HEART to HEART
Your resource for heart health
Fall 2013
Back from Death’s Door Save These Dates February 7, 2014 Wear Red for Women Show support for women affected by heart disease by wearing red. Please join us in raising awareness about heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer of women. February 13, 2014 The Beat Goes On Join us at 5 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Banquet Center for “The Beat Goes On,” a community social presented by St. Elizabeth Heart and Vascular Center. Cardiothoracic surgeon Lucas Henn, MD, will speak about cardiac valve disease at the event, which will include a buffet dinner and is being held to raise awareness about heart disease. For more information, call 330.480.3151.
St. Elizabeth Doctor Performs Emergency Surgery to Repair Heart Vessel That Burst One day last spring, Anthony Mediate came home from his job as treasurer of the Lowellville School District. As he and his wife, Anita, enjoyed lunch, they chatted excitedly about their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary party, which was to be a celebration dinner at Holy Family Church Hall in Poland. Then suddenly, Anthony let out a scream and slumped over – out cold. Would the anniversary party ever happen? Anita immediately dialed 911. “The fire station is right at the end of our street,” she says. “So while I was still talking on the phone, I heard the ambulance arrive. Three medics came in and one said that Anthony had stopped breathing. They did CPR and got his pulse back quickly.” Meanwhile, Anita called her daughter and two sons. “We went together to St. Elizabeth’s, which has always been our primary hospital,” she says. They were joined by Anthony’s brother and sisters. After being stabilized in the emergency department, Anthony was moved to the intensive care unit. At that point, doctors were ready to talk to the family. “We knew it was bad because they took us into a special, private room,” says Anita. “The doctors told us there was nothing they could do,” Anita says. “So we all waited at his bedside feeling helpless.”
While recovering from heart surgery, Anthony Mediate (seated) has received support from his sister, Mary Tarantine (left), his wife, Anita (center), and Kathleen Folkwein, nurse coordinator, cardiac rehabilitation, St. Elizabeth Health Center. Anthony, 70, had suffered a ruptured bypass graft aneurysm. One of the bypass grafts from his heart bypass surgery 16 years ago had become a five-centimeterwide aneurysm and had broken open. Basically, a vessel feeding his heart with blood and oxygen had burst, and he was actively bleeding around his heart and lung. When this happens, a repair can be extremely difficult, if not impossible. See “Heart Vessel” on page 2.
Heart Vessel Continued from page 1.
Heart patient Anthony Mediate works out with his sister, Mary Tarantine (left) and his wife Anita in the cardiac rehabilitation center at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Heart to Heart is published by
We hope you enjoy this issue of Heart to Heart, an informational newsletter published as a service to the community by St. Elizabeth Health Center. For more information about Heart and Vascular services, call 330-480-3151 or toll free 1-877-700-4647 or visit our website at HMpartners.org.
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Compounding Anthony’s condition is the fact that he has chronic kidney disease. He received two kidney transplants, the second of which was now failing, He was on the verge of needing dialysis, took blood pressure medications and recently suffered from bleeding in his intestines, which would complicate any surgical intervention involving blood thinning. Finally, the physicians were concerned that Anthony may have suffered a severe stroke during his cardiac arrest.
surgeon to use “suspended animation” to avoid uncontrollable and fatal bleeding. “We didn’t expect Anthony to survive the surgery, but he came through,” says Anita. Anthony remained in the hospital for 10 days before recuperating in a nursing home for another week. A couple weeks after returning home, the Mediates went ahead with their anniversary celebration. “We had 124 family members for a big Italian dinner and had a nice time,” Anita notes. “We think the world of Dr. Henn because he took a chance and ended up saving Anthony’s life,” Anita adds. “He’s an excellent surgeon. He was nice to us, answered all our questions and was very thorough. Even when Anthony was recovering, he came by and gave us day-by-day updates and synopses on his condition. He didn’t leave us in the dark about anything.
