The battle I face echoes thousands in the same position I am in, though the particular predictment; maybe a few hundred. Having crashed my car after having a vasovagel attack is rare. Not many people black out while they are driving, but I did, and also had three black outs total in a year. The doctors have put me on a strict car diet, as in if I dare get behind the wheel I risk not having a license ever again. People with my severity of the disease generally are not allowed to drive for an extended period of time due to the fact that I’m likely to get into a serrious accident or potentially cause great harm to myself. I have only a few seconds of warning about the attacks, not minutes, making it near uncontrollable.

As of late, I had thought I was improving slightly. No attacks for one week was an improvement to the near daily attacks I was having. However, this all proved wrong this past Saturday night when I suffered three attacks in one hour. The first,
subtle. The second, pressuring but I dealt with it. The third, I collapsed.

To say any of this is easy would be misleading. To say it’s hard would be an all out understatement. Am I afraid? Absolutely. I don’t know what could happen from one minute to the next and the fear of death still plagues each attack. I’m scheduled to return back to work this Friday, and my hope is that I can. This homebound stuff is not for me in any stretch of the imagination. It’s Monday evening, however, and I’m still not sure if it’s certainty. The last visit I had with my cardioligist last week was grim, and I’m still plagued with not being able to drive.

Due to the nature of the disease, I will be having a stress test on Thursday morning. The visit with my main doctor is tommorow afternoon. My hopes are that he can give me some kind of clearnace, some kind of return to normalcy, even though my life prior to that December day will never return. I have had to make numerous lifestyle changes, most of which are diet changes and changes to my daily schedule.

While I’m in no grave danger, the situation warrants extreme monitoring. One thing is certain; no matter where this road takes me, I am committed to being the strong, optimistic individual that I have become.

Last Monday, Feb 18 was the first visit with the cardiologist.  Getting there was a bit of a problem but the appointment itself went smoothly.

We got into the inner sanctum and a very nice nurse named Lisa took down DH’s info.  It worked out well that we hadn’t finished all the paperwork since she had lots of info fron the hospital, anyway.

She took DH’s blood pressure and oxygen levels (both good), then took the bags of meds and vitamins away for cataloging.

The doctor came in and asked some of the same questions as everyone else about how he was eating, sleeping, exercise, swelling, pain.  He listened to DH’s heart and lungs and everything sounded good.  He checked the legs for swelling…none.

We made 2 more appointments – one for a low-stress treadmill next week and one with him for three months out.  There’s also bloodwork to be done before the treadmill. After passing the treadmill test, DH can start rehab.  Yea!

When we got home, there was a call from the PCP’s lab.  DH called back but had just missed them.

DH slept in the bed and out of the recliner for several hours last night.  Another step forward!

DH finally got through to the PCP’s lab and the cholesterol numbers were excellent.  Hooray!  Other numbers such as liver enzymes were good, too.

DH did some work today, with several naps in between. I got the car taken care of. He got the disher unloaded and reloaded – with resting afterwards.

He decided to start off the night sleeping in bed and made it until about 4:00 am. He said that there was no pain but he would be more comfortable in the recliner.

DH spent most of the morning working (at home) on a proposal, then most of the afternoon napping.  Most of the pain seems gone – hooray! Evening there was a short meeting with a nap before and after.  Then, dinner and another nap before bed.

He started out for about an hour in bed, then back to the recliner for the rest of the night.

He doesn’t seem to cough nearly as much. Hooray!

Friday through Sunday – lots of napping, trying to sleep or nap in the bed but usually winding up in the recliner.

It was a nice day so we took the dog outside for a very short walk…followed by more napping.  DH is looking forward to the treadmill test on Wednesday so he can start the rehab soon.

1. How the human heart functions

Every day, your heart beats about 100,000 times, sending 2,000 gallons of blood surging through your body. Although it’s no bigger than your fist, your heart has the mighty job of keeping blood flowing through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels that feed your organs and tissues. Any damage to the heart or its valves can reduce that pumping power, forcing the heart to work harder just to keep up with the body’s demand for blood.

