Heart Health SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017
A Special Advertising Publication of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center
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Brent Johnson at the B106.7 radio studio
Know the Symptoms of a Heart Attack Radio host’s prompt action saves his life
Brent Johnson’s name may be familiar. And you’ve likely heard his voice.
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he Columbia man co-hosts the morning radio show on B106.7 and calls plays during University of South Carolina football games on the Gamecock Radio Network. But his best work in 2016 didn’t involve lively repartee on the morning airwaves or thrilling playby-play Gamecock broadcasts. It was paying attention to his heart. The award-winning radio personality tends to ignore things like occasional cold symptoms. “I’m a walk-it-off kind of guy,” he said. “But I knew something wasn’t right.” It was Memorial Day, and Brent came home after a work day that started at 5:00 a.m. A new kind of pain had his full attention. “Not only was I having pain and tightness in my chest, I felt like someone was pushing on my chest from behind — the pain was coming through my back,” he said. “I had numbness in my shoulder that didn’t feel right to me.” Brent told his wife. “She knew something was up when I said, ‘I really feel like I have to go to the emergency room.’” She took him to Lexington Medical Center immediately. “As a broadcaster, I’m involved
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with a lot of public awareness campaigns, including heart month. I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t go to the hospital, with as many times as I’ve said over the years, ‘If you have chest pain, don’t take any chances.’” At Lexington Medical Center, Brent immediately went to an exam room for an electrocardiogram to check for problems with electrical activity in the heart. But the report was normal. “I was still in pain,” he said. “They didn’t let me go home.”
in and out. They really know what they’re doing.” Cardiac catheterization involves threading a long, thin tube through the blood vessels to the heart. It can both diagnose and treat heart problems. Brent’s procedure indicated he had suffered a heart attack. An artery at the back of the heart was blocked completely, explaining his mysterious back pain. The team used a stent — a tubeshaped device that opens the artery — to allow blood to circulate again.
“I tell people they shouldn’t take anything for granted. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to your heart. If you’re feeling unusual pain, it’s better to have the satisfaction of getting it checked out than to risk not being around for your family.” —Brent Johnson Further testing, including a cardiac catheterization, revealed a clogged artery. “The staff made me feel confident, not panicked. They consulted with my other doctors on my medications. And when they say, ‘You need a heart catheterization,’ they’ll tell you how fast you’ll be
Dissolvable Stents Open Closed Arteries
“Brent had no major risk factors for coronary artery disease, yet he was appropriately concerned enough to go to the Emergency department when he developed symptoms that suggested a heart problem,” said R. Taylor Williams, MD, FACC, of Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice.
Stay Calm! Don’t Let Stress Hurt Your Heart
Reducing Your Risk of Stroke
Dr. Williams performed the stent procedure. “Brent deserves the credit for the good outcome.” Brent was back at the microphone within a week. He takes medicine to prevent another blockage, and says he’s doing great. “I have a R. Taylor Williams, family history MD, FACC of heart disease, but my heart has always been healthy. My vitals were fine — no high blood pressure — and I’ve always had a good stress test,” he said. “I didn’t have a reason to suspect heart problems.” His intuition helped lead to a winning outcome. “I tell people they shouldn’t take anything for granted. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to your heart. If you’re feeling unusual pain, it’s better to have the satisfaction of getting it checked out than to risk not being around for your family.”
How well do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? Take our heart attack quiz at LexMed.com/Know
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Heart Health
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017
New Technology Opens Closed Arteries Lexington Medical Center has become the first hospital in the Midlands to offer patients with coronary artery disease a firstof-its-kind fully dissolving heart stent. Called the most significant advancement since stenting began decades ago, these new stents repair clogged arteries until they heal, and then the stent gradually dissolves into the body. While heart stents are traditionally metal, this new type of stent is made of naturally dissolving material, similar to dissolving sutures. Described as a vascular scaffolding system, it fully restores the artery and dissolves completely after it has done its job of keeping a clogged artery open and promoting healing of the treated artery segment.
several months until it can heal and stay open on its own. After that, a metal stent serves no additional purpose. In fact, a metal stent can hinder future cardiac interventions. “We are pleased to be able to offer the next generation of stent technology to our patients at Lexington Medical Center,” said Robert M. Malanuk, MD, FACC, cardiologist with Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. “Composed of naturally 2000s dissolving material,
1980s Bare Metal Stents
Drug-eluting Stents
There are three stent options for blocked arteries.
