Cardiology

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S, and we seek to combat that statistic with technologically advanced heart care delivered by experienced cardiac professionals.

We begin by identifying the type and severity of your cardiovascular condition. To do that, we use leading-edge diagnostic equipment. Some of the diagnostic heart services we offer include:

• Electrophysiology studies — These imaging tools, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs), measure your heart's electrical activity and identify muscle damage that can cause heart disease.
• Noninvasive imaging technologies — To create images of the heart muscle, valves, veins and arteries, we use tools such as X-rays and ultrasounds.

Nuclear medicine scans — Small amounts of radioactive material are used to reveal the heart's structure and blood flow.

Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure in which a catheter, or thin tube, is used to access one or more chambers of your heart. This nonsurgical procedure shows us your heart’s pumping ability and blood pressure, as well as the health of your valves and arteries.

When you need this type of procedure, our cardiac cath lab provides a safe and comfortable environment for you and your family. Here, we can use minimally invasive methods to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions.

Our lab also assists physicians in meeting all your emergency, preventive and restorative heart health needs.

In the cardiac cath lab, we perform:

• Angioplasty and stenting — Opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels to the heart
• Cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AFib) — Sends electrical energy to the heart to restore a normal heart rate and rhythm if you have AFib
• Declotting of arteriovenous (AV) fistula — Helps to improve or regain blood flow in an irregular vein-to-artery connection after dialysis
• Defibrillator implantation (ICD) — Paces the heart and corrects life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
• Diagnostic and interventional peripheral procedures — Opens blocked or partially blocked arteries that supply blood to the head, neck, abdomen and legs
• Directional and rotational atherectomy — Removes plaque in blood vessels
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion — Prevents blood clots created by a DVT from traveling to the lungs
• Intra-aortic balloon pump insertion — Helps the heart pump blood
• Left and right heart catheterization — Diagnoses or treats certain heart conditions
• Pacemaker implantation — Manages cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats
• Temporary pacemaker insertion — Helps normalize heartbeat pace that has been temporarily out of rhythm

In our emergency room (ER), our heart care team is equipped and prepared to treat a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks. Additionally, a dedicated interventionist cardiologist is on call 24/7 at our hospital to ensure you get fast, high-quality care when you need it most.

When you have signs of a heart attack, it can be tempting to tell yourself that they are just minor issues or that they are not worth going to the doctor for, but these warning signs should not be dismissed. They are your body's way of telling you to get help right away, so knowing the signs of a heart attack and taking action can be lifesaving.

Signs of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain
• Chest pressure or heaviness
• Fluttering in the chest
• Irregular or racing heartbeat
• Pain between the shoulder blades or in the left shoulder, arm or side of the jaw
• Tightness in the chest or throat

If you think you are having a heart attack, you should immediately call 911.

Different from a heart attack, heart failure is a chronic, long-term condition that prevents the heart from functioning effectively. It occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

You may sometimes hear heart failure called "congestive heart failure (CHF)," but CHF is technically just a type or stage of heart failure during which fluid builds up in the heart and surrounding areas.

The medical staff who specialize in heart failure at our hospital provide a comprehensive management program that may include:

• Medical management — Our specialists develop programs that combine medication and lifestyle changes to help manage heart failure. Medications can help lower blood pressure, remove excess fluid, prevent blood clots, slow the heart rate and adjust hormones that affect the heart.
• Minimally invasive cardiac catheterization techniques — Procedures such as angioplasty and stenting are typically used to open blocked arteries.
• Risk-factor management and lifestyle changes — Losing weight, eating healthy, controlling blood pressure, getting enough rest and abstaining from alcohol and smoking can help improve your heart health and prevent further damage.
• Surgery — Procedures may be used to implant devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators.

Our dedicated vascular care team is equipped with advanced imaging technology to evaluate and diagnose heart and vascular diseases in our heart center. If your physician finds a vascular condition that requires treatment, they may recommend:

• Risk factor management — Monitors high-risk factors, such as diabetes, blood pressure, weight and nutrition control
• Vascular medicine — Works toward prevention and offers treatments for conditions that affect arteries and veins
• Vascular surgery — Minimally invasive surgical treatments, such as aneurysm repair, angioplasty, embolization, stenting, thrombolysis, varicose and spider vein treatment.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of improving your cardiovascular health if you have experienced a heart attack, heart failure or surgery. Through our hospital's physical therapy and rehabilitation program, we offer comprehensive rehabilitative care and partner with you on your journey to a healthier life.