Consumers today are bombarded with a plethora of information about the human heart and the latest scientific findings in how to keep it healthy over the course of a lifetime. Information on diet, exercise, diseases, treatments and healthy regimens is issued on a seemingly daily basis by a variety of experts. Sometimes today’s findings totally contradict yesterday’s news. With this information overload, how can consumers know what is most important about their heart?
A recent physician symposium illuminated some of the latest major findings.
It’s never too early to pay attention to your heart.
The recent rise in childhood obesity in the United States led to more and more children with high blood pressure. Scientists have seen evidence that arterial blockages can begin as early as six or seven years of age. Additionally, obesity begins a long chain of events that culminate in heart disease — from obesity to metabolic syndrome to diabetes and lipid disease, and then heart disease. As our children continue to watch television, play computer games and decrease their exercise, the possibility grows that childhood obesity will become a national crisis. The full ramifications of this will not be known for another twenty years.
All of your body’s systems are interrelated.
Increasingly, physician scientists are discovering strong links between our nervous system, vascular system (veins and arteries), various glands and heart. Leading treatment centers are adopting multidisciplinary approaches that integrate medical and surgical specialists in all of these areas. Such specialists work together in close physical proximity to ensure a comprehensive approach to treatment. Consumers who do need treatment should select a center that connects all of these systems and offers a true multispecialty program.
Preventing disease altogether beats treating it any day.
Prevention of disease is always a better option than any of the latest and greatest treatments. Although genetic background can be an unavoidable risk factor in some people, most of us can keep our hearts healthy by following these three simple guidelines.
- Eat appropriately
- Exercise regularly
- Don’t smoke
Although research on prevention has been conducted on a limited basis, it is possible that prevention could eventually eradicate all heart disease.
Be selective if you do need care
If you do need treatment for your heart, it’s important to understand that all heart centers are not equal. Consider the following criteria when making your selection.
- Experience. Medical evidence has proven that the more procedures performed by a physician and hospital, the better the results. Be sure to ask your team how many procedures they perform together each year.
- Outcomes. Clearly, this is the most important criterion. Quality providers should not hesitate to share their results and any risk factors that might be involved in your treatment.
- Available technology. The center you select should have a wide variety of the latest technology available, including noninvasive methods to diagnose disease.
- Reputation. Most patients prefer to seek treatment from someone they can trust. Referrals from physicians and friends are often useful in a search process.
Although there is no generally accepted ranking system for doctors and hospitals, many consumers use the ratings in U.S. News and World Report as the best available substitute. Hospitals listed in these ratings are included because they have good outcomes, perform many procedures, have physicians with good peer reputations and meet other criteria, including available technology and positive nursing ratios. Other resources available online include the Medicare Web site (www.cms.gov) and HealthGrades.com.
Following these four simple principles can help you keep your heart healthy for many years.
George Litman, M.D. is chief of cardiology at Akron General Medical Center. Reach Litman at (330) 344-6364.
