Heart Health 2016

8/20/2019 Heart Health 2016

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 A Special Advertising Publication of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center

HeartHealth

“Just Say Know” CampaignEncourages Heart Disease Awareness

A Stroke at 25Young Wife and Mother Overcomes the Odds

Heart disease is the leading cause of

death in the world. Some sort of heart

disease affects one of every three

Americans. To call greater attention

to the importance of heart health,

Lexington Medical Center encourages

the community to just say “know.”

Education is key when it comes to taking care of your

heart. The “Just Say Know” campaign emphasizes

four main ways people can protect themselves against

heart disease:

KNOW the risk factors for heart disease.

KNOW when to talk to your doctor.

KNOW how to lower your risk.

KNOW when to call 9-1-1.

Talking to a doctor about your heart, even if you’re

healthy, is especially important. And there’s no bettertime than National Heart Month in February to have

this conversation, according to Payton Foust, MD, of

Lexington Family Practice Otarre Pointe.

“Family physicians care for your overall health, so

it just makes sense to talk to your family doctor about

your heart,” Dr. Foust said.

Don’t be afraid to have an honest conversation with

him or her. Your family doctor can help you determine

if you’re at risk for heart disease and what steps you

can take to control your heart health.

How Much Do You Know?Take our online quiz to see how much you know about

your heart health. Visit LexMed.com/Know.

Schedule a SpeakerTo schedule a speaker to talk to your church

group or organization about heart disease, visit

LexMed.Com/Know or call Community Outreach

at (803) 936-8850.

It was March 24, 2014 and

Savannah Tapler was on her

way to work, excited to getthe day going. It was her

25th birthday, but before the

day was out, she would find

herself facing the hardest

test of her young life.

As Savannah arrived at work that

morning at Lexington Medical

Center, where she is a planning

analyst, she stumbled as she got

out of her car. Wondering what

was going on, she realized shewas limping but felt no pain. As

Savannah tried to walk toward

her office, she could go no farther

and called out for help. Three

co-workers rushed to her side

and immediately took her to the

hospital’s Emergency department.

Lexington Medical Center is a

Primary Stroke Center certified by

Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The

hospital has also received a Gold

Plus Award and a Target Stroke

Award from the American HeartAssociation and American Stroke

Association. Both honors recognize

Lexington Medical Center’s

commitment to and success in

stroke care.

After a lengthy physical exam

and a CT scan, Savannah learned

she had suffered a burst blood

vessel in her brain, resulting in a

stroke. “When the doctor told me

he thought I was having a stroke,

I just couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“Stroke is not something you

associate with someone my age. I

was dumbfounded.”

Savannah steadfastly denied

she could have had a stroke. “It’s

something you think of that affects

older people who have underlyinghealth issues.” Savannah had always

watched her diet and worked out on

a regular basis. Now the doctor was

telling her she might walk again but

likely not run. “I just couldn’t accept

that,” she said.

Once she had recovered enough

to be released from Lexington

Medical Center, Savannah went

directly to a rehabilitation hospital.

She was determined to regain her

full mobility and immediately set to

work. “I had one job to do, and that

was to get back to my old self,” she

recalled. Savannah had at least three

hours of therapy every day and

usually stayed longer to put in extra

effort. By the time she was released

from the rehabilitation center, shewas able to take a few steps without

holding onto anything for support.

Her rehabilitation continued

through outpatient therapy.

She consistently worked on her

recovery, taking exercise bands

home and playing games such as

picking up marbles with her toes.

Her husband Aidan also learned

some of the exercises so that he

could help at home.

Today, Savannah is completely

recovered. “I had a bit of lingering

shaking in my leg for a while,”

she said. “But that has almost

completely disappeared.”

And now she has a bundle of joy

that keeps her on the go as she and

Aidan welcomed their son Beckett

in November. “I was able to run the

Lexington Medical Center Heart

& Sole Women’s Five Miler when I

was 12 weeks pregnant!”

While Savannah’s stroke may

not have been preventable —doctors now say she suffered

from a “spontaneous intracranial

hemorrhage” that may have

been the result of a weakened

blood vessel since birth — she

understands the significance of

seeking help as quickly as possible

for someone who might be

suffering from a stroke. “I believe

that getting to a doctor as quickly as

I did probably saved my life. If I had

been at home, I’m not sure I would

have gone to the doctor, but thank

goodness my co-workers insisted on

getting me to the ER.”

And she knows her attitude had

a great effect on her recovery. “I

was told I was never going to run

again, but I didn’t let that hinder

my efforts. As long as you are

determined, you can do it.”

What’s Inside

From heart attacks to stroke,

learn more about cardiovascular

health in this special section.

It features interviews with

Lexington Medical Center

physicians, a behind-the-scenes

look at state-of-the-art technology

at the hospital and stories of

people from our community

who have been treated for

cardiovascular disease.

Show Us What You Know!

Tag photos of yourself when you’re exercising, eating right,

relaxing or taking your blood pressure.We want to see those

heart-healthy seles! Use the hashtag #JustSayKnow.

to heart disease

Stroke survivor Savannah Tapler with husband Aidan and son Beckett in

their West Columbia home

P A T I E N

T S T O R

Y


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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 20162 HeartHealth

Did you know that your heart has an

electrical system? It does, and it plays

an important role. The heart is a pump

that requires energy to work. The

heart’s electrical system coordinates

the heart’s chambers to move blood

throughout your body.

There’s a lot of talk lately about an electrical

problem in the heart called atrial fibrillation. We

even hear about it in television commercials with

celebrities talking about their experience with

the condition.

Categorized by chaotic electrical activity in

the top of the heart, atrial fibrillation is a rapid,

disorganized abnormality of the rhythm of the

top chambers of the heart. It tends to make

the bottom chambers beat more rapidly and

irregularly, and it can put patients at increased

risk for heart failure and stroke.

Causes include older age, high blood

pressure, mitral valve disease, heart failure,

hyperthyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea.

Most patients with atrial

fibrillation have palpitations,

lightheadedness, shortness of

breath, or fatigue. Some patients

do not have any symptoms at all.

Occasionally, atrial fibrillation

is diagnosed during evaluation

after the onset of heart failure or

a stroke.

Based on symptoms, patients

at Lexington Cardiology, a

Lexington Medical Center

physician practice, may undergo

testing in electrophysiology — an area of

cardiology that identifies and treats abnormal

heart rhythms.

“Atrial fibrillation is the most common

cardiac arrhythmia, and its incidence increases

with age. As our population in general grows

older, we will continue to see more and more

patients with this condition,” said William W.

Brabham, MD, FHRS, of Lexington Cardiology.

“Fortunately, the treatment options for patients

with atrial fibrillation have continued to expand.”

In addition to atrial fibrillation ablation, where

doctors electrically isolate the sources

of the abnormal heart rhythm to reduce

the likelihood of atrial fibrillation in

the future, they may control the heart

rhythm with medication or shock

the heart back into rhythm. And they

work to treat underlying causes such as

obstructive sleep apnea. Each patient

requires a comprehensive evaluation

to determine the best course of action

to treat and prevent complications of

atrial fibrillation.If left untreated, atrial fibrillation can

lead to heart failure or a stroke. Heart failure can

occur because of persistently high heart rates,

and strokes can happen because of clots forming

in the heart and ultimately going to the brain.