So how do you make sure your heart is in tip-top shape? “Keeping your body in good health helps keep the heart a more efficient organ,” Krasuski advises. In other words, eat healthy, well-balanced meals and don’t skimp on the exercise.

2. Male heart attack symptoms, female heart attack symptoms

When it comes to matters of the heart, men and women definitely aren’t created equal. For instance, a man’s heart weighs about 10 ounces, while a woman’s heart weighs approximately 8 ounces.

Not only is a woman’s heart smaller than a man’s, but the signs that it’s in trouble are a lot less obvious. When women have a heart attack — and more than a half million do each year — they’re more likely to have nausea, indigestion, and shoulder aches rather than the hallmark chest pain.

Heart disease is the biggest killer of both men and women. And both genders should heed this healthy advice: Don’t smoke, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, and watch for the obvious and the more subtle warning signs your heart could be in trouble.

3. Laughter: The good heart medicine

Health experts now have proof that laughter is good medicine.

A good belly laugh can send 20% more blood flowing through your entire body. One study found that when people watched a funny movie, their blood flow increased. That’s why laughter might just be the perfect antidote to stress.

When you laugh, the lining of your blood vessel walls relaxes and expands, Krasuski says. So have a good giggle. Your heart will thank you.

4. Stress and the Monday morning heart attack

You’re more likely to have a heart attack on Monday morning than at any other time of the week.

Doctors have long known that morning is prime time for heart attacks. “We call it ‘the witching hour,’” Krasuski says. That’s because levels of a stress hormone called cortisol peak early in the day. When this happens, cholesterol plaque that has built up in the arteries can rupture and block the flow of blood to the heart. Add in the rise in blood pressure and increased heart rate from the stress of returning to work after the weekend, and you have the perfect recipe for a Monday morning heart attack.

That’s why it’s important to reduce your stress levels as much as you can. Practice yoga, meditate, exercise, laugh (see tip No. 3), or spend more quality time with your family — whatever works best for you.

5. How sex helps the heart

Having an active sex life could cut a man’s risk of dying from heart disease in half. For men, having an orgasm three or four times a week might offer potent protection against a heart attack or stroke, according to one British study.

Whether sex works as well for women’s hearts is unclear, but a healthy love life seems to equate to good overall health. For one thing, sexual activity is an excellent stress buster. It’s also great exercise — burning about 85 calories per half-hour session.

If you find it difficult to have sex, that could be a big red flag that something is wrong with your heart. For example, some researchers think erectile dysfunction might warn of a heart attack up to five years in advance.

http://www.webmd.com/heart/features/amazing-facts-about-heart-health-and-heart-disease_?page=2

James Hearn, MD, FACC, works at Cardiology Associates of Charlotte County, Florida. A Board Certified Cardiovascular disease surgeon, Dr. Hearn was instrumental on the use of the stent all around the world. Used to treat artery blockage, stents keep the heart open and blood flow moving correctly, thus preventing heart attack. Dr. Hearn has lectured on development of these stents with Boehringer-Ingelheim, a leading pharmaceutical research company. He has also brought stent usage to Mexico and Japan in his travels. The practice is made up of all Board Certified surgeons, specializing in all aspects of cardiac care.

Muhammad Ahmad, MD, FACC, works at the Pikeville Medical Center’s Heart Institute in Kentucky. This hospital has the distinction of being named the “National Hospital of the Year” award two years in a row, from 2009-2011. They are also affiliated with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart Surgery program, another #1 heart center. Dr. Ahmad was first educated in Pakistan, and now educates others as an Associate Professor at the Pikeville Osteopathic Medical School. He was awarded for his excellence as an educator in 2009, with an Excellence in Clinical Medicine Education Award.