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stent. Factors include anatomy, the makeup of the lesion, size of Dissolvable Stents the artery and degree of calcification. Coronary artery disease affects 15 million people in these stents dissolve fully in three the United States and remains years. They offer clear advantages a leading cause of death around for many heart patients.” the world. It occurs when fat, The cardiologists at Lexington cholesterol and other things in the Cardiology have received special blood build up in arteries, causing training to implant these devices. the heart to not get enough blood Patients must meet specific criteria and oxygen. to be eligible for a dissolvable
The first is bare metal stents, developed in the 1980s. The second is drug-eluting stents, developed in the early 2000s, which are coated with medicine that helps prevent the artery from narrowing again. The third option is now dissolvable stents; like drug-eluting stents, dissolvable stents also contain medicine to halt the growth of plaque in the artery.
Studies show arteries remain open and healthy for long periods of time after the stents dissolve. By contrast, metal stents are permanent implants. Similar to a cast on a broken bone, a clogged artery that’s been cleared only needs support for
Robert M. Malanuk, MD, FACC, with a dissolvable heart stent in Lexington Medical Center’s catheterization lab
A Lifetime of Bad Choices Bad habits can start early. Being a couch potato, eating poorly, smoking, experiencing stress and not maintaining a healthy weight can all lead to a heart attack over time. That’s the message of Lexington Medical Center’s 2017 heart commercial. It features scenes in the life of a man as he ages from 23 to 55, engaging in behavior that ultimately leads to a heart attack. It’s the latest installment in a series of heart commercials produced in-house by Lexington Medical Center during the month of February, which is American Heart Month. The spot also continues the tradition of featuring a character who personifies a heart attack and narrates the story. “Don’t make a lifetime of bad
choices. Every choice you make matters,” said Mark Shelley, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Lexington Medical Center, who supervised the production of the heart commercial. “You’re never too young to prevent heart disease.” Lexington Medical Center is committed to educating its community about cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for one out of every three deaths in South Carolina. As the region’s only Duke Health-affiliated heart center, Lexington Medical Center
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Q: What is cardiac rehabilitation, and what are the benefits of participating?
A: Cardiac rehabilitation is a program for people who have experienced a cardiac event or those who are trying to prevent heart disease. It is a medically supervised, lifestyle modification program that involves monitored exercise sessions, cardiovascular education classes, nutrition assessment and social support. The sessions are scheduled three days per week for approximately 12 weeks or up to 36 sessions. There are many benefits to participating in cardiac rehabilitation, including an increase in exercise tolerance and stamina, improvement in heart rate and blood pressure, and better management of diabetes and other heart disease risk factors. Participants also make healthier nutrition choices as well as improve their self-confidence and selfesteem. Research shows that people who participate in cardiac rehab have up to a 34 percent lower risk of mortality compared to those who do not participate.
is able to provide patients with quality cardiovascular care, and the most advanced treatments and protocols available in medicine.