To learn more about the treatment of atrial

fibrillation at Lexington Medical Center,

visit LexMed.com/Heart.

In most cases, PE is caused by blood clots that

travel to the lungs from the legs or other parts of

the body, which is known as deep vein thrombosis.

These clots contribute to 100,000 deaths per

year, according to the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention.

Lexington Medical Center now offers a new

treatment option for patients suffering from PE —

the EKOS EkoSonic® Endovascular System.

With this system, interventional cardiologists

can deliver lower doses of thrombolytic, orclot-busting, medicines directly into the clots.

Ultrasonic waves in the system are used to

fragment the clot, helping the clot-busting drug to

more effectively “melt” it away.

“While systemic thrombolysis relies on blood

flow, which is very limited in completely blocked

vessels, to deliver a larger dose of thrombolytic

drug to the intact surface of the clot, catheter-

directed thrombolysis

uses catheters placed

directly through the clots

to deliver smaller doses

of thrombolytic drug

right into the middle of

the clots,” said Robert A.

Leonardi, MD, FACC,

FSCAI, of Lexington

Cardiology, a Lexington

Medical Center physicianpractice.

“Catheter-directed thrombolysis helps patients

recover from life-threatening PE more quickly and

more completely by providing most or all of the

benefit of full-dose, systemic thrombolysis with

substantially less bleeding risk,” said Dr. Leonardi.

Lexington Medical Center performed its first

catheter-directed thrombolysis for PE last year.

Right: (A) Massive PE diagnosed by computed tomography. (B) Large blood clot nearly completely blocking

the left lower lobar pulmonary artery. (C) EKOS catheter inserted through the clot.

New Treatment Available for Pulmonary Embolismat Lexington Medical Center

It’s Electric! Understanding and Treating Atrial Fibrillation

Robert A. Leonardi, MD,FACC, FSCAI

Have you heard of pulmonary embolism (PE)? It’s a blockage in one of the pulmonaryarteries in your lungs.

Even though anyone can develop

blood clots and pulmonary embolism,

certain factors increase your risk.

• Medical history

• Heart disease

• Certain cancers

• Prolonged immobility, such as

bed rest and sitting during travel

• Surgery

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Supplemental estrogen, such as

birth control pills and hormone

replacement therapy

• Pregnancy

Risk Factors for Pulmonary Embolism

A

B

C

William Brabham, MD, FHRS

“…treatment options for patients with atrial fibrillation have continued

to expand.” — Dr. William Brabham, Lexington Cardiology


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A Special Advertising Publicatio n o f The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center 3HeartHealth

P A T I E N T S T O

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Y

Striking Back Against Heart DiseaseOn Friday nights, you can count on finding Martha Gregg at the Gamecock Lanes bowling alley in Sumter.

Lexington Medical Center Performs Groundbreaking Aortic Valve Replacement Procedure

She bowls there every week with her son

and daughter, and participates in bowling

tournaments. Her personal best is a 195.

She’s back in the game after a serious

setback in 2014.

During that time, the 68 year old noticed

she was getting very tired.

“I would get so tired when walking. I couldn’t

stand up in church, either. I couldn’t bake. I

couldn’t lift my clothes. I was so tired and out

of breath.”

It was so bad that she fell asleep at work

one night.

The fatigue affected her bowling, too.

“I was too tired to bowl,” she said. “I’d bowlone game and couldn’t finish it. My son would

say, ‘Mom, just sit down.’”

Tests at Sumter Cardiology, a Lexington

Medical Center physician practice, revealed

something was wrong with Martha’s aortic valve,

the heart valve that allows oxygenated blood

back into the body.

Sumter Cardiology referred Martha to

Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia for

further testing.

“They said the valve was not pumping enough

blood through my body to keep me going full

force. The valve was slowing me down,” she

said. “They said it needed to be replaced. That

scared me.”

But that June, instead of traditional open

heart surgery, Martha underwent transcatheter

aortic valve replacement, known as TAVR, at

Lexington Medical

Center. This state-of-

the-art cardiovascular

technology allows

doctors to replace the

aortic valve without open

heart surgery.

TAVR is considered the most significant

advancement in cardiology since coronary angioplasty.

Currently, TAVR is for patients with severe

aortic stenosis who are high-risk candidates for

open heart surgery because of their age, history

of heart disease or other health issues.Patients with severe aortic stenosis have a

narrowed aortic valve that does not allow blood

to flow efficiently. As the heart works harder

to pump enough blood through the smaller

opening in the valve, the heart eventually

becomes weak. Over time, it can lead to life-

threatening heart problems.

To replace the diseased aortic valve with

TAVR, the new aortic valve is compressed into

a catheter. Doctors thread the catheter through

the body to the inside of the diseased aortic

valve, then they deploy the new valve inside the

diseased aortic valve, which becomes the anchor

for the new valve. The new valve is functionalimmediately and normal blood flow is restored.

With this minimally invasive technique,

doctors deploy the new aortic valve through

just a small puncture in the femoral artery in

the leg.

“After a few days in the hospital, I noticed

that I could walk more,” Martha said. “I

thought, ‘I don’t feel tired.’ I couldn’t do that

before without stopping and resting.”

Two months later, she was back at the

bowling alley impressing the competition at

tournaments again.

And she’s thankful to the Lexington Medical

Center team that fixed her up.

“I feel like I can run a marathon now. It’s really

good. I can kick my heels up, too.”

Lexington Medical Center is part of an

elite group of 20 hospitals across the

United States participating in a NationalInstitutes of Health study on “trans-

caval” aortic valve replacement. The

goal is to improve care for patients with

aortic stenosis.

Patients with aortic stenosis have a narrowed

aortic valve that makes it more difficult to pump

blood out of the heart to the body. Over time,

the narrowed valve can cause the heart muscle to

thicken. Untreated, it can lead to heart failure.

Trans-caval aortic valve

replacement is a way to replace the

aortic valve in the heart using only a small incision in the groin, even

when the arteries above the groin

are blocked. In this procedure,

doctors take a “detour” to the

heart by making a temporary

connection from a vein in the leg

to a large artery in the abdomen.

The connection is then closed at

the end of the procedure.

Lexington Medical Center is

currently the only hospital in South

Carolina performing trans-caval

aortic valve replacement. In fact,last September, Lexington Medical

Center performed the 141st and

142nd trans-caval aortic valve

replacements in the world.

It’s the latest advancement

in transcatheter aortic valve

replacement (TAVR), which allows

doctors to replace the aortic valve in

the heart through a catheter instead

of with open heart surgery.

Robert Leonardi, MD, FACC,

FSCAI, of Lexington Cardiology, a Lexington

Medical Center physician practice, learned

about the study and spoke with the principal

investigators about Lexington Medical Center

and its complete cardiac care program.

“This novel approach to aortic valve

replacement is significant because it allows

patients who might otherwise be treated only

with palliative care to receive a new aortic valve

relatively easily,” Dr. Leonardi said. “It leads to

nearly immediately improved quality of life, and

most of the patients will live longer.”

