or tai chi, to find one they are receptive to and can practice for 20 to 30 minutes each day.

“Try to avoid processed foods, especially those high in fructose. The bottom line is not to eat fast food or anything from packages where you can avoid it, and choose good sources of protein like eggs, a lot of greens and fresh foods.”

Of course, some people are born with risk factors they can’t prevent. Those with a family history of heart disease or who may be genetically predisposed to it should alert their primary care physician and be sure to monitor their blood pressure and cholesterol regularly.

“The other risk factors are the same, so those who have family history should maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet and have a good primary care physician. I would probably check their cholesterol more often and more aggressively [and] try to bring their numbers lower with medication if they do have that family history,” says Rao.

All About AEDs

Automatic external defibrillators are designed to save the life of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The most common cause of SCA is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. During v-fib, the heart’s lower chambers, called ventricles, quiver rapidly and beat irregularly.

Another type of arrhythmia that can cause SCA is ventricular tachycardia. This is a fast, regular beating of the ventricles that can last for just a few seconds or much longer.

When someone experiences one of these arrhythmias, an electric shock from an AED can restore their heart’s normal rhythm if it is delivered quickly. If a victim of SCA receives a defibrillation within the first minute of onset, their survival rate skyrockets to 90 percent. Thirty to 50 percent of SCA victims would survive if AEDs were used within five minutes.

How do I use one?

Marion CPR Training & Certification offers classes on first aid, CPR and AED usage to save lives. To register, call (352) 653-8821 or visit marioncpr.com. It is vital to receive formal training on using an AED before attempting to use one.

“I think it’s one of those things that’s good to have in a workplace or school, but if you have them I do think you have to have training. The key is people need to know how to use it,” says Rao.

What do they look like?

AED boxes can be white, red or yellow, and they are labeled with a symbol of a heart and lightning bolt. Most commonly, the front of the box has a glass panel allowing you to see the AED inside. Just like a fire alarm, never open a wall-mounted AED box in a nonemergency. Many are wired into the building’s alarm system and will alert a 911 dispatcher to your location when the door is opened. If there is an emergency situation, always call 911 before using the AED so a dispatcher can get first responders there as soon as possible.

Where are AEDs located?

Take time when visiting new places to look around for an AED. Be aware of where AEDs are located around your school, workplace and frequently visited places, like the gym or grocery store. Much like a fire hydrant, we recognize an AED when we see one, but its location may not fully register in our memories.

In cities and large suburbs, many businesses are starting to keep AEDs on hand. They can usually be found alongside first aid kits. Schools typically have at least one if not more and place them at hallway junctions and high-traffic areas like locker rooms, gyms and cafeterias. Most dental and medical offices have AEDs, as well as many malls, fitness centers, theme parks, sports venues and major transportation terminals like airports. These are often located near water fountains or restroom areas.

Why is this important to know?

Knowing where to find an AED is critical during a sudden cardiac arrest. CPR can save a life, but an AED can read a person’s heart rhythm and determine if an electric shock is needed to restart it or restore it to normal. In most cases, this can assist the heart in beginning to pump again, which can help minimize damage from lack of oxygen and blood flow common to patients who experience this serious cardiac emergency. When CPR is paired with an AED, survival rates increase significantly.

Original Story: Ocala Style Magazine | January 29, 2018 | By Katie McPherson

DASH Diet: Care Instructions | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT

The DASH diet is an eating plan that can help lower your blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Hypertension is high blood pressure.

The DASH diet focuses on eating foods that are high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. These nutrients can lower blood pressure. The foods that are highest in these nutrients are fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds, and legumes. But taking calcium, potassium, and magnesium supplements instead of eating foods that are high in those nutrients does not have the same effect. The DASH diet also includes whole grains, fish, and poultry.

The DASH diet is one of several lifestyle changes your doctor may recommend to lower your high blood pressure. Your doctor may also want you to decrease the amount of sodium in your diet. Lowering sodium while following the DASH diet can lower blood pressure even further than just the DASH diet alone.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Following the DASH diet