“We waited in the hospital room by Anthony’s side, and at midnight, he woke up,” says Anita. “He was alert and was concerned as “Drs. Fulton, Hammond, Henn and Singh to why he had a breathing tube inserted in were all there for us,” him. At this point, we she adds. “It was a “ We think the world of Dr. Henn because were hopeful that he comforting feeling to he took a chance and ended up saving might survive, but the know how concerned next morning, the doctors Anthony’s life. He’s an excellent surgeon. they were. They met repeated that nothing He was nice to us, answered all our with us three times, could be done.” gave us a sense of questions and was very thorough. He didn’t Just as the family security, answered leave us in the dark about anything.” returned to hopelessness, all our questions and – Anita Mediate, wife of St. Elizabeth Health Center one of the doctors who were very attentive and heart patient, Anthony Mediate was involved in the case respectful to all of us.” said, “If you want me to Anthony continues to recover by participating operate, I’ll do it, but we have to operate now. in cardiac rehabilitation three times a week at He’s awake and alert. I think he deserves a St. Elizabeth Health Center. Anita also does chance, and his only chance is with surgery.” rehab there because she recently had a heart The man was cardiothoracic surgeon Lucas valve replacement. “We think the world of the Henn, MD, a relatively new member of the people working in cardiac rehab,” says Anita. staff at St. Elizabeth Health Center. “They take great care of you.” During a risky and challenging six-hour Now that their hearts are beating in sync surgery, Dr. Henn successfully removed again, the Mediates look forward to spending the ruptured aneurysm and replaced the time with their three children and five bypass graft with a new one. To perform grandchildren and to vacationing in Myrtle the operation safely, Dr. Henn used a Beach, South Carolina. And 10 years from heart-lung machine for three hours to cool now, the couple just might be celebrating Anthony’s body down to 20 degrees Celsius their 60th anniversary. (68 degrees Fahrenheit). This enabled the
Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program Brings Fresh Produce to Underserved Patients Arnold Dixon and his family loved fried, processed and canned foods – “all the foods that were no good for me,” he says. One day recently, his doctor at St. Elizabeth Health Center’s Ambulatory Care Center told him his blood pressure (BP) was too high, as a result of his poor diet. The Center gave him a prescription to help lower his BP, but it wasn’t for medication. It was for fruits and vegetables. This year, the community outreach department of Humility of Mary Health Partners (HMHP) began a fruit and vegetable prescription (FVRx™) program. Doctors at the health system’s Ambulatory Care Center, Family Health Center, Austintown Family Health Center and St. Joseph Community Care Center wrote prescriptions for patients who could benefit from fresh produce in their diets.
In fact, Mahoning County ranked last among Ohio’s major counties for overall health, according to 2012 rankings from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Reports from the Ohio Department of Health found that 30 percent of adult residents in Mahoning County have high blood pressure, 42 percent are overweight and 11 percent have type 2 diabetes. Thanks to grants from the Catholic Health Partners’ Mercy Outreach Grant Program and the HMHP Foundation, the 2013 prescription program reached 160 patients in Youngstown and Warren.
To help patients obtain fresh produce, the health system gave them $20 vouchers for the monthly farmers’ markets at St. Elizabeth Health Center and St. Joseph’s/Warren Courthouse Square. The markets took place May through October. Patients also received welcome packets containing a vegetable brush, peeler, cutting board and apron. In addition, Bridget Lackey, HMHP community health educator, provided patients with educational materials regarding nutrition, recipes, how-to information for cleaning and storing fresh produce, and information about healthy cooking demonstrations offered in the Mahoning Valley. The FVRx™ program comes at a time when the greater Youngstown area really needs it. The region is considered a “food desert,” meaning many residents don’t have access to fresh, affordable produce or even a grocery store. According to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, 28 percent of the city’s population lives more than two miles from a grocery store and 18 percent cannot access a car to get to a grocery store. These low-income residents often turn to gas stations, fast-food restaurants and convenience stores with unhealthy options. This raises the risk for diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, stroke and heart disease. James Kravec, MD, chair of the internal medicine department at St. Elizabeth, says he often sees patients at the Ambulatory Care Center with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. “Many of these patients don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables or the means to buy them,” he says.