This Monday, February 18, started off just fine.  The problems started when DH tried to fill out the online forms for the cardiologist.  He tried 4 times.  The form never saved, the continue button didn’t continue, the information was lost each time.

So, we decided to go at 2PM for the 3:30 appointment to allow plenty of time to fill out the forms in the office.

We gathered up a bag of meds, a bag of vitamins, all the medical records and got into the car.  The car wouldn’t start.  The horn, radio and lights worked so it’s probably not the battery.

We called a friend who was unavailable but she called her husband who came and picked us and all our stuff up. We headed out Route 66 and traffic was slow, especially for heading east on a holiday.  There was an accident at the 495 exit so we got off an exit early and went that way.

We got to the appointment at 2:45 – plenty of time.  Except that it turned out that the appointment was in a different office.  DH had made the appointment for the office 10 minutes away from our house and had forgotten.

So…we gathered up all that stuff and called a cab.  The driver got there in about 10 minutes and we got in.  First thing I noticed – the driver had cologne on.  Instant headache for me.

He went a way I wouldn’t have gone, possibly to raise the rate, or not.  We got to the Fair Oaks office – right next to the ER where this adventure started 3 weeks ago – by 3:20PM, early for the appointment.

DH got the forms filled out in record time.

Tomorrow, I deal with my car, after my headache is completely gone.

So first the Weekend’s Wrap Up…

This weekend was pretty mellow considering that Valentines Day was last week, Presidents Day is today and I have some big things on the horizon for this blog coming up!  I also have been working to get a great story about this month’s focus I HEART Starbucks and Heart-Health related information from a Cardiologist friend.

So Saturday night was a nice Starbucks Evening…

And today I popped open my first Starbucks DoubleShot Energy drink, YUM!

Enjoy your day off all you Americans out there, preferably at your local Starbucks store… and remember to Tweet your Starbucks photos and/or updates because I’ve been re-tweeting many of the creative, funny and honest ones throughout each day and would love to see your version of a Patriotic Presidents Day Starbucks Cup too!

Week Zero, January 28, 2013 was the actual CABG surgery.  The hospital experience  can be found here.

DH came home on Thursday of that week and the first visiting nurse arrived on Saturday. Luckily, DS was able to stay until Sunday and he was a big help.

DH wasn’t allowed to lift any more than 5 pounds, so couldn’t raise himself out of bed.  He slept on a recliner in the living room and either DS or I slept on the sofa in case he needed any meds or help during the night.

Week One, February 4, 2013, one week from surgery.

The visiting nurse came twice and is pleased with wound healing.  Blood pressure is sometimes low.  The nurse thought he should have more fluids.  One lobe of the lung isn’t working to capacity and she wants more use of the incentive spirometers.  DH has two types from the hospital – the traditional one and one that our dog thinks looks like a dog toy that she should have.

Week Two, February 11, 2013 two weeks from surgery.  DH continues to lose weight.  He’s still sleeping in the recliner and I’m still on the sofa but there is much less getting up at night.

The Oxycodone is down to half pills much less often than prescribed.

The first (and only) visit to the surgeon’s office this week.  We saw her nurse practitioner who was very impressed with how DH is doing as was his PCP.  The nurse practitioner was so pleased, she said we don’t have to go back unless there are any problems.

The PCP ran blood tests, glucose, liver enzymes, cholesterol and others.

We saw the visiting nurse twice.  She thought DH was doing so well that she discharged him on Thursday.

DH made a few phone calls this week, worked a little, had a visitor on Sunday.

Week Three, February 18, 2013, three weeks from surgery

DH slept in the bed for half the night last night and seems to be doing ok.  He still took a half Oxycodone this morning.

We see the cardiologist this afternoon.  That report will be in the Week Four post. I imagine that we’ll be talking about rehab at this appointment.

Weeks Four and Beyond will have their own posts.

