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HEART DISEASE REMAINS
the No.
1
killer in the
United States. is is why Methodist Healthcare is com-
mitted to combating this deadly disease through clinical
excellence, advanced technology and innovative pro-
grams. Within the rst four months of
2012
, Methodist
Heart Services was recognized by two di erent organiza-
tions for quality and outcomes, opened a state-of-the-art
heart valve center, and continues to have the only hospital
in the area with a cardio-hospitalist program.
HEART PROGRAM ACCREDITED
In March, Method-
ist Heart Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital, was
accredited as a Heart Failure Institute by e Healthcare
Accreditation Colloquium.
is accreditation is based
on the hard work and dedication
of sta and physicians at the hos-
pital’s Advanced Heart Failure and
Transplant Program, o ering the
only hospital-based advanced heart
failure clinic in the region.
NEW VALVE CENTER OFFERS TAVR
e South Texas
Valve Center, a department of Methodist Hospital, is
the only private hospital-based center in South Texas
dedicated to heart valve patients. Physicians at the
center o er treatment for the narrowing of a heart
valve—called critical aortic stenosis—using a variety
of methods, including transfemoral aortic valve re-
placement (TAVR).
is innovative approach, using a
collapsible aortic heart valve, can be used on qualifying
inoperable adult patients.
TAVR is among the least invasive types of heart valve
surgeries. It is a way to replace a heart valve without hav-
ing to open the chest cavity. Bene ts of TAVR include
healthier heart outcomes and better quality of life for
patients who previously had no options.
Please ask your doctor about referring you to the South
Texas Heart Valve Center. If you need a free physician
referral, call Methodist Healthcare’s DoctorSource at
210-575-0355
or toll-free at
800-333-7333
.
CARDIO-HOSPITALIST IS IN THE HOUSE
Methodist
Hospital has a unique
24
-hour cardio-hospitalist pro-
gram, sta ed by the physicians of Cardiology Clinic of
San Antonio. is program allows our hospital to have a
cardiologist in our hospital at all times.
What does this mean for you?
Time is muscle, and every second counts when it comes
to a heart attack. Traditionally, cardiologists are on call
and not in the hospital
24
hours a day. With our program,
a cardiologist is always in the hospital and ready to care
for cardiac patients.
For many patients, the program has made the di er-
ence between life and death.
METHODIST HEART SERVICES
FOCUS ON QUALITY CARE
TAKE HEART—AND MAKE IT HEALTHY
WORK SCHEDULE:
hours a day, days a week.
How would you like to have that in your job descrip-
tion? For the human heart,
24/7
is the standard. Subpar
performance may not seem like an option when talking
about the heart’s work habits, but for roughly
5.7
million
Americans living with heart failure, it’s a round-the-
clock reality.
Heart failure is a form of heart disease that simply
means your heart isn’t working as well as it should. A
healthy heart pumps about
100,000
times a day, deliver-
ing blood to and from the far reaches of your body. An
unhealthy heart still pumps, but it may not pump enough
blood or with enough force to send a su cient supply to
all of your body’s tissues and organs.
SIGNS OF TROUBLE
People with heart failure o en
complain of:
Feeling tired or short of breath.
Trouble sleeping.
Abdominal pain and loss of appetite.
Unexplained weight gain or swollen legs and ankles.
Frequent dry cough.
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about
your symptoms. He or she may take a look at your heart
with x-ray, echocardiogram or other imaging tests.
TLC FOR YOUR TICKER
If you are diagnosed with
heart failure, your doctor will develop a treatment plan
for you. It is very important that you follow the plan
and communicate with your doctor on a regular basis,
HEARTMATTERS
®
FOR A HEALTHIER HEART
For a
free copy of
HeartMatters
magazine, call
210-575-0355
or
800-333-7333
.
HeartMatters
explains the signs and
symptoms of a heart attack and what you can do to live
a healthier lifestyle and avoid heart disease.
especially early in the process. Your treatment plan may
include medications such as angiotensin-converting en-
zyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers, which reduce
blood pressure and ease the strain on your heart.
Your doctor can also set up a diet and exercise plan
for you that will help strengthen your heart and improve
your overall health.
When a faulty heart valve or blocked artery is causing
your heart to underperform, surgical and nonsurgical
options—such as heart valve replacement, coronary
bypass or angioplasty—may be recommended. Talk with
your doctor to learn more about these procedures.
TAKE CONTROL
ere are certain risk factors for heart
disease that can’t be avoided, such as being over age
65
,
male or African American or having a family history of
heart disease.
But, according to the American Heart Association,
there are three basic lifestyle choices that will help you
defend against heart disease.
Avoid tobacco.
If you smoke, it’s time to quit. If
there’s a smoker in your home, it’s time to help him
or her quit. Smoking doubles your risk of developing
heart disease.
Exercise regularly.
Any exercise is better than none,
and just
30
minutes a day on most days of the week
will help lower your risk. Studies show that people with
moderate tness levels are much less likely to die early
from heart problems than those with poor tness levels.
Eat healthfully.
e foods we eat can contribute to
high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and weight
gain—all major risk factors for heart disease. Build your
diet around vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and cut
back on salt.
If you already have heart disease or haven’t exercised
in a while, speak to your doctor about creating a diet and
exercise plan that’s best for you.
Source: American Heart Association
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