WATCH “I Am A Heart Attack 2017”
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Mark Stout, MS, CCRP, FAACVPR, Program Supervisor at Lexington Medical Center Irmo Cardiac Rehabilitation
Heart Health
A Special Advertising Publication of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center
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heart rate. The results were excellent. “After I got the pacemaker, I immediately started feeling better and had energy,” Janet said. “I can honestly say for the first time in a long time, ‘I feel good.’” An abnormally slow heart rate is usually defined as less than 60 beats per minute. But a slow heart
“After I got the pacemaker, I immediately started feeling better and I can honestly say for the first time in a long time, ‘I feel good.” —Janet Smoak
Janet Smoak inside Lexington Medical Center
Marching to a New Beat
Pacemaker Restores Busy Mom’s Heart Rate and Good Health Janet Smoak knew something was wrong. She was gaining weight, felt depressed, confused, out of breath, dizzy and exhausted. “There was a time that I stayed in bed for three days,” she said. “I couldn’t walk from one side of my office to the other without being out of breath.” Janet is a 46-year-old wife and mother of two sons who works as a division administrator for Lexington Medical Center’s Physician Network. She went to her doctor, thinking she was falling apart. She underwent every screening from blood work to heart tests at Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. Ultimately, doctors determined Janet had a condition called
bradycardia, which is an abnormally slow heart rate. The doctors wanted to implant a pacemaker. With her symptoms continuing to get worse, she agreed. William W. Brabham, MD, FHRS, an electrophysiologist at Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, was Janet’s doctor. “It’s reasonable to implant a pacemaker if patients have a low resting heart rate and fatigue, shortness of breath with activity, and the inability to increase their heart rate appropriately,” Dr. Brabham said. “It’s also recommended if
people have passed out and have low resting heart rates.” Dr. Brabham and his team inserted the pacemaker below the collar bone and passed wires into the heart to help promote a healthy
rate on its own does not necessarily indicate a problem. For example, some well-conditioned athletes have slow resting heart rates. And fatigue alone may not indicate a heart problem; instead, it could simply be a result of the hectic pace of life. But when several symptoms are present, it’s time to take a closer look. Since having the pacemaker implanted nearly a year ago, Janet has lost 30 pounds, has more energy and feels good again. For more information about cardiovascular services at Lexington Cardiology, visit LMCLexingtonCardiology.com
William W. Brabham, MD, FHRS (right), in the cardiac catheterization lab at Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center Marks Heart Program’s Fifth Anniversary Next month, Lexington Medical Center will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its complete cardiac care program. During the past five years, the hospital has performed more than 1,500 procedures, with total cases exceeding 430 per year. “Lexington Medical Center has done a great job starting a cardiac program that has maintained sustained growth over the last five years,” said Jeffrey A. Travis, MD, a cardiovascular surgeon at Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. “We have also maintained very high quality as evidenced by our low mortality rate, low blood transfusion rate and low readmission rate.” One of the hallmarks of the program is its commitment to quality Jeffrey A. Travis, MD and clinical excellence. Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery Lexington Medical Center received a three-star rating for heart surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 2014 — just two years after performing its first open heart surgery. The hospital also continues to be on the forefront of cardiovascular care by offering
the most advanced treatments available in medicine today, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Lexington Medical Center’s TAVR program, which started in 2014, is the most experienced program in the Midlands. Its physicians have performed more procedures than any area hospital. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to replace the heart’s aortic valve without open heart surgery. It’s considered the most significant advancement in cardiology since coronary angioplasty. Lexington Medical Center performed the first fully percutaneous TAVR procedure in South Carolina and the first TAVR procedure in the state with an awake patient. Other available services include catheter ablation, a non-surgical, electrophysiology
procedure to treat cardiac arrhythmias; diagnostic cardiac catheterizations; and nonemergent and emergent coronary interventions. In addition, Lexington Medical Center has American Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)-accredited cardiac rehabilitation facilities in Lexington and West Columbia, and a third facility in Irmo. Looking ahead, Lexington Medical Center will maintain its focus on enhancing the program’s technology and services, while providing patients with the utmost quality care. “The growth of the cardiovascular program since its inception continues to fuel our resolve to deliver the best possible care to our patients,” Dee Prastein, MD said Dee Prastein, MD, Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery cardiovascular surgeon with Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery. “The breadth and scope of our services will continue to flourish with Lexington Medical Center’s unprecedented expansion — the largest in the history of South Carolina.”
