When you have a loved one being cared for in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it can be very “intense.” Elizabeth Hlebak, RN in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth Edgewood, understands the journey you may be on and has some advice for you. She said, “The first thing to understand is there
If you are like most people you keep a salt shaker on your table at each meal and you add salt to every recipe you cook. Did you know your love of salt is putting you and your heart at risk? “Most Americans have too much salt in their diet. It is time that we
Have you ever been sitting in a meeting or trying to fall asleep and suddenly your heart skips, flutters or maybe starts racing? You aren’t alone. Palpitations or flutters can feel like the heart is throbbing, flip-flopping, murmuring, or pounding. They can also feel like the heart skips a beat. Some people feel palpitations as
Next time you’re in the kitchen, don’t reach for the salt to season your foods. Instead, use herbs. It’s an easy way to be heart-healthy. Need a little inspiration? Try this Chimichurri recipe, which uses Italian parsley and mint. Chimichurri is used to baste meats for grilling. Ingredients ½ cup Olive Oil 2 T Lemon
Growing up in East Tennessee you may not be offered fruit and oatmeal for breakfast – biscuits and gravy are more of a staple. Dr. James Locher, Cardiac Surgeon at the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular Institute explained, “I think, like most people, I inherited bad lifestyle habits from my family that could easily lead to
Having a heart attack is scary no matter what the circumstance, but if you are alone and having chest pain you need to be prepared. Daniel Zalkind, MD, Cardiologist at the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular Institute warns, “A heart attack can begin as chest pain and quickly progress to sudden cardiac arrest. Statistics tell
Has one of your loved ones been told they need to have their heart valve replaced? If so, they probably have aortic valve stenosis. When someone needs a heart valve replacement their quality of life is poor. They usually see a decline in daily activities and suffer from extreme fatigue. Typically, the doctor performs open
A new standard of care that reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack may be on the horizon to treat people with stable coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD) more effectively. Current treatment to prevent heart attack and stroke commonly consists of low-dose aspirin therapy. The COMPASS (Cardiovascular OutcoMes for People using
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, issued new blood pressure guidelines in November 2017, for the first time in 14 years. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to the heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. DP Suresh, MD Medical Director for the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular, and Chairman for
Susan Cox did the unthinkable – she drove herself to the hospital, even though she thought she could be having a heart attack. Her children had already been through so much when they lost their father to heart disease, so she didn’t want them to see her leave in an ambulance. Susan said, “Just two