Lexington Medical Center operates a

busy TAVR program with a dedicated,

multidisciplinary team that tailors eachprocedure to the individual patient in order to

receive the best outcome. The patients can even

avoid surgical incisions and general anesthesia.

Simpler procedures allow patients to recover

more quickly and go home as early as a day

after valve replacement. And patients feel better

almost immediately.

For more information on TAVR at Lexington

Medical Center, visit LexMed.com/Heart.

TAVR is considered the most significant advancement in

cardiology since coronary angioplasty.

Am I at risk for a heart attack?

“The average person isn’t at risk for a heart attack.

Those at risk are people who are sedentary, overweight,

who have poor eating habits and a signicant family

history of heart problems.”

What symptoms indicate a heart attack?

“Your classic symptoms are going to be chest pain, shortness of breath,

lightheadedness, dizziness and nausea or stomach pain; however, in the elderly

and some diabetic patients, it is possible to have silent heart attacks with no

symptoms at all.”

ASK THE DOCTOR

Martha Gregg is back in the game at Gamecock Lanes in Sumter after a successful aortic

valve replacement.

Image courtesy:Edwards Lifesciences

Meet our Heart Valve team: (l–r): Jeffrey A. Travis, MD; Robert M. Malanuk, MD, FACC; Kristen Davis, MSN, RN, CCRN; Robert A. Leonardi, MD, FACC, FSCAI; and Deyanira “Dee” Prastein, MD

Gerald A. Fishman, MDHARBISON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES


4/12


What is high blood pressure?“Simply stated, hypertension is a disease in

which resting blood pressure is persistently

higher than normal. Over time, increasedpressure inside

the blood vessels

causes damage to

the vessel walls,

and the body

thickens the artery

walls in response

to this increase in

pressure, which

compromises blood

flow. Uncontrolled

blood pressure

can lead to heartattack, heart

failure and stroke.”

Why should I be concerned about

high blood pressure?“No one ‘feels’ high blood pressure.You don’t

feel bad when your blood pressure is high,

so you don’t feel better when it is treated.

For many people, permanent damage has

already occurred before high blood pressure is

diagnosed or treated.”

Do I need to lower my blood pressure?

“Treatment for high blood pressure varies bypatient, depending on his or her age and overall

health. Blood pressure readings persistently

higher than 120/80 are considered high for

most people. You should see your primary care

physician to check your blood pressure and to

see if you need treatment. In most situations,

blood pressure can be safely lowered through

proper diet, exercise and medication.

During pregnancy, high blood pressure can be

especially dangerous for mom and baby. In fact,

it’s the leading cause of death in women who are

pregnant. So, it’s very important for expectant

moms to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

“When you’re pregnant, you’re

essentially running a marathon,”

said Jully A.F. Aguirre, MD, an

OB/GYN at Sandhills Women’s Care,

a Lexington Medical Center physician

practice. “You want to be the fittest

you can be and go in like a champion.”

An ideal blood pressure reading is

120/80 or lower. High blood pressure

happens when the top number is

140 or greater, or when the bottom

number is 90 or greater. High blood

pressure during pregnancy can cause

several complications.

The first is premature birth. A woman with

high blood pressure may need to give birth

early to avoid serious health problems for her

and her baby.

A second complication is low birth weight.High blood pressure can compromise the flow of

oxygen and nutrients to the baby, causing him or

her to grow more slowly.

A third possible problem is placental

abruption, which occurs when the placenta

separates from the wall of the uterus before birth,

limiting the amount of oxygen and

nutrients in the womb.

Another complication is a

condition called pre-eclampsia, when

a woman has high blood pressure

and signs that some of her organs

may not be working well. Pre-

eclampsia symptoms include high

blood pressure, protein in the urine,

severe headaches, nausea and pain in

the liver. If not treated, the condition

can be life threatening. The only cure

is to deliver the baby.

Some women have high blood pressure

before they get pregnant, while others have it

for the first time during pregnancy. Importantly,

research shows that women with high blood

pressure during pregnancy may develop other

cardiac risk factors later in life and may be morelikely to suffer from poor cardiovascular health.

“High blood pressure during pregnancy is

extremely common,” Dr. Aguirre said. “The

risk for it also increases as the pregnancy moves

further along.”

Risk factors for high blood pressure during

pregnancy include never having been pregnant

before, teenage pregnancy, advanced maternal

age, pre-existing high blood pressure or kidney

disease, obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Aguirre advises discussing your risk factors

with your doctor before you become pregnant.

“Be motivated to do good things for you and

your baby. You want to be able to take care of

your young children — and be around for themfor many years to come.”

On average, we spend one-third of our lives asleep, and the quality of that time

has a huge effect on our overall health. So much so that most people who suffer

from chronic sleep issues also have other health problems.

According to Sark is S. Derderian, DO, FCCP, at Lexington Medical Center’s

Lexington Sleep Solutions, sleep is not just a “time out” from your daily life;

it’s time for your entire body to rest.

“There are two types of sleep: REM and non-REM. Muscles generally

repair themselves during non-REM sleep, and the brain repairs itself during

REM sleep. During non-REM sleep, your heart rate, breathing and blood

pressure all fall below awake levels. Any time you have an arousal or wake

from sleep, your blood pressure and heart rate increase, which causes your

heart to work harder,” said Dr. Derderian.

This stress on the cardiovascular system can lead to serious health

conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Sleep

apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder associated with low levels of

oxygen, can lead to pulmonary hypertension if left untreated. Stroke and irregular heart rhythms,

known as arrhythmias, are also common in patients with sleep apnea.

Treating sleep-related breathing disorders, however, can greatly improve heart function.

There are a number of tips and techniques that can improve the quality and quantity of sleep,

including establishing a routine, exercising early in the day, avoiding late-night snacking and sleeping

in a cool, dark, quiet environment.

And we should listen to our bodies.

“If you have any kind of heart condition, it is especially important to watch for signs of sleep-related breathing disorders. Some of these signs may include excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue,

disruptive snoring and morning headaches. Waking up frequently to use the bathroom during

the night and being excessively overweight are also signs that you may need to see a physician

concerning your sleep,” said Dr. Derderian.

Physicians use several tools to screen for sleep apnea.

“The Epworth Sleepiness Scale helps to determine the level of daytime

sleepiness in specific situations. If you score more than 10 on the scale, you

have excessive daytime

sleepiness and need

to be evaluated by a

sleep physician,” said

Mohamed Soliman, MD,

FCCP, at LexingtonSleep Solutions.

Sleep apnea can also

run in the family. If you

have a family member

with sleep apnea, you have a 50 percent chance of

having it as well. If a relative has been diagnosed

with sleep apnea and you show signs of a sleep-

related breathing disorder, consider consulting

with your physician about your sleep.

Oh, Baby! Heart Health During Pregnancy High blood pressure is a serious problem. Statistics show one in three adults in

the United States has it. Untreated, it can lead to problems including a heart attack

or stroke.

Rest Easy for Heart Health

Jully A.F. Aguirre, MD

Sarkis S. Derderian,DO, FCCP

Mohamed Soliman, MD,FCCP

Sandhills Women’s Care offers a variety of obstetrical and gynecological services for all

ages at two convenient locations in West Columbia and Northeast Columbia. The Northeast

Columbia location now offers 3-D mammography and DEXA scans. For more information, visit

SandhillsWomensCare.com or call (803) 788-0268.