Eat 4 to 5 servings of fruit each day. A serving is 1 medium-sized piece of fruit, ½ cup chopped or canned fruit, 1/4 cup dried fruit, or 4 ounces (½ cup) of fruit juice. Choose fruit more often than fruit juice.
Eat 4 to 5 servings of vegetables each day. A serving is 1 cup of lettuce or raw leafy vegetables, ½ cup of chopped or cooked vegetables, or 4 ounces (½ cup) of vegetable juice. Choose vegetables more often than vegetable juice.
Get 2 to 3 servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy each day. A serving is 8 ounces of milk, 1 cup of yogurt, or 1 ½ ounces of cheese.
Eat 6 to 8 servings of grains each day. A serving is 1 slice of bread, 1 ounce of dry cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice, pasta, or cooked cereal. Try to choose whole-grain products as much as possible.
Limit lean meat, poultry, and fish to 2 servings each day. A serving is 3 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.
Eat 4 to 5 servings of nuts, seeds, and legumes (cooked dried beans, lentils, and split peas) each week. A serving is 1/3 cup of nuts, 2 tablespoons of seeds, or ½ cup of cooked beans or peas.
Limit fats and oils to 2 to 3 servings each day. A serving is 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil or 2 tablespoons of salad dressing.
Limit sweets and added sugars to 5 servings or less a week. A serving is 1 tablespoon jelly or jam, ½ cup sorbet, or 1 cup of lemonade.
Eat less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. If you limit your sodium to 1,500 mg a day, you can lower your blood pressure even more.

Tips for success

Start small. Do not try to make dramatic changes to your diet all at once. You might feel that you are missing out on your favorite foods and then be more likely to not follow the plan. Make small changes, and stick with them. Once those changes become habit, add a few more changes.
Try some of the following:
- Make it a goal to eat a fruit or vegetable at every meal and at snacks. This will make it easy to get the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Try yogurt topped with fruit and nuts for a snack or healthy dessert.
- Add lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and onion to sandwiches.
- Combine a ready-made pizza crust with low-fat mozzarella cheese and lots of vegetable toppings. Try using tomatoes, squash, spinach, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and onions.
- Have a variety of cut-up vegetables with a low-fat dip as an appetizer instead of chips and dip.
- Sprinkle sunflower seeds or chopped almonds over salads. Or try adding chopped walnuts or almonds to cooked vegetables.
- Try some vegetarian meals using beans and peas. Add garbanzo or kidney beans to salads. Make burritos and tacos with mashed pinto beans or black beans.

Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida: Getting to the Heart of the Matter | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Numbers don’t lie. Approximately 79,400,000 Americans—that’s one in three adults—are living with cardiovascular disease.

Not only is cardiovascular disease the top killer in the United States, but that’s also the case around the world. According to the American Heart Association, 31 percent of all deaths globally were from cardiovascular disease, stroke accounted for 11.8 percent of all deaths and 16.9 million people worldwide had a first stroke in 2010.

When heart issues are a concern—whether for yourself or a family member—you want the best care possible. The board-certified providers and entire staff at Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida know you want more than facts and competent care. You need the peace of mind that comes from conscientious, personal treatment that includes all aspects of health: physical, mental and emotional.

The team of highly experienced, board-certified cardiologists at Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida use the latest technological and medical advances available in cardiology today. But they are also aware that patients want to be understood, reassured and treated with respect. Each physician and staff member realizes that people have many options when it comes to health care. When you choose to put your trust in Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, they take that seriously.

In April 2015, Urban Cardiology, founded by partners and longtime board-certified cardiologists Dr. Paul Urban and Dr. Premranjan Singh, merged with Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida. This merger sought to provide patients with even more comprehensive care and ancillary services in-house, and that’s exactly what it accomplished.

For example, the practice has its own cardiology catheterization lab in Ocala, which offers a range of diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures.

Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida’s physicians specialize in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all diseases of the heart. Services include cardiac wellness and prevention as well as diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease, valve disease, hypertension, CVD, heart rhythm conditions and congestive heart failure.

At some medical offices, patients feel like they’re simply part of the process. That “lost in the shuffle” experience doesn’t happen with the doctors and health care professionals at Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida. Each staff physician takes the approach of developing a medical partnership with the patient, working with their best interest in mind. They take time to educate patients to increase their comfort level and eliminate any surprises about a procedure.

“We listen to what our patients have to say, because they are more than just a number to us,” notes Dr. Singh. “We strive to present each patient with the best options for their cardiovascular medical care and work with them to select the option that works best for them.”

Continuity of care is vital anytime you’re dealing with heart issues. At Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, you’ll benefit from a customized treatment plan designed around your specific health needs. Electronic medical records facilitate quick and thorough treatment, whether you’re in one of their offices or at a local hospital.

The practice has four locations in Ocala and The Villages, and all Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida physicians have hospital privileges in Marion County.

A doctor referral is not necessary to call for an appointment. Self-referral is welcomed, and most forms of insurance are accepted. ICANL and AAAHC accredited. Call today to schedule your appointment.

Original Story: Ocala Style Magazine | January 26, 2017

Dr. Paul Urban: Sudden Cardiac Death is what it says ... unless | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT

By Dr. Paul Urban
Special to the Star-Banner
Published: Sunday, May 29, 2016

Nearly two weeks ago I attended a concert at Circle Square Commons at On Top of the World. During the opening number Scott, the bass player, suddenly collapsed. In response to a call for medical help, I mounted the stage to assist. Scott had a chin cut, but the blood was merely a distraction. Scott was pulseless and lifeless.