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017
Helping Heart Failure Patients Succeed Nurse Navigator Provides Dedicated Support and Education Heart failure — the diagnosis sounds scary. It’s the leading cause of hospitalization in people 65 and older. But with the right tools and treatment, patients can successfully manage this chronic disease. Congestive heart failure, often called heart failure for short, occurs when the heart muscle no longer works as it should. The heart muscle walls can become too weak to pump blood out of the heart or they can become stiff so the heart doesn’t fill properly. Classic symptoms are shortness of breath during activity, fatigue and swelling. Heart failure does not usually occur suddenly — symptoms happen gradually over time. Causes include coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, lung disease and aortic stenosis. Although there is no cure for heart failure, progression of the disease can be dramatically slowed. Heart function can improve with medication, exercise, better nutrition and better self-management skills. Lexington Medical Center treats about 800 patients a year with congestive heart failure as a primary diagnosis. Because of the importance and prominence of the disease, the hospital recently hired a nurse navigator specifically dedicated to helping patients with heart failure. Jenny Dailey, RN, MSN, spends her day supporting and educating patients with this disease. “My job is to serve as the patient’s advocate,” Jenny said. “I visit with patients in the hospital and help determine what resources they need. That could include educating them about various ways to manage their disease or making sure they have follow-up appointments with their doctors after they leave the hospital. I also work with the family members and caregivers to make sure they understand the disease and how they can best help their loved ones.”
Jenny Dailey, RN, MSN Lexington Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation Jenny says monitoring weight gain is one of the most important ways patients can control their disease. “Patients need to understand the importance of a digital scale and daily weigh-ins,” she said. “A weight gain of three pounds in one
day or five pounds in one week is significant for a patient with congestive heart failure because the weight gain is a result of fluid. Daily monitoring of weight is a simple yet quick way to determine if a patient is retaining fluid.” A grant from the Lexington Medical Center Foundation funds digital scales for heart failure patients at the hospital. Upon admission, patients receive the scales and use them during their hospital stay while they learn about the importance of monitoring and managing their weight. They take the scales home with them after leaving the hospital so they can continue weighing themselves, recording their weight daily and reporting rapid weight gain to their doctor. In addition to weight management, reducing sodium in the diet is important. Reading food labels and identifying the sodium content of food is important for patients with congestive heart failure. But one of the most critical steps a patient can take after a hospital stay for heart failure is to participate in cardiac rehabilitation, which offers physician-prescribed exercise, riskfactor modification and a psychological assessment to help evaluate a patient’s emotional status as it relates to their heart. Support for heart failure patients at Lexington Medical Center continues beyond their hospital stay. “I want my patients to call me once they’re discharged if they have questions regarding anything,” said Jenny. “I want them to know that I am their advocate.” To learn more about the Lexington Medical Center Foundation and how it helps patients, visit LMCFoundation.com
Don’t Let Stress Rob You of a Healthy Heart Stress — we all experience it. In simple terms, stress can be defined as anything that causes tension in the mind or body. And even though stress is generally viewed as bad, it can also be a positive force in our lives. Stress can actually help us focus and perform our best. An overload of stress, however, can cause a variety of negative effects. Too much stress can take its toll on our bodies, causing high blood pressure, headaches and sleep problems, explains John Leech, manager of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Lexington Medical Center. “During stressful times, our bodies release stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare our bodies to rev up to meet upcoming challenges,” he said. “But these challenges are
supposed to be short-term. When they last month after month, stress hormones can damage the body.” The longer stress hormones circulate in the body, especially when high blood pressure is present, the more inflammation and damage can occur in the walls of the arteries. This damage can create cracks where plaques can form, leading to blockages in the arteries. Increased inflammation can trigger the blockages to rupture, causing heart attacks.
Stress can also cause the arteries to constrict, restricting blood flow and increasing blood pressure. While we may not always be able to change the situation that’s causing our stress, we do have a choice in how we respond. One of the most powerful ways to combat stress is also one of the easiest. “Walking is one of nature’s best tranquilizers,” John said. “Whether it’s a five-minute walk during a break at work or an hour-long walk in a park on the weekend, walking will definitely help. In fact, any exercise will help you better deal with stress.”