Patient Arnold Dixon reviews information on nutrition with Cindy Kravec, MD (center), internist, and Mary Jo Penk, social worker, at St. Elizabeth Health Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Dixon participated in the center’s fruit and vegetable prescription program. “It’s very encouraging,” says Dr. Kravec. “I’m so thankful that the foundation is helping our patients in a very unique way.” Dixon says he immediately changed his eating habits after beginning the program. Instead of frying meat, he bakes it. He regularly eats salads and sometimes sautés vegetables. And now the rest of his family joins him in healthier eating. Since changing his eating habits, Dixon says he has more energy and doesn’t feel as bloated after eating. “I’m feeling healthier because I’m eating healthier,” he explains. “If it wasn’t for the program getting me started, I probably would’ve stayed on my regular course of bad eating.”
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Meet Dr. Henn
Fourth-Generation Physician Finds His Calling in Cardiothoracic Surgery It’s a vast understatement to say that healing people is in Lucas Henn’s blood. A fourth-generation physician, his parents are psychiatrists, one brother is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries, another brother is a fifth-year orthopedic surgery resident specializing in the upper extremities, and a third brother is a general surgery resident who hopes to be a heart surgeon. “My uncle was a heart surgeon, and thanks to his influence, nothing else interested me nearly as much as the field of cardiology,” says Lucas Henn, MD, who recently started practicing medicine at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Prior to joining St. Elizabeth’s staff, he was an adult cardiac surgeon at Long Island Jewish-Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
Why he chose to work at St. Elizabeth After living in Los Angeles for two years, Germany for a year and New York City for six months, why is Dr. Henn happy to be in Youngstown? “The most enjoyable aspect of working at St. Elizabeth Health Center is working with our heart team,” says Dr. Henn. “Everyone is very committed, and the operating room and staff are extraordinary. I enjoy taking care of our patients with the physician assistants and my partner, Dr. Jeff Fulton. It’s a collaborative environment that is very beneficial to our patients.”
very risky operations, and both patients are doing fantastic. Knowing that without an operation both of these patients would not have survived, it is extremely gratifying to see them doing so well and looking forward to the rest of their lives.”
In addition to being board certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Henn is the author of a book chapter and numerous publications, presentations and posters. His Where he went to school professional interests and trained Lucas Henn, MD include transcatheter valve technology, minimally invasive Dr. Henn graduated valve replacement and repair, videomagna cum laude in 2000 with a assisted thoracoscopic surgery and Bachelor of Science degree in biology endovascular interventions. and chemistry from Youngstown State University, where he was on the dean’s list and was a President’s Scholar. He earned his medical doctor degree at the Rootstown campus of Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), formerly Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. From 2004 to 2009 Dr. Henn served a residency in general surgery at Forum Health Northside Hospital while serving as a clinical instructor of surgery for NEOMED. During his final year at Forum Health, he served as chief resident and in 2007 his research presentation was named “best of the year.” From 2009 to 2011 he served a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Rewarding surgeries he performed During the past few months, Dr. Henn successfully performed a couple surgeries that he found to be especially challenging and gratifying. “I performed an aortic dissection repair on a 65-yearold and repaired a ruptured papillary muscle on the mitral valve of a 53-yearold,” he notes. “These were both huge,
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What else makes him impressive
What he did in Leipzig, Germany Dr. Henn’s postgraduate work included a year at the Heart Center in Leipzig, Germany, where he served as a guest lecturer and worked with one of the world’s most preeminent heart surgeons, Friedrich-Wilhelm Mohr, MD, PhD.
“Many cardiothoracic patients are candidates for minimally invasive cardiac and thoracic procedures,” he says. “In the tri-county area, most if not all lung resections are done through large, painful thoracotomy incisions. In fact, the vast majority of patients with lung cancer or pulmonary problems can be treated with very small incisions using cameras and special instruments. These minimally invasive techniques result in less pain, less bleeding and less time in the hospital, as compared to traditional surgical procedures.”