I’m writing this little note to tell you all that I am taking a week vacation from blogging this week. This is because I am getting bored with the posts and I need to come up with different ideas. I’m a little burnt out from the topics and I’m finding myself not having anything to write about. Therefore, I’m taking this week to recharge and capture some new inspiration. Come back next week and find out all the new things that are happening!

I picked up the group of women of various ages and drove in the funeral procession.  I heard them talking about their Nana and how she had lived such a great, long life.  I thought about the amazing last 24 hours I had experienced with this limo and decided to share it with this family…

….It started with a wedding yesterday in the afternoon,  a couple beginning their lives together.  After the reception ended in the evening I had cleaned the limo, taken it back to the garage and gone home to get some sleep. I was tired. I had been working a lot lately.

I hadn’t been asleep long when I got a call to do another run.  It was for Life flight.  I had heard of these runs but had never driven one.  It would involve picking up a team of doctors at the private airport, driving them to the hospital and waiting while they harvested organs from someone who had died, but  and then driving them back to the airport where they would fly out and take the collected organs to someone who had been waiting on a transplant list, and had gotten a call in the middle of the night, just like I had.

I didn’t feel like going.  It was a 2 hour drive just to get to the small airport.  So I knew right away that I would be working all night and might not even have time to get some sleep before the run I had scheduled in the afternoon.  But really, as a driver there is not much choice.  You don’t get to pick and choose which runs you will take.  And it was always feast or famine.  You were either scrambling to find work, calling different company owners and letting them that you were available, or you were so busy that you had trouble finding enough time to get a few hours sleep and a shower.  If you said no to a job, you might find that you were not called when a really good run came up.

So I knew as soon as the phone rang that I would have to go.  I quickly got ready and grabbed my bag that contained my toothbrush and other toiletries so that I could freshen up, just in case I didn’t have time to make it back to my apartment before my afternoon  run.  I had just started driving in my car to go get the limo when my cell phone rang.  I assured my boss on the other end that I was, in fact, in my car and on my way.

During the 2 hour drive to the airport I wondered what the circumstances were surrounding the death of the donor.  I thought about the sadness and grief and shock felt by his friends and family. But of course I didn’t know if it was a man or a woman, the age, or any information.  It could be a child.  I then thought about the recipient at the other end who had been waiting on a donor list, maybe for a long time, and the hope that he (she?) must be feeling.

When  got to the airport I found Wayne, another driver, already there with his limo.  We waited in the darkness, on the very quiet runway in the middle of the night, for the small airplane that was bringing the team of doctors.

People have often asked me why limousines are used in these kind of jobs when it seems extravagant and a waste of money.  But the truth is that limos made the most sense.  First of all, a limo is bigger than a taxi so it can hold more passengers and the doctors arrive in teams.  Second, the limos wait at the hospital, usually for hours, while the organs are being “harvested”, but also need to be ready to leave immediately because time is of the essence.

I found out that two flights were coming in.  We saw the lights of the first flight  in the distance, approaching the runway.  Wayne took the first group.  I waited only another ten minutes and then my group landed.  I quickly drove them to the hospital.

Wayne’s car was already parked and he crawled in the back of his car to get some sleep while he was waiting.  I tried to do the same but I have never been able to relax in the back of a limousine to the point  where I could fall asleep.  I end up thinking about how someone could just press their face to the tinted window and see me and that thought alone keeps me awake.

After reading a book I brought with me for a little while, I got out of the limo to stretch and walked around a little in the hospital parking lot.  I encountered one of the pilots, also waiting for the doctors to come out and return to the airport.  We talked and I found out that the leer jet he was piloting was headed for Miami, about an hour of flight time from where we were.  He asked me if I had ever been on a leer jet and I told him no.  He asked me if I wanted to go on the flight to Miami and back.  After some quick calculations and a phone call to make sure it was okay with my boss, I agreed that I would like that.