Color Me Stress Free Download free coloring sheets at LexMed.com/Know
Take a Heart Pause
——————— Tuesday, February 14 ——————— 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ——————— North Tower Atrium Lexington Medical Center
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Shake off your stress by petting a furry friend.
Your heart will love you for it!
Heart Health
A Special Advertising Publication of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center
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TAVR treats aortic stenosis. Patients with severe aortic stenosis have a narrowed aortic valve that does not allow blood to flow efficiently. As the heart works harder to pump blood through the smaller opening in the valve, the heart eventually becomes weak. Over time, that can lead to lifethreatening heart problems.
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1 A delivery catheter is placed in the diseased aortic valve.
Pastor Thomas Caldwell inside Beacon Baptist Church in Lexington
New Aortic Valve Procedure Is Answer to Prayer 2 Doctors deploy the new aortic valve from the delivery catheter.
3 The new aortic valve functions immediately. ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES
Lexington Medical Center
TAVR HIGHLIGHTS First in South Carolina Lexington Medical Center performed the first fully percutaneous and “awake” TAVR procedure in the state.
Most Experienced The hospital’s TAVR team has performed nearly 200 TAVR procedures since 2014.
One of 20 Hospitals in the United States Lexington Medical Center was part of an elite group of 20 hospitals to participate in a National Institutes of Health study on transcaval aortic valve replacement.
Thomas Caldwell has a heart for prayer. As pastor of Beacon Baptist Church in Lexington, he leads his congregation with faith. So last fall, when doctors at Lexington Medical Center told him there was something wrong with his aortic valve and that it needed to be replaced, he called on God. At age 81, Thomas decided he didn’t want to have open heart surgery. That was a big decision because not having his aortic valve fixed could shorten his life. “I was at peace with it. I was happy for the life God gave me,” he said. “But I also prayed that if there was another way, I’d do it.” He was only home from the doctor’s office for a few hours when the phone rang. It was Lexington Medical Center telling him that he qualified to have his aortic valve replaced with a new catheter procedure instead of open heart surgery. “If they could do that, let it be,” he said. Doctors scheduled Thomas to undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement, known as TAVR, in October. During TAVR, doctors replace the heart’s aortic valve with a catheter instead of open heart surgery. TAVR used to be considered experimental and only for patients who were unable to have open heart surgery because of advanced age or other health problems. But right after Thomas’ appointment and his conversation with God, the procedure was approved for nearly
Thomas had TAVR on Wednesday, went home from the hospital on Thursday and was back at the pulpit preaching at Beacon all aortic valve patients. Baptist Church on Sunday. In fact, Thomas became “They wanted to the first patient to have know if I wanted a chair,” TAVR at Lexington Thomas said. “I didn’t Medical Center under need to sit down. I didn’t the newly expanded feel tired, exhausted or guidelines. anything. I felt good.” “I think it’s almost Moving forward, miraculous,” said Robert certain heart problems A. Leonardi, MD, FACC, Robert A. Leonardi, MD, will still need to be treated FSCAI, of Lexington surgically, but doctors FACC, FSCAI Lexington Cardiology Cardiology, a Lexington expect the number of Medical Center physician patients who can have practice. “With only a few small minimally invasive procedures, such incisions in the leg, the patient will as TAVR, will increase. have a new, fully functioning aortic And for that, Thomas — and his valve.” And the recovery is quick. congregation — are thankful.
Specializing in Cardiac, Vascular & Thoracic Care
(803) 936-7095 2728 Sunset Boulevard Suite 300B West Columbia, SC 29169
Lexington Medical Center’s Heart Valve Team L–R: Jeffrey A. Travis, MD; Robert M. Malanuk, MD, FACC; Kristen Davis, MSN, RN, CCRN; Robert A. Leonardi, MD, FACC, FSCAI; and Dee Prastein, MD
Well-respected cardiovascular surgeons operating with the latest medical techniques and stateof-the-art equipment
LexingtonCardiovascular.com
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017
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Finding Closure New Heart Device Reduces Stroke Risk Lexington Medical Center is the first hospital in South Carolina to use a brand new device proven to reduce the risk of stroke in a substantial number of patients.
