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Having chest pain? n Northwest Health System’s Heart Hospital Network provides comprehensive cardiac care
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etting fast medical treatment during a heart attack may save your life. Northwest Health System’s (NHS) Heart Hospital Network at the Bentonville and Springdale hospitals is committed to delivering the most effective, advanced procedures, close to home. The Heart Hospital Network’s innovative virtual hospital model is designed to align and expand cardiovascular care across the region so you get the care you need when you need it. This network model of integrating cardiovascular services may impact important responses such as our door-to-balloon
Doug Arnold, chief executive officer at NHS, unveils The Heart Hospital Network logo at the launch this past summer.
Paving the way for better health NHS launches The Heart Hospital Network Northwest Health System (NHS) is taking heart and vascular care to the next level by establishing The Heart Hospital Network, a virtual hospital model designed to align and expand cardiovascular care in the Arkansas-OklahomaMissouri region. This physician-led model will integrate cardiovascular services at NHS’s Springdale and Bentonville facilities under the new identity of The Heart Hospital Network. Jonathan Clopton, Ph.D., R.T. (R), RCIS, cardiovascular service line administrator at The Heart Hospital Network of NHS, addresses the audience at the recent unveiling.
www.northwesthealth.com/hearthospital
times. Door-to-balloon response is tracked from the moment someone with chest pain registers in the emergency room or arrives by EMS transport to the time when an emergency angioplasty is performed. Improving door-to-balloon times assists hospitals, EMS teams in the field and smaller hospitals without local cardiovascular programs. Since The Heart Hospital Network’s inception this past summer, NHS’s door-to-balloon time improved to a 55-minute average in the second quarter and to a 45-minute average in the third quarter. The national standard is 90 minutes.* Time is muscle Heart attacks occur when blocked arteries prevent the heart from receiving oxygen. The faster a lifesaving procedure or medication can be provided to a patient, the sooner oxygen and blood flow may be restored and the more heart muscle is saved, helping to improve a patient’s outcome. One of the most traditional lifesaving procedures performed is emergency angioplasty. Other heart attack treatments (such as clot-busting drugs) exist, but many times emergency angioplasty results in less damage to the heart and reduces the risk of stroke and subsequent heart attack. During an emergency angioplasty, cardiologists inflate a balloon to open a clogged artery and insert a stainless steel wire mesh, called a stent, to keep the artery open, which can improve a patient’s long-term survival. Tracking and evaluating door-to-balloon performance is critical when looking to save precious moments during a heart attack.
* American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Take your health to heart! Your heart matters. For a referral to a physician, call our find-a-physician number at 1-800-734-2024.
guide to cardiovascular health
Heart disease and you
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here are two types of risk factors for heart disease: genetic, which you’re born with, and acquired, which are most commonly caused by lifestyle activities. It’s important to take the time to learn which risk factors apply to you and then take steps to eliminate or reduce them. Uncontrollable risk factors Risk factors you can’t control include: Ü a family history of • high blood pressure • low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) or high levels of triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein (LDLs) • heart disease (especially with onset before age 55) Ü aging Ü type 1 diabetes Ü being female (after the onset of menopause) Controllable risk factors Risk factors you can control include: Ü high blood pressure Ü low levels of HDLs or high levels of triglycerides or LDLs Ü smoking Ü stress Ü excessive drinking Ü leading a sedentary lifestyle Ü being overweight by 30 percent or more • eating a high-saturated fat diet • having type 2 diabetes
Warning signs of a heart attack The following are the most common symptoms of a heart attack. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. If you or someone you know exhibits any symptoms, act immediately and call 9-1-1. Symptoms may include: •c hest discomfort, including pressure, fullness or pain in the center of the chest • s hortness of breath that occurs before or with chest discomfort • u pper-body discomfort, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach • n ausea, sweating or lightheadedness, which may or may not accompany other symptoms Women may have other less common warnings signs of heart attack: • atypical chest, stomach or abdominal pain • nausea or dizziness • shortness of breath and difficulty breathing • unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue • palpitations, cold sweat or paleness
Manage your risk The first step is to know your own risk factors. Once you do, consult your physician as the first step to start making heart-healthy changes. Your physician will help you control risks that can be managed medically and recommend lifestyle changes.
Are you at risk? Log on to our Web site at www.northwesthealth.com/hearthospital and take our heart risk assessment.