ASK THE DOCTOR

Daniel R. Shumpert, MDLEXINGTON FAMILY

PRACTICE IRMO

*If greater than 210, call your doctor immediately.**If greater than 120, call your doctor immediately.

KNOW YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE VALUES

CATEGORY SYSTOLIC BP DIASTOLIC BP

Normal Less than 120 Less than 80

Prehypertension 120–139 80–89

Stage 1 Hypertension 140–159 90–99

Stage 2 Hypertension 160 or greater* 100 or greater**

“When you’re pregnant, you’re

essentially running a marathon.

You want to be the fittest

you can be and go in

like a champion.”

– Jully A.F. Aguirre, MDSandhills Women’s Care


5/12


concerns to his son and executive chef to focus 100

percent on his health.

“After surgery, what I needed was quiet and

healing.” Dupre signaled “do not disturb” to his

family to focus exclusively on recovery. He dove into

physical therapy just weeks after surgery, starting

cardiac rehabilitation at “my little club,” Lexington

Medical Center Irmo.

“They monitor you and help you get through it. I

started doing just one minute on each exercise, and

now I’m at 25 minutes.” Dupre, now a cardiac rehab

graduate, dropped 30 pounds in just four months.

The trim, buoyant 75 year old appears healthy, happy

and full of life.

“I am playfully moving forward to my last quarter

of life, and I’d like to have an influence,” he said. “I’ve

been impacted by the total care package I received

after surgery, so I’ve decided to stay with the exercise

program, and maybe be a positive effect on

others who are there.”

Dupre adjusted his own cooking with low-

fat, low-salt alternatives, and welcomed some

healthier recipes in his catering kitchen as well.

He says more people are interested in options

that are both delicious and healthy.

There have been other changes for Dupre.

He is more intentional with his meals, and thework day slows down at 4:00 p.m., when he

lets his staff, which proved quite capable in his

absence, run with the business. He also tries to

remove himself “from the conflicts of life.”

“Business has its conflicts — just living has its

conflicts. That’s where God comes in. Probably the

only way you can change is to have a good balance

between spirit and life.

“It’s worth it to try to make it through as many

quarters as you’ve got,” he added. “It’s unbelievable

how good I feel today.”

Dupre Percival eased into his “final

quarter” of life without changing his

game plan.

The entrepreneur and founder of Dupre

Catering and Events worked long and full days.

He oversaw operations at his Senate Street

events kitchen and guest venues in Columbia,

networked with business clients, hovered over

his executive chef ’s imaginative creations, parked

cars and washed dishes.

“We do about a thousand events a year,” he

said “It’s a physically demanding business, witha lot of late nights, a lot of lifting and carrying. I

ate when I wanted and what I wanted.”

As Dupre approached age 75, he began to feel

the effects of an over-full life. He dismissed sleep

problems, indigestion and pain in his back as

signs of age. Then, on August 13 of last year, he

felt winded as he climbed the slight slope from

the Senate Street catering kitchen to his office.

At 3:00 p.m., he surprised his wife and business

partner son by going home.

Dupre has a wealth of professional friends.

Recognizing that something was seriously

wrong, he called a friend who is a surgeon; headvised Dupre to head straight to Lexington

Medical Center.

Although Dupre has genetic longevity on his

side (his mother will soon be 102 years old),

his lifestyle was the perfect mix for coronary

artery disease: a high-stress career; uneven sleep

patterns; little regular exercise; and a diet high

in sugar, salt and fat. His symptoms flashed

no warning lights. That’s not uncommon;

coronary artery disease sometimes appears with

symptoms similar to indigestion or heartburn.

Related symptoms may be masked as shoulder,

arm, neck, back or jaw pain. It wasn’t until Dupre

experienced shortness of breath that the disease

got his attention.

“In retrospect, I was feeling heart pain, but

I was not listening to my body. I’m lucky — I

could have had a serious heart attack.”

With three badly clogged arteries, a stent

was not a treatment option for Dupre. As he

faced open heart surgery, he remembered how

impressed he was with a young cardiovascular

surgeon at Lexington Medical Center — Jeffrey

A. Travis, MD, of Lexington CardiovascularSurgery. They met when Dupre catered an

event at the hospital. Dupre requested that

Dr. Travis, who spearheaded Lexington Medical

Center’s comprehensive heart program, take his

case and perform the needed surgery.

Dupre playfully calls Dr.

Travis “John Wayne” now.

“I had great confidence in

the professional approach of

the entire team. I was given

the most professional care

I’ve ever had in 75 years,”

Dupre said.Dr. Travis called Dupre a

true Southern gentleman

whom he enjoyed getting to

know, but added that his

journey to heart surgery is a familiar one.

“Dupre is one-of-a-kind, but his story is not

unique,” Dr. Travis said. “Stress and lack of

focus on one’s own health is a recipe for a visit

to my office.”

The diagnosis and surgery got Dupre’s

attention. He delegated all his professional

Heart Scare Inspires Winning Recipe for Life

Beautifully roasted Brussels sprouts create a marvelous aroma in the

Percival Catering kitchen. More people are requesting healthy offerings

for their parties and gatherings, Dupre said, and it’s easy to meet

expectations.

“I don’t eat fried foods; I sell them. I don’t eat a lot of sweets; I

encourage them,” said Dupre, who is “not trying to change other people.

But I want that healthier influence to come into the menu.” Dupre,

whose catering service regularly serves at the South Carolina State

Farmer’s Market, offers new items with a heart-healthy flair next to the

traditional fried Southern fare, “so people have a choice.”

A recent favorite is a flavorful pickled kale salad that can be served as

an appetizer (think half a seared scallop with it, served on toast points)

or alongside a main dish.

Pickled Kale Salad3 lb cleaned kale

Cauliower cut into small pieces

1 red sweet pepper

1 carrot, julienne cut

1 thinly sliced red onion

3 c apple cider vinegar with pickling

spice (about 2 tbsp)

½ c sugar

1 c olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp turmeric

Healthy Recipe

“Probably the only way

you can change is to

have a good balance

between spirit and life.”

— Dupre Percival

Preparation

Boil vinegar and pickling spice with the sugar; strain pickling spice and pour

over kale and vegetables. Let cool, then add 1 cup of good olive oil; adjust

seasoning with salt, pepper and turmeric. Serve as cold salad accompanying

grilled scallops, pork tenderloin or marinated chicken.

P A T I E N T S T O

R Y

Jeffrey A. Travis, MD


6/12


Losing weight can lower your chances of

developing heart disease by improving blood

pressure, cholesterol levels and blood flow.

But with our fast-paced lives, losing weight

can be easier said than done. Between keeping

up with busy work schedules, children’s activities

and daily housework, eating healthy and

exercising can become an obstacle and challenge.

That’s where a new weight-loss procedure at

the South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center, a

Lexington Medical Center physician practice,

comes in. It’s called Orbera™, and

Lexington Medical Center is thefirst hospital in the Southeast to

offer it.