I immediately began CPR — the new kind where mouth-to-mouth breathing has been eliminated. An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) was brought forward, and I used it to shock Scott’s heart back to a normal rhythm. He was conscious when the paramedics transported him to the hospital. A cardiac procedure showed that he had extensive heart disease. He underwent a four-way heart bypass and left the hospital fully ambulatory and awake.

Scott is one of over 300,000 Americans who will suffer Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) this year. SCD is usually caused by the sudden onset of a malignant heart rhythm. Often there are no warning symptoms. If the event is unwitnessed, the survival rate is around 6 percent. Unfortunately, most events occur in the home or non-public places and are not witnessed. If the event is witnessed, the national survival approaches 30 percent. Survival improves with bystander CPR and prompt defibrillation (cardiac shock). In cities such as Seattle, extensive public CPR training has led to survival rates over 40 percent. The new CPR guidelines eliminate mouth-to-mouth breathing, so hopefully more bystanders will perform CPR. It is indeed difficult to kiss a dead stranger.

The single most important variable for survival is time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation. Survival decreases 7-10 percent for each minute that defibrillation is delayed, and is very unlikely after 10 minutes without a shock, even with ongoing CPR. Trauma surgeons talk about treatment in the first hour after trauma as crucial to survival. In cardiology, it’s more like the “first frantic five minutes.”

Scott had the good fortune to collapse in a public place where CPR was started promptly and an AED was readily available. Prompt application of these two variables results in higher survival rates. The best place in the U.S. to have a cardiac arrest is in a Las Vegas casino, with survival rates of greater than 70 percent. Downtime before CPR is short, and there are a lot of AED’s around.

Sudden Cardiac Death usually occurs in diseased hearts, so prompt hospital transfer and further care is mandatory. At the hospital, when Scott was more awake, he related a similar but less severe episode two years ago, and a lot of recent “heartburn.” Tests showed that he likely had a least one previous heart attack, showing how silent or underwhelming the symptoms of heart disease can be.

The best treatment of SCD is prevention. Since SCD usually occurs in unhealthy hearts, treatment of well recognized risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cigarette smoking reduces the odds of heart disease and of an attack. A heart sonogram can detect decreased heart muscle function, another risk factor for SCD. A stress test can be useful in screening for coronary artery disease and previous heart attack.

Not all SCD is survivable, but prevention and prompt treatment improve the odds. Scott was in the right place at the right time, where the true star of the show was the AED. A lot of his 300,000 brethren will not be so fortunate.

— Dr. Paul L Urban, a/k/a “Tie Dye Man,” is a board-certified clinical and interventional cardiologist who has been practicing serving Ocala for more than 25 years.

Comprehensive Patient Care at Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Tue, 31 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Heart disease is not only the leading cause of death in the United States—it’s also one of the main culprits leading to disability. That’s why CVI is treating patients in Ocala with passionate care and cutting-edge technology—so their hearts stay healthy for years to come.

During initial consultations, doctors evaluate the cardiac problem, provide second opinions or perform echocardiograms and stress testing. They can even perform TEE (transesophageal echocardiograms) on-site to get a closer look at the heart muscle and cardiac valves, a procedure typically performed only in hospitals.

Patients who require catheterization to diagnose their condition will be relieved by the sophistication and convenience of CVI’s on-site cath lab.

“It’s state of the art. We do cardiac catheterization, peripheral angiograms and peripheral vascular interventional procedures in our outpatient interventional suite (OIS),” says Dr. Siva Gummadi, MD FACC. “We are the first outpatient cath lab in the area using carbon dioxide imaging. In patients with kidney problems, we inject carbon dioxide into the arteries for imaging and for interventional procedures, so we can avoid contrast induced kidney damage.”

Interventional cardiologist Dr. Paul Urban, MD, FACC, FSCAI, says the outpatient interventional suite provides the optimal setting for patients to undergo these procedures.

“I think it’s much less hectic than a hospital, and you’re not going into this big, multi-storied building and walking down five different halls. It’s much easier access for our folks, and it’s safe. If we have people who we think are high-risk, we’ll take them to the hospital, but a major chunk we can do right here,” he says.

Passionate care is a core tenet at CVI. Dr. Srisha Rao, MD, FACC, has been with Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida for nearly 20 years. She and her fellow practitioners have built many lasting relationships with their patients in that time.

“One thing that’s been consistent is that patient satisfaction is very high, not just because of the physicians but the entire team,” she says. “We have a great set of people working in our office, and we have to give a lot of credit to our technicians and staff because they’re extremely good about managing our echocardiogram lab, our stress lab and the front office. This is a good place.”