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winter 2010
n Know your risk factors
Take control!
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eart disease and stroke kill almost 1 million Americans each year. Unless you take steps to control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you may be at risk for these diseases. Get on the road to better health today with these five simple steps: å Take a walk. Exercise helps control your blood pressure and improves your cholesterol. Choose activities you enjoy and strive for at least 30 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity on most days of the week. ç Manage your weight. Reducing your weight by just 10 pounds may help lower your blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol. Since dropping pounds may be easier if you have a team of people interested in your wellbeing, ask your health care provider to refer you to experts, groups or classes that can help. é Toss the cigarettes. Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise. It also makes it easier for cholesterol-rich plaque to stick to artery walls. A smoking-cessation class can offer extra support. Valentine’s Day treat:
n 5 ways to prevent heart disease
Link to learn Log on to our Web site at www.northwesthealth.com/ hearthospital and click on Health e-Cooking.
è Eat well. Enjoy vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
beans and legumes, along with moderate amounts of lean protein and healthy fats like those contained in salmon and olive oil. Avoid foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugar and trans fats. ê Get regular screenings. Routinely checking your blood pressure and cholesterol levels helps keep you informed about your cardiovascular disease risks. Find out what your total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels should be and what you need to do to make improvements.
Chocolate-covered strawberries
Indulge in these delicious chocolate-covered strawberries. This healthy dessert has less than 90 calories per serving. Dark chocolate gives an extra antioxidant boost. This recipe is great for people with diabetes, since it’s heart-healthy and gluten-free. Ü 2 oz. high-quality dark chocolate,
Ü Melt chopped chocolate in a 2-quart saucepan
chopped Ü 8 large strawberries
over low heat, stirring frequently, or microwave chocolate for 30-second intervals, stirring between each until melted (about 1 minute). Dip strawberries in chocolate. Place on wax paper and cool in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
Serves 4, 2 strawberries per serving. 88 calories, 4g fat, 2g saturated fat, 2mg cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 11g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 1g protein
b e n t on v i l l e a n d s p r ingdale
guide to cardiovascular h e a l t h
609 West Maple Ave. Springdale, AR 72764
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Advancing Heart Care is published as a community service by Northwest Health System. The information in this publication is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have medical concerns, consult your health care provider. © 2010 Northwest Health System
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Cardiac rehabilitation n The heart of the matter
Discover new ways of living Northwest Health System’s Heart Hospital Network offers patients intensive cardiac rehabilitation. Program participants meet two to three times a week for up to 12 weeks. Supervised by a cardiologist, the cardiac rehab staff offers instruction and encouragement, letting patients achieve their health goals without the worry of overdoing it. “The hidden pearl with cardiac rehab is the camaraderie and emotional support patients experience in this setting,” says Jane Marotti, R.N., cardiac rehab nurse at the Springdale campus.
Keep pumping! For more information about cardiac programs available at Northwest Health System, call the cardiac rehabilitation department most convenient for you: • Bentonville: (479) 553-2000 • Springdale: (479) 757-3609
Go online Visit the “Health Resources” section of www. northwesthealth. com to find an extensive library of health topics, including healthy living tips, animations of common medical procedures and risk assessments.
Kim Johnston, R.R.T., supervisor of cardiac rehab services in Bentonville, agrees. “This support allows patients to learn and share their experiences and, ultimately, that gives them the self-confidence to believe they’re going to recover,” says Johnston. Recovering patients also receive personalized instruction on lifestyle changes; overcoming the stress and anxiety of the heart attack; and eating nutritious, heart-healthy meals. Of course, every cardiac patient is directed to stop smoking if they are a smoker and, at least at first, to avoid alcohol if they drink. The hospital dietitian will design an all-new eating plan featuring fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, fish, poultry and low-fat dairy products. These foods help eliminate the blood and arteries of cholesterol and fatty plaque buildup.
Images © istockphoto.com/Lisa F. Young/ranplett/Stephan Klein/Phairot Khamma
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hose who survive a cardiac medical condition can sidestep more cardiac trouble and return to a normal life in about six to 12 weeks. How? With cardiac rehabilitation—a program of closely monitored exercises, medications and lifestyle education. There’s no waiting for the program to start; most rehab begins within 48 hours of the attack itself. Although it may sound counterintuitive, cardiologists know that cardiac rehab significantly reduces a patient’s chance of suffering another heart-related episode.