“Orbera is ideal for people who

are 25 to 60 pounds overweight,

and who need a jump start to begin

to lose weight and improve their

health,” said Marc C. Antonetti,

MD, FACS, surgeon with the South

Carolina Obesity Surgery Center.

Orbera is a soft, silicone balloon

with saline that’s designed to fit

comfortably in your stomach. Its volume and

shape are meant to take up space in the stomach,

which encourages portion control by making

you feel full and giving you the edge to finally

lose weight.

Doctors place Orbera in the stomach through

a simple, non-surgical, outpatient procedure

completed under sedation. There is no incision

and patients can go home the same day. In fact,

the FDA-approved procedure only takes 20 to

30 minutes.

Orbera is a balloon that will remain in place

for six months. During that time, patients

receive comprehensive education from

clinicians and dietitians at the SouthCarolina Obesity Surgery Center about

healthy eating, including information

about nutritious foods, portion

size and meal planning. They are

monitored on a routine basis.

“About 60 percent of the United

States population is a candidate for

this procedure — because they need to

lose between 25 and 60 pounds,” said

Dr. Antonetti. “Our goal is to reach

out to teach people about appropriate

nutrition and prevent them from becoming

morbidly obese.”

In addition to making patients feel full andcausing weight loss, Orbera will condition

patients to eat smaller meals and require less

food. After six months, the balloon is removed.

By that time, patients have established healthy

lifestyle choices to continue to lose weight and

keep it off.

Losing weight is important for cardiovascular

and overall health. There are many options

available at Lexington Medical Center.

For more information about Orbera,

visit SCObesity.com.

Rebecca “Bea Jay” McNair, MDSANDHILLS FAMILY MEDICINE

What role does cholesterol play in cardiovascular disease?

“Elevated triglycerides or LDL bad cholesterol can contribute to plaque formation in the blood vessels; these plaques can break off

over time and travel to the heart, ultimately causing a heart attack. By lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, the risks for coronary

artery disease (CAD) go down. Conversely, HDL good cholesterol is believed to be somewhat protective against CAD. It is important for

patients to know their cholesterol numbers – both good and bad – and know where they stand in regards to CAD risk.”

ASK THE DOCTOR

Losing Weight Improves Heart HealthPeople who are overweight or obese often have health problems that increase the risk for heart disease, including high blood

pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. Excess weight can also cause changes in your heart that make it work

harder to send blood to all the cells in your body.

Marc C. Antonetti, MD, FACS

Eating Well for Your Heart

Laura Stepp, MA, RD,LD,CDE

Orbera™

James M. Chapman, MDLEXINGTON FAMILY PRACTICE LEXINGTON

How will heart disease affect me in the long run?

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Addressing heart disease early can

significantly improve your long-term health.”

ASK THE DOCTOR

Eating well is about making healthy food

choices. Here are some tips to make your

meals heart healthy from Laura Stepp, MA, RD,

LD, CDE, Lexington Medical Center dietitian.

• Cook from scratch more than you buy prepared foods or go out to eat.

• Shop the outside aisles of the grocery store. That’s where we find

healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy

products. Try pre-chopped fresh vegetables and prepared

fresh salads to shorten meal preparation time.

• When planning a meal, first think color. Color

means vegetables and fruit.

– Try one new vegetable and fruit weekly.

– Frozen vegetables and fruit are great options

when fresh items are not available or are out

of season.

– Canned vegetables are good, too. Be sure to look for“low sodium” or “no salt added” choices.

– Choose fruit to satisfy a sweet craving. Fruit is also an easy

and fast snack.

• If you’re going out to eat, look for meals with lots of vegetables or

ask for vegetables on the side.

• Choose lean proteins such as fish, seafood and skinless chicken. Limit

red meats (beef, pork and lamb). Look for leaner cuts of red meat and

smaller servings.

• Opt for more plant-based proteins. Consider having 1–2 meals a day

with them.

– Dried beans and lentils are an excellent, cost-effective and heart-

healthy alternative to meat.

– Nuts and seeds are great protein sources.

Nuts can also be a source of more calories,

so eat them in small amounts; a single serving

is one ounce.

– Eat a sliced apple, pear or banana with a tablespoon of your favorite

natural nut butter for a tasty snack or quick breakfast.

– Low-fat dairy and eggs are also good protein choices. Both make for a

quick and easy snack or breakfast option.

– Limit cheese. A one-ounce serving, equal to a

standard cheese stick, can be high in calories,

sodium and saturated fat. Look for cheeses

that are lower in sodium and saturated fat

such as natural Swiss and mozzarella.

– Plant-based milks are excellent

alternatives for those wishing to further

reduce their saturated fat intake.

– Unsweetened almond, cashew and soy

milk are common choices. You can also try

flaxseed, hemp, rice or coconut milk.

• Choose whole grains as often as possible.

Whole grains are higher in fiber and protein.

Look for “whole” as the first ingredient on a label.

• Drink water! Limit or avoid all

sweetened beverages.


7/12


The doctor told Robert’s mother it would be wise for Robert to have his

heart checked as well, since a bicuspid aortic valve is common and can

be hereditary.

Robert was always active in his youth. “I played basketball, football,

baseball and golf. I also ran 5K races. I never had an issue with anything,”

he said. But his father’s death prompted him to see a cardiologist once he

reached his 30s.

Robert learned he suffered from the same heart defect.

“My doctor said that I had a heart murmur, but that I

probably wouldn’t have to worry about having my aortic

valve repaired until sometime in my 60s.”

With continued monitoring, all was well until Robert hit

his 40s, when his doctor expressed concern that the valve

might be deteriorating faster than originally expected. “Testsshowed that there was a buildup of calcium in the valve,”

he said. “I kept thinking that my dad was just 52 when he

passed away and his brother was even younger.”

Robert was an avid runner, completing three-mile jogs

several times a week. He began noticing that it would take

him longer to finish his workout — and he was becoming

more easily winded.

At Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery, a Lexington Medical Center

physician practice, Deyanira “Dee” Prastein, MD, recommended that he

have aortic valve replacement surgery sooner rather than later. Dr. Prastein

said his aortic valve was severely deteriorated and he had an enlarging

aneurysm, both of which needed to be addressed surgically.

The defective valve would be replaced with either a mechanical or

tissue valve. In August of 2015, Robert underwent open heart surgery at

Lexington Medical Center.

Robert credits Dr. Prastein with easing his concerns over the surgery.

“I had a lot of anxiety prior to the surgery, not knowing what to expect,”

he recalled. “But she would even call me after my appointments to

make sure she had answered all my questions. That was

extremely helpful for me.” And Dr. Prastein included Robert

in the decision process for determining what type of valve

replacement would be best for him and his lifestyle.

With surgery and recovery now behind him, Robert is

feeling great. “I enrolled in Lexington Medical Center’s

cardiac rehabilitation program after surgery. I was able to

build my endurance back up and I’m feeling back to my oldself. I’m pretty much doing everything that I did before.”

That includes regular jogs at the Lexington High School

track near his home — where his time for a three-mile run is

now steadily improving.