The AMPLATZERTM PFO Occluder device by St. Jude Medical is for patients who have a small hole in the heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). About 25 to 30 percent of Americans have a PFO. Typically, it causes no health problems and does not require treatment. But in some cases, clots can form in the veins, get into the arteries and cause a stroke. Patients who have suffered a stroke because of a PFO have an increased risk of experiencing a second stroke. Physicians now use the PFO occluder to close the hole in the heart and reduce the risk of another stroke. While doctors have been closing PFOs for years, it’s the first time there has been a device with specific emphasis on stroke patients. “It’s the first FDA-approved
device for stroke reduction,” said Robert Leonardi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, of Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. “In fact, the stroke reduction rate is estimated to be 50 percent.” Doctors insert the PFO occluder through a catheter in the femoral vein in the leg. They thread the device through the PFO in the top chambers of the heart, known as
the left and right atria. While doctors can pinpoint the cause of most strokes from risk factors including high blood pressure, narrowed blood vessels or a blood clot caused by an abnormal heart rhythm, some patients have strokes with a less obvious cause. That’s when doctors investigate the possibility of using a PFO, usually discovered through an ultrasound of the heart.
Robert A. Leonardi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Lexington Cardiology
“It’s the first FDA-approved device for stroke reduction. In fact, the stroke reduction rate is estimated to be 50 percent.” —Dr. Robert Leonardi
Q: Can sleep apnea cause high blood pressure? A: People with cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke, have a high prevalence of sleep apnea. To understand how sleep apnea can be connected to high blood pressure, it is important to understand what happens when someone has it. Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted or paused during sleep, depriving the body of the oxygen it needs. Naturally, there is a normal blood pressure drop during sleep to allow the body to rest and recover. In someone who has sleep apnea, the heart continues to work hard during sleep to receive the oxygen that it isn’t getting during those pauses of breathing. Because of this work, blood pressure can increase and cause negative long-term consequences for your health. Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud or frequent snoring, pauses in breathing, choking or gasping during sleep, morning headaches and daytime fatigue. If someone experiences some or all of these symptoms, I recommend speaking with a physician about treatment options.
Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care at Two Convenient Locations
Mohamed S. Soliman, MD, FCCP
(803) 791-2683 LexingtonSleepSolutions.com Standing L to R: Joseph J. Lawton III, MD, FACC, FSCAI; Michael C. Roberts, MD, FACC; Robert M. Malanuk, MD, FACC; Amy Rawl Epps, MD, FACC; Mitchell W. Jacocks, MD; Brandon C. Drafts, MD, FACC; William W. Brabham, MD, FHRS; Robert A. Leonardi, MD, FACC, FSCAI Sitting L to R: R. Taylor Williams, MD, FACC; S. Stanley Juk Jr., MD, FACC; William D. Brearley Jr., MD, FACC; Stephen E. Van Horn Jr., MD, FACC
90 Summit Centre Drive • Columbia, SC 29229 • (803) 744-4900 Lexington Medical Park 1, Suite 300 • 2728 Sunset Boulevard • West Columbia, SC 29169 • (803) 744-4940
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3 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS 109 West Hospital Drive West Columbia, SC 29169 ———————————— 7043 St. Andrews Road Columbia, SC 29212 ———————————— 109 Barton Creek Court • Suite A Columbia, SC 29229
Heart Health
A Special Advertising Publication of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center
Heart Health During Pregnancy Donna Andrews, CNM, is a certified nurse midwife at Lexington Women’s Care, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. Certified nurse midwives are advanced practice nurses who provide OB/GYN care for women throughout their lives. Here’s what she had to say about heart health during pregnancy.