What he does in his free time In his spare time, Dr. Henn enjoys spending time with his wife, a Youngstown native, and their two-yearold son and six-month-old daughter. “I also like to visit Columbus, where I grew up,” he says. “While there, we visit my mother and eat at our favorite restaurants. I like to grill out, and I love watching sports – especially The Ohio State University football team.”
Color Your Diet Healthy Choose a Rainbow of Colorful Foods for Optimal Nutrition It’s time to get the white stuff out of our diets. White sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes, white lard ‌ you get the idea. Instead of drab monochromes, choose colorful fruits and vegetables. In general, the more intense the color, the more packed they are with nutrients.
Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables Red fruits and vegetables Benefits Red indicates the presence of lycopene and other nutrients that lower cholesterol levels, lessen the risk of prostate cancer, reduce blood pressure and tumor growth, scavenge harmful free radicals and support joint tissue. Examples Beets, cherries, cranberries, pink/red grapefruit, radishes, raspberries, red apples, red peppers, red grapes, red onions, red pears, red potatoes, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon
Benefits With nutrients like betacarotene, flavinoids, lycopene, potassium and vitamin C, these foods can help reduce macular degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, and support magnesium and calcium for strong bones. Examples Apricots, butternut squash, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pineapples, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tangerines, yellow apples, yellow beets, yellow summer squash, yellow tomatoes
Green fruits and vegetables Benefits These foods can possibly reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, aid digestion, support eye health and vision, fight harmful free radicals and boost immune systems because they contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium and beta-carotene. Examples Artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, endive, green apples, green beans, green grapes, green onion, green pears, green peppers, honeydew, kiwi, lettuce, limes, okra, snow peas, spinach, watercress, zucchini
Blue and purple fruits and vegetables Benefits Nutrients in these foods, like lutein, resveratrol, vitamin C, fiber and flavinoids, support eye health, lower LDL cholesterol, boost the immune system, aid digestion, improve absorption of calcium and other minerals, reduce inflammation and tumor growth and fight cancer cell activity. Examples Black currants, blackberries, blueberries, eggplant, plums, prunes, purple Belgian endive, purple potatoes, purple asparagus, purple cabbage, purple figs, purple grapes, raisins
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Optimal Health Step by Step How to Become a Walking Addict
Some addictions are healthy. Take fresh air and exercise, for example. Combine these two and you have one wonderful addiction. It’s called walking, and once you’re hooked, you’ll never want to go back to being sedentary and unhealthy.
8. Enlist support. Ask a friend or family member to join you on walks. When you make a commitment with another individual, you’ll be more likely to stick with your walking program.
So, how can you get yourself started on a walking habit? Follow our step-by-step advice below.
9. Schedule the time. If you use the excuse that you don’t have time to walk, then you should also never have time to watch TV – never ever. Your health comes first. Many people find that the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning – before meetings are scheduled and the children wake up.
1. Get your doctor’s OK. If you have a health condition, are over 40 or have a family history of heart disease, the first step is to get your doctor’s approval to start a regular exercise program.
10. Journal your way to success. Buy a cheap calendar to serve as your walking “journal.” Then write in your workout goals for each day, week and month. By crossing off workouts as you complete them and tracking your progress, you can gain confidence and a sense of fulfillment.
2. Gear up. Wear comfortable, supportive walking shoes and drink plenty of water. 3. Stre-e-etch. Warm up with stretches and cool down with more stretching so that you avoid injury. 4. Begin slowly. After stretching, start with a fiveminute walk at a slower pace and end each walk with a fiveminute, slower paced walk to cool down.
These women were a few of the many people taking part in the annual Heart Walk sponsored by the American Heart Association. By participating, the walkers promoted physical activity, which helps people live healthier lives.
5. Step up the pace. Once you’re warmed up, start walking briskly. While you don’t need to race walk, you shouldn’t be going at a snail’s pace.
11. Stay motivated. You might want to wear a pedometer to easily track progress. Signing up for a race or charity walk like the annual Heart Walk sponsored by the American Heart Association is another motivator.