We ended up waiting for about five hours before the doctors came out of the hospital.  I had found out that the two groups we were waiting for were a heart team and a lung team.  Wayne took the first group back to the airport.  A short time later the physician that I was taking to the waiting jet walked out of the hospital.  The rest of his group had left earlier with Wayne.  The pilot, Bill, asked him if it was okay with him if I rode along with them for the trip to Miami.  He said he didn’t mind.

I parked the limo at the airport, after dropping them off at the plane, and ran to join them for takeoff.  I climbed into the small plane.  I glanced over at the doctor and could see that he was really tired.  My eyes then traveled down to the red and white igloo cooler, beat up and looking like one that you would find a construction worker eating out of during his lunch hour, that was next to him.  It looked like it had been carelessly tossed there and was sitting cockeyed on the seat.

I felt really excited to be on the flight and I had to remind myself to just be quiet and not bother the exhausted physician.  After being in the air for a little while the doctor began to talk to me.  I found out that he was a cardiologist and what he was carry in the lunch box was a heart!  He was from India.  With his thick head of hair and boyish grin he he gestured out the window to me at the lights of Miami as we were descending to land.  “My house is right down there” he said.  He then told me how his wife would be mad at him when he got home because he had to cancel plans with her and had missed celebrating Valentine’s Day with her because of this flight.  And, although I had so many questions, I simply listened.

As we were landing I thanked him for sharing his time, thoughts and space with me.  I was so overwhelmed with the realization of what I had just witnessed.  I had been flying with Cupid, a cardiologist,  who had spent his Valentine’s Day evening and  the next morning, taking a heart from someone who no longer needed it, someone who probably never suspected he would be giving this gift of life so soon, as his last gesture of giving, to someone waiting, hopeful for a new chance of living.  I was lost in my thoughts and  emotions of all of the people involved in this drama on the return flight.  It was still dark as we were descending and circling to land.  I looked over the pilots shoulder and wondered how he knew where the air strip was.  I couldn’t see anything but darkness.  A glance at the clock on his dashboard told me that we only had a few minutes before we were landing.  Then, I caught my breath when all of a sudden two lights on either side of the runway lit up and quickly spread, coming on two at a time as if rolling out a magic carpet to show us the way back…..

…As I shared this story of the events that had transpired in this limousine with the women, there was not a dry eye in the group.  They all agreed that Nana would be pleased to play a part in this very dramatic 24 hours that began with a wedding, the transfer of the gift of life from one person to another on Valentine’s Day, and ended with the funeral of a woman who had lived a long meaningful life and was loved by many.

I’ve often thought about this night, and wondered about the deeds of anonymous heroes that go unsung, those who play dramatic roles in the stories of  life and death that are going around us all the time, while we sleep, while we are unaware.

I will never forget this night, the night I was flying with Cupid.

Friday rolled around and my fiancé gets up earlier than I do to work out and on the mornings I do get up, we typically cross paths as he’s coming home and I’m leaving. Friday morning I wasn’t up yet and bless his heart—he tried with all his might to get me up and get me going. But I told him (and myself) that my back hurt from basically laying down for three days and that I’d start again on Monday.

Over the course of the past year this has happened more often times than not. Then all of a sudden three months will go by and I get upset that I haven’t lost weight—go figure. I can sit here and tell you about how much better I feel after I work out, how much more energy I have, how fulfilling it is to weigh yourself and weigh less than the last time you stepped on the scale—but when I want to talk myself out of something it ends up I can be pretty persuasive.

The beginning of this week though, something happened. Something that I think will probably stick with me for a very long time, if not forever. I visited the cardiologist which is one of the perks of being involved with the Go Red for Women Challenge. My labs were good, my blood pressure was great, and then she started calculating my coronary artery disease risk. She asked a series of questions, did some quick math, and then said, “The ONLY reason your risk is less than 1% is because you’re only 30.” Wait, what?

She then explained that my weight combined with the fact that I smoke (more on that later) puts some serious strikes in my column, but that being so young offsets them. If I were to stay this weight and continue to smoke though, as I get older, my risk would increase dramatically.

