For five long decades, a smoking habit overshadowed Sally’s life. The idea of quitting always seemed like an unreachable goal — something she never tried to attempt. “I knew I shouldn’t be doing it,” she explained. “But because I enjoyed smoking, I hadn’t previously considered quitting.” Deep down, Sally knew each cigarette was taking its toll, even if she couldn’t …
Winter Richards’ heart was failing in May 2023, but she didn’t know it. In fact, at age 27, the thought had never crossed her mind. “My chest was congested, and my nose was stuffy,” Winter remembers. “For weeks, I couldn’t lie down without coughing and spitting. I remember thinking it must be allergies, even though I’d never had allergies before.” …
Heart specialists at St. Elizabeth Healthcare had been treating Mark Grigsby for months, but his symptoms were worsening. After extensive testing and discussion, they recommended surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). An LVAD is a mechanical heart pump for people like Mark with advanced heart failure. It helps the heart pump blood from the lower left heart …
Blood pressure kiosks are a fast, easy and cost-free way to monitor your blood pressure. But are they accurate? As with many things in life, the answer is, “It depends.” But before we expand on that, let’s talk about why people use these convenient devices and how they can be helpful. Why Do Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Exist? If you …
A common misconception about stress is that it is “all in your head.” Ignore it, and the stress will go away. Not true. Stress is the body’s natural response to events or challenges that make us anxious, worried or scared. Everyone’s stressors are different and can change with age. Relationships, health, loss, grief, work and financial troubles can all cause …
Does your heart seem to race or beat “funny”? It could be one of the most common heart rhythm disorders – atrial fibrillation. “And that can be fixed,” says Dr. Mohamad C. Sinno, a Cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and cardiac electrophysiology at the Florence Wormwald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. What is AFib? Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a …
Blood pressure machine kiosks are a fast, easy and cost-free way to monitor your blood pressure. But are they accurate? As with many things in life, the answer is, “It depends.” But before we expand on that, let’s talk about why people use these convenient devices and how they can be helpful. Why Do Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Exist? If …
Heart attacks often don’t send warning signs. So, when people suddenly and unexpectedly feel symptoms, they think, “This can’t be happening! I’m … As the American Heart Association warns, “Don’t die of doubt.” If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911. It Helps to Learn Heart Attack Symptoms Knowing the symptoms of a heart …
Conversations about heart disease typically prompt images of male patients. But heart problems are a major concern for women, too. Nationwide, over 60 million women have some form of heart disease. It contributed to one in five female deaths in 2021, but few women are aware of the dangers. This is particularly true with Hispanic women. According to the …