While Robert didn’t exhibit the same symptoms as his

father — difficulty breathing, and swelling in his feet and

legs — he knows that he learned from the tragedy of losing his father and

he hopes others will benefit, too. “I’ve been telling everyone that it doesn’t

hurt to get looked at. Just because you feel well, as I did, doesn’t necessarily

mean all is well, especially when it comes to your heart,” he said. “When

you turn 40, just have a checkup. If everything is fine, then great. If

not, then hopefully, you caught the problem early. As my 95-year-old

grandmother says, ‘Just take it one day at a time.’”

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women

— and claims more lives than all forms of cancer

combined. Being diagnosed with cardiovascular

disease can affect your outlook and

quality of life as well. But there are things

you can do to protect yourself.

Preventing heart disease means

making smart choices that have lifelong

benefits. These choices start with a heart-

healthy diet and regular exercise.

“Proper diet and exercise are vital

in the prevention of obesity. Obesity

increases the risk of hypertension and

diabetes, which are major risk factors for

coronary disease,” said C. West Jacocks

IV, MD, FACC, with Sumter Cardiology, a Lexington

Medical Center physician practice.

Don’t worry — when it comes to exercise, a little bit

performed regularly goes a long way. According to the

American Heart Association, exercising 30 minutes

a day, five days a week will improve your

heart health and help reduce your risk of

heart disease.

In addition to exercise, being careful

about what you eat can help you lower

cholesterol, control blood pressure and

blood sugar levels, and maintain a healthy

weight. A good diet also helps to improve

your mood.

Importantly, eating a heart-healthy diet

can reduce your risk of heart disease or

stroke by 80 percent. Understanding which

foods are healthiest for your heart, you can

help lower cholesterol, prevent or manage

heart disease and high blood pressure, and improve

your quality of life.

“Just because you feel

well, as I did, doesn’t

necessarily mean all is

well, especially when it comes to your heart.”

— Robert Prielipp

Deyanira “Dee” Prastein, MD

C. West Jacocks IV, MD,FACC

Tragedy Leads to Life-Saving Open Heart Surgery

When Robert Prielipp of Lexington was just 24 years old, he lost his father to heart failure. Robert’s father was born with a

bicuspid aortic valve, the most common congenital heart defect.A normal aortic valve has three leaflets that open and close

to allow oxygenated blood out of the heart into the body. In a bicuspid aortic valve, two of the leaflets are fused. Sometimes

that can cause the valve to narrow or leak, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. Over time, it can cause the heart

muscle to thicken and lead to heart failure.

Care for Your Heart at Any Age

Look for Lexington Medical Center’s

“Heart Disease: What You Need to Know”

pamphlet at Lexington Medical Center

physician practices or request a

copy by calling Community Outreach

at (803) 936-8850.

P A T I E N T S T O

R Y


8/12


Mary Pat Baldauf vividly recalls the

lightning-sharp shock whizzing across

her scalp. Next came the sensation of

ice water pouring over her head. But a

ruptured brain aneurysm was the last

thing the fit 48 year old imagined could

happen to her.

“I thought I ate too many dark chocolate espresso

beans,” said Mary Pat, who shares a home with her

sister, Beth. “She said I should go to the ER, but I

figured — you know — caffeine overload.”

Mary Pat said good night and headed to her

room. She never made it into bed; Beth found

her the next morning on the floor. The ruptured

aneurysm — a lump that forms ina weak spot in the wall of an artery

that supplies blood to the brain

— left her unconscious, unable to

speak, walk or eat on her own.

Today, Mary Pat knows she

is fortunate to be alive. An

unruptured aneurysm can come

with no symptoms at all. Or it may

cause severe headaches, blurred

vision, changes in speech or pain

in the neck. Symptoms such as

fainting, seizures, nausea and

vomiting or sensitivity to light call for immediate

emergency medical attention, especially if there’s a

family history of brain aneurysm.

“Know your history and, if you have a family

history, get checked,” Mary Pat advised.

Mary Pat didn’t discover her family history of

brain aneurysm until it was too late.

“If I had known, I would have gone to the

emergency room that night in a heartbeat. The

only risk factor I have is that I’m a woman and I’m

in my 40s.” Other risk factors for aneurysm include

high blood pressure, smoking or a previous

aneurysm. But Mary Pat’s blood pressure is low.

She’s not a smoker and even took advantage of the

City of Columbia’s wellness program to lose 100

pounds the year before she suffered the aneurysm

— a positive factor her doctor said could have

saved her life.

Mary Pat emerged from two-and-a-half weeks

of unconsciousness to discover a world that made

sense in only bits and pieces.

“I remember at that time thinking I was in

another place,” she said. “I heard parts of the USC

women’s basketball team’s winning season. It must

have been on TV before I woke up.”

Meanwhile, the social media world encircled

her with prayers and well wishes. Her sister Beth

enlisted the help of more than 1,000 Facebook

friends and another 500-plus Twitter followers to

offer encouraging posts with a special hashtag,

#MPBStrong. The campaign of hope and love

featured colleagues from the City of Columbia

(Mary Pat works as the city’s sustainability

facilitator), including Mayor Steve Benjamin, plus

friends from her alma mater, the University of

South Carolina. As word spread, posts popped up

from caring friends across the community and the

state, including the smiling faces of the cooks in

her favorite pizza parlor.

The tweets and posts heldsustaining power for Mary Pat

through the four months of

treatment and recovery.

“When I woke up and saw all of

that on Twitter and Facebook, it was

so encouraging,” Mary Pat said. “I

heard from people I hadn’t heard

from in 20 or 25 years.”

Once awake, Mary Pat was eager

to communicate, but a tracheotomy

tube inserted to help her breathe

restricted communication to messages on white

boards; she wore out four of them with her rapid

scribbling and erasures. Gradually, the fog in her

mind began to clear. The tube that had stolen her

voice was removed, her balance returned with

therapy, and she began to walk and drive again.

Mary Pat celebrated each victory with her

online family. Her voice is still soft and airy — a

lingering effect of the tracheotomy — but her blue

eyes sparkle with determination.

“I’ve learned that you can do beyond what you

think you can do. I’m stronger than I thought

I was,” she said. “And people are great. I had so

many nice things happen to me. Just this week, agirl who had been following my sister on Twitter

asked me to go to dinner, and she made a music

CD for us.

“I was super cynical before, but I find I’m more

optimistic, more spontaneous now,” she added.

“I just want to do everything and not say, ‘I’ll try

that later,’ because there might not be a later. I’m

proof. I didn’t know I had this thing. It can happen

in a heartbeat.”

Blogger Shares Story of Ruptured Aneurysm

“I just want to do

everything and not say,

‘I’ll try that later,’ because

there might not be a later.

I’m proof. I didn’t know

I had this thing. It can

happen in a heartbeat.” – Mary Pat Baldauf

As her strength returned and

she re-learned how to eat, speak

and walk, Mary Pat began to

personally share her victories

with the large online audience

following her journey. A graduate of

USC’s School of Journalism, Mary

Pat is a contributor to Lexington

Medical Center’s Every Woman

Blog at EveryWomanBlog.com.

Just six weeks after her aneurysm

rupture — and only a month after

she awakened — she wrote her

first new blog entry, a brief piece

explaining her absence to her blog

followers: “…my mother and sister

tell me that I wasn’t expected to

live, much less recover… I plan

to share more with you in coming

posts. But for now, I want to say

thank you.”