I’ve never been to a cardiologist, but having her point blank tell me what she did is something I’m glad happened. I’ve never been to a doctor who has been so straightforward about my health. They suggest I need to lose weight, they of course as doctors urge me to quit smoking, but when she put it the way she did—it resonated more. Smoking and being overweight are pretty much the two biggest risk factors for EVERYTHING–we all intuitively know that. But when someone looks you square in the eye and tells you what she told me, it makes you take pause.

I’m currently taking Chantix and I haven’t had a cigarette in two days. I’m also not angry about that which comes as a surprise. Maybe it’s the Chantix itself, or maybe it’s the cardiologist’s warning, or possibly the combination of the two—but I’m ready to not smoke anymore. And therein lies the difference. I’ve quit before, but over the course of the past couple years, I didn’t WANT to. Today that has changed and while non-smokers may not understand it, believe me when I say it’s a big deal.

I’ve also been going to the gym and just this morning pushed myself to places I didn’t even know I could go. As I was working out I saw this quote on a TV screen, “Wow. I really regret that workout. Said no one ever.” And in spite of the fact I was out of breath and dripping sweat, I chuckled because it’s true. Every day that you have the ability to get up and exercise should be a day that you get up and exercise.

“The ONLY reason your risk is less than 1% is because you’re only 30.” I’ll tell you this much. I’ll be darned if I ever let my risk get any higher than that.

A number of months back I signed up for Heartfelt’s on site heart test at a fitness center in Laguna Beach. I did it sort of tongue-in-cheek, not remotely expecting that I would be informed of a heart problem. Not too long after that testing I received notice from a cardiologist that a finding was raised as a result of the EKG. Well health wise, I believed myself to be bulletproof so the letter certainly got my attention.

A number of subsequent ongoing cardiologist’s test surfaced the finding that my heart was experiencing electrical problems, and inevitably I was going to require the installation of a pacemaker. I had the pacemaker installed, and now extend my gratitude to both Holly and the staff of Heartfelt.

In my most remote thinking, I would have not thought that I had heart issues. I worked out three to four times a week. I hiked and bicycled regularly, so just I just believed my heart-health to be of A-list quality. My suggestion for everyone, athletic or sedentary, is not to take your heart health for granted. Take advantage of  Heartfelt’s testing service. It is easy, costs next to nothing, and the outcome may very well save your life.

Thanks again Holly.

Don B.

Don didn’t know he had a heart abnormality until it showed up on an EKG at a Heartfelt Cardiac Project screening event.

~~~

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES

Schedule a heart screening today!

Heartfelt Cardiac Projects offers affordable heart screenings to the public.

http://www.heartfeltcardiacprojects.org

~~~

]]> http://maryomedical.com/2013/02/10/from-johns-hopkins/ Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:45:46 +0000 MaryO http://maryomedical.com/2013/02/10/from-johns-hopkins/ VIDEO: Heart disease is American’s No. 1 killer. Learn how you can stay protected – and what symptoms you shouldn’t be ignoring.

Featuring cardiologist Dr. Daniel Schwartz of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians and Jeanmarie Gallagher, Manager, Cardiac Rehabilitation of Suburban Hospital.

Alcohol, Brussels sprouts and water are not items a medical doctor typically prescribes to his or her patients. But Dr. Charles Kinder is not the average medical doctor.

Kinder talked about heart health at the River Forest Whole Foods last Tuesday as part of the grocery chain’s Valentine’s Day week event series.

Kinder, an energetic 50-year-old marathoner, smiled and gestured energetically as he flipped through his Power Point presentation. His gray hair matched his baby blue lab coat which was embroidered with his name and his specialty: Heart Rhythm.  

As Kinder waited for seats to fill, he chatted casually with the audience and joked about the “quiz” at the end of his presentation.