There are different specialties in cardiology, and CVI’s staff of doctors and nurse practitioners cover all areas of expertise. This variety of experience allows them to tackle any issue, no matter how complex.

“If someone is coming in to see us, we can take care of everything from diagnosing their condition to treatment,” states Dr. Prem Singh, MD, FACC, FSCAI. “You won’t be going to a different doctor every time. We have the capability of taking care of all cardiac and vascular conditions. Our interventional cardiologists are capable of treating abdominal aortic aneurysms and certain carotid artery blockages with stents.”

As with any matter of health, these doctors say prevention is the key when it comes to heart disease. While CVI is an excellent choice for heart treatment, they focus just as much on risk reduction for their patients.

“We always talk to patients about screenings and risk reduction,” Dr. Singh explains. “Most of the patients don’t have heart attacks, but they have multiple risk factors, and when you multiply those risk factors, they have a likelihood of having a heart attack. I have long discussions with those patients about changing their lifestyle and getting involved with cholesterol reduction and exercise. Lifestyle can make a huge difference—no medicine can give us that much benefit.”

“Along with exercise, we at CVI often discuss diet, stress management techniques and smoking cessation with patients who need to lower their risk of heart disease,” says Dr. Koka Vijayanarayana, M.D, F.A.C.C. “We are always on the lookout for factors like hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol.”

Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida is currently accepting new patients, and they invite patient seeking a practice where they can feel comfortable and well cared for to make an appointment.

“We create an environment where patients with heart and vascular problems are at ease, not only while we are investigating the reason but when communicating the results of the test,” says Hima Mikkilineni, M.D., F.A.C.C. “Whether they are normal or abnormal, we try our best to keep the patient at ease.”

Original Story: Ocala Style Magazine, May 31 2016

People Of Influence | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

Doctors of the Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

The medical team at the Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida specializes in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all diseases of the heart. CVI’s board-certified cardiologists use the latest technological advances available to impact the health, and therefore the lives, of their patients.

Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc – American College of Radiology – Nuclear (ACR) and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission – Echocardiography (IAC), the physicians at CVI offer a variety of services to include Nuclear Medicine, Cardiac Catheterization, Venus Ablations, Vascular Ultrasound, Echocardiology, Hoter and Event Monitoring, Pacemakers, Diagnostic right and left heart catheterization, Peripheral Vascular Interventions, Carotid Angiography and EKG/ABI/TEE technologies.

What does this mean for their patients?

Considering the American Heart Association estimates that 79,400,000 American adults are living with cardiovascular disease, it is safe to say that the highly educated and continuously trained staff are taking the life of their patients into their own hands – literally, in an effort combat this deadly disease.

Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed, Dr. Siva Gummadi, Dr. Robert Herman, Dr. Vijaya Koka, Dr. Hima Mikkilineni, Dr. Jigar Patel, Dr. Srisha Rao, Dr. Prem Singh and Dr. Paul Urban work together with a team of ARNPs and PA-Cs to provide a continuum of care that includes trust, experience and attention to detail.

Other services CVI offers includes Carotid Ultrasound, External Counter Pulsation, hospital and office consultations, Nuclear stress testing, Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ration and Vascular sclerotherapy, all with in-house billing.

CVI patients can walk in to any one of the five locations, four of which are in Ocala and one in The Villages, knowing they will be met with urgency and compassion. The professional services provided by their nine physicians supersedes client expectations and leaves a lasting impression – more life to live!

Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, LLC, Echocardiography I Laurel Manor receives Echocardiography accreditation by IAC | Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida

Admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

Date: July 2, 2015
Contact: Tamara Sloper (sloper@intersocietal.org)

Cardiovascular diseases are the No. I cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 39 seconds of cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The American Heart Association estimates that the direct and indirect cost for cardiovascular disease in the U.S. for 2010 was $503.2 billion.

Early detection of life threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of Echocardiography procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians’ offices. While these tests are helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on Echocardiography testing. The skill of the Echocardiography sonographer performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing.

Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, LLC, Echocardiography I Laurel Manor located in The Villages, FL has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Accreditation by the IAC means that Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida, LLC, Echocardiography I Laurel Manor has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review.

IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Echocardiography. When scheduled for an Echocardiography procedure, patients are encouraged to inquire as to the accreditation status of the facility where their examination will be performed and can learn more by visiting www.intersocietal.org/echo/main/patients.htm.

IAC accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of the national medical societies related to Echocardiography, which include physicians and sonographers. Echocardiography accreditation is required in some states and regions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and by some private insurers. However, patients should remain vigilant in making sure that their Echocardiography procedures are performed within accredited facilities, because for many facilities accreditation remains a voluntary process.