To read more of Mary Pat Baldauf’s

posts about her aneurysm and

recovery, visit the Every Woman

Blog at EveryWomanBlog.com.

“Know your history

and, if you have a

family history,

get checked.”

— Mary Pat Baldauf

P A T I E N

T S T O R

Y


9/12

A Special Advertising Publi cation of The State Media Advertising Department and Lexington Medical Center 9HeartHealth

Ladies, it’s time to lace up your shoes

and start training!

Lexington Medical Center will host the 15th

annual Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler on

April 23. South Carolina’s premier women’s road

race, Heart & Sole features

a five-mile run, a

five-mile walk and athree-mile walk. The

event takes place at

8:30 a.m. in Finlay Park

in downtown Columbia.

“The Heart & Sole

Women’s Five Miler is

a very special event

for our community,”

said Deyanira “Dee”

Prastein, MD,

cardiovascular surgeon

with Lexington

Cardiovascular

Surgery, a LexingtonMedical Center

physician practice.

“The annual run

and walk not only

encourages physical

activity and a healthy

lifestyle, it also calls

attention to the issue of

heart disease — the biggest

health threat women face today.”

The Carolina Marathon Association launched

the state’s first women’s-only road race in South

Carolina in 2002. Sponsored in conjunction

with WIS-TV, the race offers women of all

athletic abilities the opportunity to participate

in a comforting, supportive environment. Elite

athletes, as well as first-timers, enjoy the

unique event that offers a red rose at the

finish line, medals for all participantsand special refreshments that include

chocolate-covered strawberries.

For more information about

the event or to register, visit

HeartAndSoleRun.com.

Choose from TwoTraining Programs

Fleet Feet Sports

• 12-week training program begins February 9

• Orientation: February 9 at 6:30 p.m.

• $100, includes weekly coaching, grouptraining sessions and T-shirt

For more information: FleetFeetSports.com

Strictly Running

• 8-week training program begins February 28

• $90, includes twice-weekly group training sessions

Register at: StrictlyRunning.com

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – Are You at Risk?

When you think AAA, you might think of a roadside rescue.This AAA also

requires a rescue — in an operating room.An abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, is a swelling and weakening in the aorta, the main

vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Over time, the aneurysm can

grow larger and eventually burst, leading to life-threatening bleeding. Those who do survive a

ruptured AAA are at risk for major heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

Finding AAA early is the key to survival. Anyone with an

immediate family history of AAA should have an abdominal

ultrasound screening. Once diagnosed, he or she should see a surgeon

to evaluate when or if the AAA needs to be repaired.

In the past, surgeons had to make a large incision down the

middle of the abdomen to repair AAA. Now, it can be repaired with

an endograft through small incisions in the groin. This minimally

invasive surgery lessens recovery time and reduces the complications

associated with an open abdominal procedure.Surgeons at Lexington Medical Center have been treating AAA for

more than 20 years.

“Technical advances in vascular surgery have revolutionized the treatment of patients with vascular disease, particularly AAA.

The endovascular surgery program at Lexington Medical Center has remained at the forefront of those developments, which

has benefited our patients through improved outcomes,” said William M. Moore Jr., MD, FACS, of Southern Surgical Group, a

Lexington Medical Center physician practice. Dr. Moore is the only board-certified endovascular surgeon in the Midlands.

An aneurysm can develop as a result of genetic weakening of the vessel and, over time, it can expand. High blood pressure and smoking increase

the risk of enlargement and rupture of AAA. Diabetes can also lead to changes in the vessel wall. These risk factors must be controlled to reduce the

likelihood of AAA rupture.

William M. Moore Jr.,

MD, FACS

SoleWomen’sFiveMiler

&

April, 23, 2016

Finlay Park

Columbia, SC

8:30 a.m. start

To register, visit HeartAndSoleRun.com

What is the best treatment for

cardiovascular disease?“Regular screening is a good way to catch

cardiovascular disease early, and it is a great

opportunity to

discuss prevention

with your doctor.

When diagnosedearly, cardiovascular

disease may be

managed with

lifestyle changes

alone, including

weight loss, a

healthy diet and

exercise. These

lifestyle changes

can have a big

effect on long-term

health outcomes, especially when a person

has cardiovascular disease risks. If a personsmokes, we always recommend that they quit

in an effort to improve cardiovascular health. If

a person has a specific cardiovascular problem,

such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high

cholesterol, we recommend taking medication

as prescribed to prevent complications.”

What are the risks of not treating

cardiovascular disease?“Cardiovascular diseases are generally

managed with a combination of lifestyle

modification and medication. Both of these are

equally important in treating cardiovascular

disease, especially if that includes high bloodpressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. All

of these problems can lead to long-term

complications and put you at risk for heart

attack and stroke. Maintaining a good treatment

regimen as prescribed by your physician can

prevent these long-term complications of

cardiovascular disease.”

ASK THE DOCTOR

Jeremy R. Crisp, MD

LEXINGTON FAMILY

PRACTICE NORTHEAST

SAVE THE DATE #

Heart & Sole Women’s Five MilerSet for April 23


10/12


Lexington Medical Center focuses on the importance of knowing thesymptoms of a heart attack in its television commercial series, “I Am a

Heart Attack.”

“We hope these commercials motivate people to understand what

causes a heart attack and to take the necessary steps to reduce their

risk of heart disease,” said Mark Shelley, vice president of Marketing

and Communications at


In the commercials,

which the hospital produced

in-house, a heart attack

has a face and a voice to

describe common heart

attack symptoms in women

and men, and follows them

from the moment they have

a heart attack to inside an

ambulance, emergency

room and cardiac

catheterization lab.

“As the region’s only Duke Health-affiliated heart center, Lexington

Medical Center is committed to providing our community with quality

cardiovascular care, from preventive programs to the most advanced

treatments and protocols medicine has to offer,” said Shelley.

Lexington Medical Center FoundationDonates Life-saving Devices Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) save lives. In those first few moments after the heart is out of rhythm, an AED can

both diagnose the problem and shock the heart back into rhythm.

Without immediate treatment, cardiopulmonary

resuscitation and an AED, a heart that is out of rhythm

can lead to irreversible brain damage or death. This

damage often becomes permanent in less time than it

takes for a paramedic

to arrive or for a patient

to be transported to an

emergency room.

“There is a 10-minute

window for treatment forpatients with ventricular

fibrillation. If not treated

within that time, their

chances of survival greatly

diminish. It’s important

that we make AEDs readily

accessible to help save lives,” said Barbara Willm, vice

president of Community Relations and Development at


That’s why the hospital’s foundation has donated more

than 35 AEDs to Lexington County middle and high

schools, and the county’s recreation commissions.

AEDs are designed to be used with little or no training.They have self-adhesive electrode pads and a built-in

computer that automatically analyzes the patient’s heart

rhythm to figure out whether a shock will help them and,

if so, what level of shock is appropriate.

A donated AED already helped to save one life —

Audrey Cox of Taylors, South Carolina.

As a referee for high school basketball, Cox traveled to

River Bluff High School in Lexington to take her annual

certification exam. During the exam, she slumped down

in her chair and her eyes rolled back in her head. The site

coordinator at the event heard her colleagues call for help

and rushed to the scene with the school’s AED.