When most of the bright red chairs in the store’s cafe had filled, Kinder welcomed the guests, introduced himself and talked about his family. He was modest and did not mention that he graduated first of his class from the University of Illinois at Chicago; founded the company DocFroc, which makes antibacterial lab coats; and has performed over 7,000 heart rhythm operations. He is now the founder and director of the Heart Rhythm program at the Heart Care Centers of Illinois.

Kinder began by stating that heart disease kills more women than cancer, a shocking statistic that elicited silent nods from the audience. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. and Kinder offered sound nutrition advice regarding heart health.

Kinder said he advocates “healthy living by example” and believes that medical doctors should model a healthy lifestyle for their patients. He wakes up at 4:20 every morning and hits the health club with his trainer. His day is full of visits and surgeries but he is in bed by 9 every night.

Kinder detailed his daily food regimen, which focuses on whole grains and fresh produce. He recommended combining protein with carbs (such as milk with cereal), which keeps blood sugar from spiking and causing sleepiness. Fish is a major part of his diet; Kinder said he eats wild-caught salmon three times a week. He touted the antioxidants in alcohol, especially red wine, and said he said he enjoys two glasses of wine on the evenings when he is not on call. The audience murmured their enthusiasm as Kinder suggested 7 drinks per week for women and 14 for men.

Kinder emphasized exercise as a major contributor to health and well-being. A marathon runner himself, he casually told the audience that he runs four miles three times a week.

Oak Park resident Mary Wegner said she came to the session looking for ways to improve her family’s health after her husband underwent triple bypass surgery. “[Dr. Kinder’s] energy level is something to aspire to,” said Wegner.

The audience stared in disbelief as Kinder stated that one hour of exercise a day is required to fend off weight gain. He followed that statement with some practical exercise advice and a plea not to overdo it but rather to start slow and work up to a level that can be sustained for years to come. Kinder likened life to a marathon, stating that lifestyle changes are well worth the time and energy they require. A healthy diet and regular exercise, he said, will reduce risks of heart problems later in life.

Kinder said it is very important to stay hydrated, especially after exercise. He criticized sugar-laden sports drinks because they are high in calories: “don’t blow your workout by drinking a big sports drink.” He recommended plain water and allowed diet sports drinks as an indulgence.

Kinder’s audience was diverse, ranging from smartly dressed business women to overweight males to stereotypical health nuts toting their fair trade bags. Guests munched on the snacks provided by Whole Foods—nutty trail mix and a medley of fresh fruit—while sipping electrolyte-enhanced water.

Young mother Elizabeth Olympio said she expected a more scientific presentation from a cardiologist; however, she said the session taught her the value of cooking at home.

Following the conclusion of his presentation, Kinder was immediately surrounded by a cluster of curious attendees. He patiently answered their questions before dashing off. Presumably, he was heading home—it was almost his bed time.

Franciscan Alliance’s dedicated Chest Pain Center’s – emergency and cardiac teams – are available around-the-clock to stop a heart attack in its tracks with quick diagnosis and intervention, preventing further damage to the heart.

Check out our video – a collaborative effort from the Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Northwest Indiana. Our heart and emergency teams from all facilities are passionate about how we take care of patients with Chest Pain and Acute Coronary Syndrome Signs and Symptoms. The video demonstrates how a patient is identified and cared for when they are experiencing a heart attack. Viewers can gain knowledge and actually see the process from the Emergency Medical Systems (pre-hospital) standpoint through the Emergency Department visit and into the Catheterization Lab.

WATCH VIDEO >>

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/50582822#50582822

Milton Perry Smith, MD, FACC, works at his private practice, Cardiology Care, in Pasadena California. The practice features all types of cardiac testing, in a small and intimate setting so that each patient gets the optimal care. Dr. Smith is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Angiology and has been practicing for over 20 years. In 2011, Vitals.com honored him with their Compassionate Doctor Recognition and Patient’s Choice Award, for his excellent service.

