The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/60505
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, March 7, 2012 A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THE PRESS-DISPATCH Health Wellness Do you know the signs of (StatePoint) It's pos- sible you or a loved one could be suffering from one of the most common and often misdiagnosed heart conditions, and not know it. According to the Heart Failure Society of Ameri- ca, five million Americans are affected by heart fail- ure and many more may have the condition but are unaware. As such, it's a great time to learn about heart failure and its symp- toms, and what to do to stay heart healthy. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood. Blood can back up in ar- eas of the body and vital organs eventually shut down. COMMON CAUSES The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease, a narrowing of vessels that deliver blood to the heart, therefore reducing oxy- gen levels and impairing the heart's functionality. Other contributors in- clude infection in the heart muscle, valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabe- tes and age. Adults over 65 are more at risk, as well as those with a histo- ry of heart attack or cardi- ac arrest. KNOW THE SYMPTOMS Heart failure symp- toms vary by age, popula- tion and gender, and can start gradually or sud- denly. Common symp- toms include shortness of breath while active or at rest, fatigue, persistent coughing, heart palpita- tions, and swelling of the ankles, feet or abdomen. Symptoms become more prominent as the condi- tion advances. Men typically have a higher incidence rate, but it is common for women to downplay symptom sever- ity, leading doctors to un- der-treat them. "It's important to report any symptoms or chang- es in health status to your physician, no matter how minor you feel they may be," says Dr. Kevin R. Campbell, a cardiac elec- trophysiologist who cares for a large population of heart failure patients at Wake Heart & Vascular in North Carolina. "You may not see a correlation between symptoms, but they can signal worsen- ing heart failure to a phy- sician which could be life threatening." REDUCE RISKS Simple lifestyle chang- es can help reduce your risks. Daily exercise, a diet high in fruits, vegeta- bles, whole grain and low- fat proteins, quitting to- bacco, and regular health screenings are all helpful. When lifestyle changes aren't enough, medicine may help treat symptoms and prevent heart failure from worsening. In some cases, a medical device may help improve a pa- tient's quality of life. Cer- tain kinds of pacemakers can resynchronize a fail- ing heart to improve heart function, while implant- able defibrillators can prevent sudden death. As a last resort, a heart trans- plant may be necessary. "Heart failure is the most common cause of hospitalization for pa- tients over age 65 in the U.S. and is the first-list- ed diagnosis in more than 875,000 hospitaliza- tions each year," said Dr. Mark Carlson, chief med- ical officer in the Cardiac Rhythm Management Di- vision at St. Jude Medical. "Current device therapy and future devices will im- prove quality of life for pa- tients, and address an im- portant clinical and health economic problem." St. Jude Medical is a leading manufacturer of devices that treat heart failure, including car- diac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemak- ers and implantable car- dioverter-defibrillators (ICD). A CRT pacemak- er helps each side of the heart contract simulta- neously to restore pump- ing ability. An ICD sends an electrical pulse to stop life-threatening heart rhythms and prevents car- diac arrest. If you believe you have heart failure, make a doc- tor's appointment to start monitoring symptoms and determine treatment. C-9 2 PAGES SERVING THE PIKE AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012 heart failure? If you believe you have heart failure, make a doctor's appointment to start monitoring symptoms and determine treatment. Stock photo. Want Convenient & Compassionate Care? Meet some of your neighbors. A good neighbor is someone who is close to home, a convenient friend that you can count on when you or your family needs help. Just like a neighbor, the healthcare providers at Gibson General Hospital are close and here to help! They know that you want to be treated with support and compassion, welcomed by warm and friendly faces, and be able to visit when you need access to timely healthcare. If you are looking for a convenient and compassionate healthcare provider, talk to your neighbors at Gibson General Hospital. Convenient & Compassionate Healthcare — Just one of the many reasons to choose Gibson General Hospital for your healthcare needs. William Wells, MD Family Medicine 510 N. Main Street Princeton, Indiana 812-386-7001 Michelle Snyder, DO Family Medicine 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9420 Kwabena Owusu-Dekyi, MD Family Medicine 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9420 Wendy Tuley, RN, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9254 Mark Carpenter, MD, FACS General Surgery 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9392 Centered Around You. www.gibsongeneral.com &