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A woman’s body produces 30 to 50 percent more blood during pregnancy. That can tax the heart and kidneys, and sometimes leave her short of breath. For most women, these changes do not cause lasting harm. Often, pregnancy is a woman’s first encounter with regular health visits and screenings. Urine, heart and blood pressure checks happen at every visit. An unusual result may require further tests for cardiac issues. We may discover hidden or even congenital heart problems such as heart murmurs, irregular heart rhythms or heart valve problems. The trend of older women becoming pregnant raises the risk for serious issues including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and even stroke, as the heart, kidneys, heart valves and arteries become strained. A new diagnosis of high blood pressure during pregnancy is a warning sign for preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition that prevents the placenta from receiving adequate blood flow and may threaten the health and life of mother and child. We also screen for high blood pressure because women who have it during pregnancy have a 40 percent chance of it continuing after the baby is born. Because the heart plays a critical role for both the mother and baby, it’s important to be aware of danger signs that can flag serious issues: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath with exertion; rapid heart rate; chest pain; coughing at night or a bloody cough; and infrequent urination. Because so many issues can be identified early and treated, keeping monthly prenatal appointments is a critical factor for long-term health.
Q: What effect does salt intake have on children?
A: Children who consume higher
Donna Andrews, CNM, with a patient inside Lexington Women’s Care
Throughout the entire pregnancy, we encourage daily exercise. Something as simple as a 30-minute walk each day can help pregnant women stay within the parameters of healthy weight gain. We know that gaining too much weight during pregnancy can damage the heart, even after the baby is born. It’s easy to say when someone is feeling winded or tired that ‘it’s just pregnancy.’ But we need to listen to women and be sensitive to all of their needs. We take care of women for a lifetime. Our work is mostly prevention. If we can teach women about becoming healthier, it contributes to better health overall.
A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice (803) 936-8100 LexingtonWomensCare.com ————————————— Lexington Medical Park 1 2728 Sunset Boulevard • Suite 201 West Columbia, SC 29169 ————————————— 1 Wellness Boulevard • Suite 203 Irmo, SC 29063 ————————————— 811 West Main Street • Suite 209 Lexington, SC 29072
levels of salt are 35 percent more likely to have elevated blood pressure in comparison to children who have diets lower in salt content. When children have elevated blood pressure, the heart and arteries have a much heavier workload. Over time, the heart and arteries may not work as well as they should, which puts children at an increased risk of developing elevated blood pressure, early heart disease and stroke as adults. Approximately one in six children has elevated blood pressure, which can be lowered by dietary modifications, such as decreasing sodium consumption. Children in the United States consume about 3,100 mg of sodium per day — well above the average daily requirement of 1,500 mg, which is about half a teaspoon of salt per day. The good news is that children develop their palates early in life. Exposing them to foods with lower salt content can set them on a heart-healthy path for the rest of their lives.
Lauren S. Matthews, MD
A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice (803) 359-8855 LexPediatricPractice.com 811 West Main Street • Suite 204 Lexington, SC 29072 3240 Sunset Boulevard West Columbia, SC 29169
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Q: What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A: An abdominal aortic aneurysm,
On the Road Again Father of Five Survives Stroke
Christopher Ford woke that day in August with a bit of a headache. But it was nothing that would stop the 34-yearold truck driver and father of five from hauling a load from Mullins to Columbia.