I have been through a lot in my life…a LOT. And I’m a very proud to be where I am. Thus I want to celebrate my birthday with all my followers here on wordpress! Thanks for following me and wanting to know about me!

Mobility is restricted to allow the pacemaker/defibrillator time to settle and adhere to your body. You will have a drip for fluids and antibiotics which will be removed the next day. You can eat and drink as soon as you return to the ward.

A technician will come and check your pacemaker/defibrillator the next morning, you will have a chest X-ray and the nurses will change your dressing.

If you have a defibrillator inserted you may be required to attend an extra check by your cardiologist, and this will be arranged as soon as possible.

You will be asked not to lift your arms above your shoulders or lift anything heavy for 2-4 weeks. After 3-4 weeks you will visit Dr Nicholson again to check your wound and the functioning of your pacemaker/defibrillator. After this, regular checks can be attended to by your cardiologist or local hospital.

Your specific surgery will be discussed with you by Dr Nicholson. You may enter hospital the day before, or the day of, your operation and may return to the ward, or to Intensive Care, after surgery. You can expect to be attached to several tubes and drips, each performing an important function.

Pain relief is very important and we ask that you communicate to the nurses at all times how effective your pain control is. You are required to do a lot of deep breathing and coughing and will require good effective pain control. Your options for pain control should be discussed with you by the doctors and nurses prior to surgery. Y

ou can expect to have 1 or 2 rubber tubes from your chest, draining into bottles. These may appear frightening but are allowing your lungs to remain inflated and collect drainage. The nurses will check these drains every hour to see how your lungs are recovering from surgery. After a couple of days the drains will be removed. Occasionaly one drain remains in a little longer, if the lung is slow to expand.

Be patient, maintain your pain relief, continue to perform your exercises, and walk whenever able. Once your drains are out, the drips which have been giving you fluids, antibiotics and pain relief will be removed also. You may need to continue some pain medication after discharge, which usualy occurs in 7-10 days. Once home you can begin to slowly resume normal activity. Pathology results are not always finalised before discharge and Dr Nicholson will be sure to follow this up with you and your GP.

On the day of your admission you should present at hospital reception where you will be taken to the ward. You will be seen that evening by an anaesthetist who will prescribe something to help you sleep that night. It is best that you don’t unpack all your belonging’s as you may not return to the same bed after surgery. All valuable items should be left with your family. Your operation will take about 2-3 hrs (though you may be gone from the ward area for 4-6 hrs) and your family will not be contacted through this time. After the operation the surgeon will talk to your family or ring them if necessary.

Immediately following your operation you will be in intensive care. Most patients have no memory of this and by the time you are fully awake the majority of drips and drains will have been removed. Whilst you are in intensive care you will be individually cared for by a nurse who is with you at all times. Your family are free to ask as many questions as they like and the nursing staff are there to support your family and loved ones throughout your stay.

After a couple of days you will move to the ward where you were first admitted. By now you will be starting to move around with minimal assistance and will be encouraged to go for regular walks. The physiotherapist will see you once or twice a day and you will be sent for routine tests such as x-rays, ECG’s, and blood tests. The nurses will look at your wounds every day and all the stitches, staples, or wires are removed before you go home. It is important that you keep taking your pain relief and let the nursing staff know whenever you have pain.

By the time you are discharged you will be able to care for yourself and perform basic daily tasks. The bone in your chest will take 6-8 weeks to heal and this will prevent you from lifting heavy objects and driving. If you live alone or feel that you require some extra care before going home, rehabilitation facilities are available to you and can be arranged by the nursing staff. Upon discharge your medications and follow up appointments will be explained to you.

If at any point during your stay in hospital you have questions or concerns, please speak to Dr Nicholson when he visits. Once you go home, enquiries can be made via Dr Nicholson’s consulting rooms. You will receive more literature from the hospital and we ask that you read it and ask as many questions as you feel you need to. We recognise that this may be a stressful time for you and aim to make your journey through the surgical process as comfortable as possible.