12. Go the extra mile to lose weight. To shed pounds, aim to walk a minimum of five days a week, 45 to 60 minutes at a brisk pace. Eat a healthy, low-fat diet.
6. Walk tall. Maintain good walking posture by holding your head up and looking forward. Do not hunch your shoulders. Swing your arms gently and fall into a natural stride.
13. Get online help. Visit the American Heart Association’s StartWalkingNow.org site to receive free online monthly newsletters with a wealth of walking information. You can also search for walking paths in your area.
7. Build gradually. Start with a 10-minute walk every day for a week. If you feel good, add five-minutes to the walk the following week. Keep tacking on an additional five minutes every week.
14. Enjoy your new addiction. At first, your new exercise regimen may be tough, but after walking becomes a habit, you will probably find yourself looking forward to it. Try to walk a minimum of five days a week.
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Roasted Beets and Yams 2 medium sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes 2 medium red or golden beets, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
2 tbs. olive oil 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar ½ tsp. coarse salt*
1 large sweet onion, diced Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with rack in top third of oven.
Beets and Sweets
2. Place all ingredients in large, zip-lock food storage bag and seal.
For a delicious take on vegetables, try roasting them. The roasting process caramelizes the vegetables, bringing out their sweetness and full flavor. Never liked beets before? We think you’ll love these!
5. Roast in oven 30 to 45 minutes until browned and tender.
4 servings
157 calories, 7 grams total fat, 2 grams protein, 22 grams carbohydrates and 350 mg. sodium per serving. *Omit salt to reduce sodium to 47 mg.
3. Shake until veggies are coated with the oil, vinegar and salt. 4. Pour out veggies in a single layer on a baking sheet (lined with foil for easy cleanup).
Nutritional Information The following information is approximate and may vary slightly depending on the size of the vegetables you use.
Capturing Gold HMHP Wins Award for Fit-Friendly Worksite Most hospitals do their best to take good care of patients. But St. Elizabeth Health Center wants to do more than that. Along with the other health care facilities that make up Humility of Mary Health Partners (HMHP), the hospital also tries to take good care of its employees. Recently, HMHP won an award for doing just that. The health system was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for creating a “fit-friendly” workplace where employees are encouraged to be physically active and where healthy food options are available. HMHP was honored with the Fit-Friendly Gold award because it offers employees fitness centers, walking programs, designated walking areas and nutritious alternatives to snacks and lunches high in fat, salt and calories.
On behalf of St. Elizabeth Health Center, Paul Filipowicz, chest pain center coordinator, and Mariann Pacak, director of heart and vascular services (right), accept the Fit-Friendly Gold award from Allison Oltmann, American Heart Association Heart Walk director.
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1044 Belmont Ave PO Box 1790 Youngstown, Ohio 44501-1790
Boost Your Health IQ by Attending These Free Sessions Stroke Survivors’ Support Group
Mended Hearts Support Group
Heart Failure Support Group
At monthly meetings of this group, stroke survivors and their families listen to educational speakers, ask questions, socialize and share feelings, issues and tips with one another. Some members have only recently experienced a stroke while others may have suffered a stroke (or multiple strokes) years ago.
If you have experienced a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, you may still be reeling from the aftereffects. You may suffer from depression, worry that you could experience more heart problems, or want help changing your lifestyle.
This group offers patients and their families an overview of heart failure and what they can do to self-manage this chronic illness. Meetings are held at two locations:
For more information, including meeting dates, times and locations, contact Mary Ann Cashier at 330.480.2876.
Consider attending the Mended Hearts Support Group’s next meeting to learn how you can enjoy a rich, rewarding life after heart disease. Discussion topics include lifestyle changes, depression, recovery and treatment. For information about these free meetings, including times and locations, call 330.729.3782.
• St. Elizabeth Health Center 3 to 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. To register, call 330.480.3991. • St. Joseph Health Center Times and dates vary. For more information or to register, call 330.841.4327.