of Chris’ CT scan and angiogram revealed a large blockage in his right cerebral artery, which nourishes the majority of the right brain. Christopher T. McCarty, MD, of Lexington Radiology Associates, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, knew he had to act fast. “Without blood flow, the neural damage to the brain was progressing rapidly,” he said. “Expedited treatment was critical.” Dr. McCarty confirmed the large
wrong and so did his wife. He had As the miles passed, the headache been diagnosed with elevated became worse. Chris thought he blood pressure just a year before. should take an aspirin. Then the He had recently left a high-stress pain suddenly escalated. job behind, but poor eating “I was probably 10 minutes from habits and little regular exercise the loading dock, and from out of contributed to his risk. nowhere it felt like someone took a sledge hammer and hit me on the back of the head,” he said. “It felt like “I’m keeping my blood pressure at a healthy level — I my head exploded for a minute, and have to make sure nothing happens again to scare me I started feeling lightheaded or my family. It dawned on me, finally, that you’re and dizzy.” Although still in pain, the never too young to have a stroke, especially if you’re not intensity subsided and Chris taking care of yourself.” finished his trip. But when he —Christopher Ford stepped out of his truck, he noticed the left side of his shirt was soaked Renee called Chris back, this time blood clot with an arteriogram and — with his own saliva. removed it successfully, restoring with a colleague by her side to listen “I couldn’t figure out how that blood flow to the brain. to him, too. “I heard her co-worker happened. I remember thinking, Chris was fortunate. Fast action at the school tell Renee, ‘I think ‘Why am I drooling?”’ on the part of his wife, emergency your husband is having a stroke.’” A co-worker struck up a medical technicians and the “I said, ‘that’s impossible. Not me, conversation on the loading dock, Lexington Medical Center staff I’m 34. I was athletic in school. I but Chris couldn’t form the simple made it possible to quickly dissolve can’t be having a stroke.’” words to respond. and clear the clot. Chris was home But a stroke is exactly what Chris “I’d never had anything like after only three days in the hospital, experienced. Nearly nine out of this happen to me,” he said. “But with no symptoms or long-term 10 strokes are caused by a blood I thought, ‘It’ll go away, just keep effects from the stroke. clot that blocks an artery working.’” Unloading Chris has completely changed supplying blood to the complete, he stumbled his lifestyle choices to guard against brain. Chris experienced briefly on his way a future occurrence. He limits salt some of the most back to his truck intake, no longer drinks soda and common warning signs of cab to finally take an has also eliminated alcohol from stroke; sudden weakness aspirin. That’s when his diet. He manages stress and is of the face, causing he noticed two missed excessive drooling; trouble building his muscle mass with gym calls from his wife workouts four to five times a week. speaking; dizziness; Renee on his phone. And he takes a baby aspirin every trouble walking; and that “I called her back, day, as recommended by his doctor. sudden, severe headache. and she said, ‘Chris, Christopher T. McCarty, MD “I’m keeping my blood pressure Renee urged Chris to were you asleep or Lexington Radiology at a healthy level — I have to make call an ambulance, but something? You sure nothing happens again to when he hesitated, she sound funny.’ I told scare me or my family,” he said. “It took matters into her own hands. her ‘No,’ but couldn’t make her dawned on me, finally, that you’re Emergency medical help was there understand me. None of the words never too young to have a stroke, within minutes to take Chris to sounded right. So I told her I Lexington Medical Center. couldn’t talk and hung up.” especially if you’re not taking care At the hospital, a quick review Chris knew something was really of yourself.”
or AAA, is a dilation and weakening of the aorta, the main vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. There are a variety of causes, including genetic ones. The condition progresses more rapidly in smokers and people with high blood pressure. And, diabetics may be more susceptible because of changes that occur in the vessel wall related to elevated blood sugar. Over time, the aneurysm can grow larger and eventually burst, leading to life-threatening bleeding. Also, patients who survive a ruptured AAA are at risk for major heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. There is currently no known method of preventing AAA. Identifying the problem early is the key to survival. Anyone with an immediate family history of AAA should have an abdominal ultrasound screening at age 40. If you’re diagnosed, see a surgeon to evaluate if or when the AAA needs to be repaired, or if long-term surveillance should be initiated. High blood pressure should be controlled and smokers should quit. Blood sugar management is also important.
William M. Moore Jr., MD, FACS
A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice
(803) 936-8901 SouthernSurgical.com Lexington Medical Park 2 146 North Hospital Drive • Suite 310 West Columbia, SC 29169