Cox was then treated at Lexington Medical Centerby William W. Brabham, MD, FHRS, a cardiologist at

Lexington Cardiology. She now has a defibrillator and

pacemaker in case her heart goes back into ventricular

fibrillation, and she has been getting back to her active

lifestyle. More than anything, Cox is thankful for the

second chance at life.

“Screening, detection and prevention for heart disease

are very important, but not everyone knows if they have

a heart condition. For them, an AED is an important

life-saving tool. We’re proud to provide them to our

community,” said Willm.

In addition to AEDs, the Lexington Medical Center

Foundation provides heart-shaped pillows for heart

patients, scholarships for cardiovascular rehabilitation,

free smoking-cessation classes, and medical equipment

and educational materials.

Audrey Cox received life-

saving help with an AED from

the Lexington Medical Center

Foundation.

to heart disease

KNOW the risk factors for heart disease.

KNOW when to talk to your doctor.

KNOW how to lower your risk.

KNOW when to call 9-1-1.

What You Don’t Know…When it comes to taking care of your heart, knowledge is power. And what you don’t know could kill you.

See why one out of every three

deaths in South Carolina is related

to cardiovascular disease.

Download the free Layar app on your smart

phone and scan this page.

Henry J. Martin, MDLEXINGTON FAMILY PRACTICE OTARRE POINTE

I have a family history of heart disease; how might that affect my health and what can I do to lessen

my risks?“Just because you have a family history of heart disease doesn’t mean it has to manifest. Exercise, medication and nutrition

can alter the potential manifestation of the genetic tendencies. It’s the combination of genetics and environment with lack of

exercise and poor nutrition that can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease.”

ASK THE DOCTOR

Download the free

Layar App

Scan this page

interactive content

Discover

LexMed.com/Know


11/12


Score One

for Your Heart

Do you have plaque clinging to the artery walls in your heart?

Yes, plaque. Sound familiar? We’ve all heard of the gunk that builds up on

teeth, but instead of leading to tooth decay, coronary plaque — made up of

calcium, cholesterol and white blood cells — can cause heart attack

and stroke.

“Calcium can build up as plaque or blockages within the coronary

arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, which can

ultimately lead to a heart attack,” said Joshua W. McCain, MD, at Lexington

Radiology Associates, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice.

If you’re wondering how your arteries are holding up, a calcium score

might be for you.

Calcium scoring is a CT or CAT scan of the heart that finds heart disease

before it turns deadly by checking for plaque in the arteries. Your scorerates your risk of heart attack, and it can be used to

measure the benefits of certain heart treatments.

“Calcium scoring is a great test for determining

the presence of coronary artery disease in those

patients with diabetes, elevated blood cholesterol,

high blood pressure, history of smoking, obesity

and strong family histories of heart disease. It is

also a great tool for cardiologists and primary care

physicians who are determining the best treatments

for their patients based on numerous risk factors,”

said Dr. McCain.

During the test, the patient lies on the CT

scanner table on his or her back, and EKG leadsare placed on the chest. The patient is then placed in the CT scanner, and

X-rays take images of the heart. Calcium scoring does not require any

contrast or IV, and it only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to perform.

While the optimal calcium score is zero (no calcium detected), people

with scores lower than 100 have less risk of cardiac events, such as heart

attacks. The risk increases as the score increases.

“Patients with normal stress test results can still have calcified plaques

within their coronary arteries, and calcium scoring can help determine their

risk of having a heart attack,” said Dr. McCain.

If you have a low score, it’s important to continue to eat healthy, exercise,

maintain a normal weight and refrain from smoking. If you don’t ace your

calcium test, your doctor can help you figure out the best approach to get

yourself on track.

In many cases, patients may need to make better lifestyle choices. If youhave a high score with other risk factors, such as high cholesterol, diabetes

and chest pain, your doctor may suggest medication or surgical intervention.

During the month of February, Lexington Medical Center is offering

calcium scoring for $99. Contact your physician for a referral.

“Calcium can build up as plaque or blockages within the coronary arteries, the blood

vessels that supply blood to the heart, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack.”

— Joshua W. McCain, MD Lexington Radiology Associates

Joshua W. McCain, MD

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

——————————————

BLOOD PRESSURE:

Optimal at 120/80

and no higher than 140/90——————————————

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL:Less than 200

——————————————

LDL CHOLESTEROL:

Less than 100 or

Less than 70if you have other risk factors

——————————————

HDL CHOLESTEROL:

More than 60 optimal

Less than 50 a risk for women

Less than 40 a risk for men——————————————

TRIGLYCERIDES:

Less than 150(more important for women)

——————————————

BLOOD GLUCOSE:

Less than 100 for fasting value——————————————

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI):

Less than 25 for women & men——————————————WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE:

Less than 35'' for women

Less than 40'' for men——————————————

DAILY EXERCISE:

More than 30 minutes is ideal,but you should strive for

at least 20 minutes——————————————

DAILY RELAXATION EXERCISE:

More than 30 minutes——————————————

CIGARETTES PER DAY:

Zero and no secondhand smoke

Your Goals Should Be:

Need a physician? For a listing of physicians available in the Lexington Medical Center Network of Care, visit LexMed.com.

ASK THE DOCTOR

How do I find out if I

have high cholesterol?

“Having your cholesterol

checked is a simple

process. It is a blood test.

You should fast, which

means nothing to eat or

drink except water for at

least eight hours prior to

having your blood drawn.

The cholesterol numbers,

known as a lipid panel, willgive you information about

your cholesterol numbers:

LDL is bad cholesterol; HDL

is good cholesterol; and triglycerides are

fat-like substances in the blood. Knowing your

numbers is important so you can discuss them

with your physician and decrease your risk factors

for heart disease.”

How do I lower my cholesterol?

“For elevated LDL, decrease this number with

dietary changes, such as cutting out fried, fatty

foods. Increasing Omega-3 fatty acids andfish oils in your diet can improve cholesterol

numbers. Some people need to be on prescription

medications to lower LDL effectively. For HDL,

the higher the number, the better. This number

can be increased through exercise and physical

activity. Start moving — even if it’s a 10-minute

walk per day.”

Eva A. Imperial, MDSPRING VALLEY FAMILY

PRACTICE

If you’re interested in learning your calcium score, talk

with your doctor or visit LexMed.com/Heart.


12/12


Sunday • February 28Noon–4:00 p.m.

Columbia MetropolitanConvention Center

1101 Lincoln Street • Columbia, SC

LexMed.com

PARTICIPATE INFREE ACTIVITIES:

• Walk-through MEGAInflatable Heart

• Exercise Sessions

• Massage Therapy

• Photo Booth

• Blood Pressure & BMI Screenings

• Kids’ Corner – Jump Rope & Coloring Stations

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR HEART:

• Advanced Technologies forDiagnostic, Interventional &Surgical Procedures

• Healthy Cooking Demonstrations

• Stroke Prevention• Emergency Medical Services & 9-1-1

• Lexington Medical Center PhysiciansOn Site

LEARN HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF

DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE.

Documents

Heart Health 2016