Delta Regional Medical Center

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Dr. Ben P. Folk, III more

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Heart Disease: The Delta’s Number One Killer

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans today, and the Mississippi Delta leads the nation in the incidence per capita of Cardiovascular Disease. This year, nearly half a million people in this country will die from a heart attack. Tens of thousands more will suffer fatal or crippling strokes. Knowing the factors that put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke – and taking action – could literally be a lifesaver for you or someone in your family.

Delta Regional Medical Center is offering a number of free and fun activities during February to educate the community about heart disease. February is American Heart Month. Activities will include Lunch and Learn Lectures by local cardiac physicians, city-wide “Wear Red Day” and “Leap for Life!” community aerobic class. The YMCA has joined Delta Regional in partnering to promote heart healthy activities. Phillip Doiron, YMCA Chief Executive Officer, is working with the hospital to coordinate a 1K Fun Walk/5K Run as well as promoting “heart healthy” activities at the YMCA.

“Dr. John Turner has dubbed Greenville the ‘Epicenter of Heart Disease in the U.S.’ based on national health statistics from the Centers for Disease Control,” stated L. Ray Humphreys, CEO of Delta Regional Medical Center. “With our mission to improve the health of the citizens and communities we serve, we must take the lead in addressing heart disease.” Plans are well underway in the conversion of the former burn unit on Hospital Street into a Heart and Vascular Center to treat the Delta’s leading cause of death. Dr. Steven Chapman, Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeon, is credentialed to perform open heart surgery, valve repair or replacement surgery, and a number of other procedures at DRMC. The Center is projected to open this spring. “The Mississippi Delta leads the nation in heart disease and heart-related death. At Delta Regional, we’re doing everything we can do to change that. As part of our plan to build Mississippi’s next great hospital, our Heart and Vascular Center is getting a new home, one that is larger, better equipped and family friendlier,” said Michelle Britton, Administrator of DRMC’s Heart and Vascular Center. “It’ll have 8 patient rooms, 2 cardiovascular operating suites, an angiography suite, a recovery unit, a more comfortable family waiting area, and a more efficient area for our staff.”

“We’ll also begin working in a whole new way. It’s an innovative concept that allows a patient to be admitted, have surgery, recover, and be discharged, while based in the same room and cared for by the same core staff,” continued Britton. “That is called the ‘same stay unit’ concept, and we are sure our patients, families, and physicians will like the new concept, which is modeled after the best hospitals in the country”.

Another improvement in heart care for Delta residents is the addition of a new Toshiba Aquilion 64 slice CT Scanner. “We’ve just added one of the most advanced CT scanners in existence which puts us strides ahead in diagnosing heart disease and cancer early on. This diagnostics machine produces an amazing 64 images every half second, thus allowing us to now offer you two very innovative diagnostics procedures,” according to David Wallace, Director of Radiology, “One, automated cardiac scanning, a non-invasive and highly accurate alternative to catheterization. And two, stroke analysis which allows us to make stroke diagnoses within a critical treatment window.”

“Once a person has been identified as a risk for heart disease or has suffered a heart-related illness, Cardiac Rehabilitation can really improve the quality of life of the patient and aid recovery”, according to Marge Clifford, RN, Director of Cardiology. “DRMC’s Cardiac Rehab is the only accredited Cardiac Rehab facility between Memphis and Jackson. A complete lifestyle modification including a supervised exercise program aids patients recovering from heart attack, bypass surgery, heart transplant, valve replacement, pacemaker or defibrillator implant, or congested heart failure.” The program consists of Phase I for inpatients, Phase II for outpatients, both in which the patient is constantly monitored by cardiac staff, and Phase III, a maintenance program which is non-monitored. Staff members include registered nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, dieticians, social workers and pharmacists. A physician referral is required to be able to enter the Cardiac Rehab program.

Additional therapy offered by DRMC Cardiovascular Services is Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). This therapy is especially useful for persons suffering from angina pectoris or chest pain, a condition caused by narrowed or obstructed coronary arteries. EECP can reduce the symptoms by increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries of the heart. “The patient lies on a bed wearing a series of pressure cuffs, similar to blood pressure cuffs around the calf, lower thigh, and upper thigh of the leg. As the cuffs are inflated and deflated, the pressure increases blood flow to the heart. The sessions usually take about an hour,” according to Clifford. “Many patients find they are able to read, listen to tapes, or relax during therapy.” Typical benefits for patients might include decrease in chest pain, reduced use of medication, and ability to enjoy a more independently mobile and active lifestyle. Cardiac Diagnostic services available at DRMC include Echocardiography, Carotid Ultrasound, Stress Testing, Cardiac Catherization, Non-invasive peripheral vascular studies of the arms and legs, Pulmonary Angiography, Renal and Peripheral Artery Angiography. Interventional Cardiac and Vascular Treatments include Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Valve Replacement, Coronary Angioplasty, Stenting, Pacemaker Insertion, Peripheral Vascular or Renal Angioplasty and Abdominal Aortic Aneurism repair.

“Seventy-five percent of our Delta residents have risk factors for heart disease,” according to Dr. John Turner IV, Cardiac Anesthesiologist. “We need to take care of each other and encourage each other to have annual examinations by a doctor, including complete risk assessment for heart disease.” For more information on DRMC’s Heart Month activities, contact at 662-725-1365.

Cardiac Care Physicians on Staff at Delta Regional Medical Center Cardiologists:Benjamin P. Folk, III, M.D. Kenneth A. Hahn, M.D. John L. Herzog, M.D. Michael Mansour, M.D. Norrapol Wattanasuwan, M.D. Cardiac Anesthesiologist John L. Turner, IV, M.D. Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon Stephen Chapman, M.D. Vascular and Thoracic Surgeon Hugh A. Gamble, II, M.D.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack and Stroke

You can’t change some factors, like your age and heredity. But the good news is that you can control many of the major risks – and greatly reduce your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Your AGE. Your risk of stroke, for example, doubles with each decade after age 35.

Your GENDER. Before menopause, women are less likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes. HEREDITY. If one of your parents has had cardiovascular disease, you’re more likely to have it, too.

SMOKING. Smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, and your risk of heart disease is twice that of a non-smoker. HIGH LDL

CHOLESTEROL. The LDL cholesterol that leads to clogged arteries is directly affected by diet. To reduce your cholesterol, eat more fruits, vegetables, fish and poultry. Lay off the cheeseburgers. Limit your salt intake (sodium) to 2500 mg a day. And don’t drink more than one beer, glass of wine or mixed drink per day.

EXCESS WEIGHT. One in three Americans is overweight – and putting extra strain on their hearts and cardiovascular systems.

SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE. You need a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, 3 times a week. Not getting enough contributes to high blood pressure and stress.

STRESS. Too much stress (and not knowing how to deal with it) gradually increases your blood pressure and strains your arteries.

Warning Signs of Heart Attack

If you see or experience one or more of these classic heart attack symptoms, rush to the hospital immediately:

• Intense chest pain

• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, or arms

• Uncomfortable fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and returns

• Nausea, sweating or dizziness

• Shortness of breath In many cases, especially when arteries are blocked, some of these warning signs may appear, in less severe form, days before the heart attack itself.

Sufferers often dismiss these symptoms as nothing serious, or they delay seeking treatment. If someone in your family – especially if they’re already at risk – shows any of these preliminary signs, call your doctor or the hospital’s emergency department right away.

Photo caption: Dr. John Turner VI, Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Dr. Steven Chapman, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, and DRMC team member Lesa Trotter watch Dr. Ken Hahn, Interventional Cardiologist as he demonstrates view of the heart.

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