This article was first published in the Winter 2019 Beacon: The Resolve Issue. Read more from the issue. EVERY 40 SECONDS, someone in the United States has a heart attack. In many cases, when a patient comes into the Emergency Department with a heart attack, they will end up having a cardiac
The damage tobacco inflicts on a smoker’s heart and blood vessels can be invisible. However, its effects are often seen in the interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic procedure rooms when surgical teams see the plaque-clogged arteries of patients who have smoked. To a smoker, the toll
As medical director of Beebe Healthcare’s Cardiac Surgery Program, I’ve been operating on hearts for more than 40 years. I’ve seen too many patients who learn they have heart disease when they collapse from a heart attack. But an ailing heart gives off warning signs if you stop to listen. And the
It’s easy to dismiss an aching hip or cramped legs as part of the aging process, especially if it flares up during walking or exercise. As with most pain, your body is trying to tell you something, and it’s best to listen. Pain in the legs or hip, especially while walking uphill, could be a sign of
Does the rhythm of your heart feel off sometimes? We encourage you to talk to your primary care physician or cardiologist about any heart concerns you might have. When a patient’s heart rhythm gets knocked off course, either from a cardiac event or from chronic disease, it is often an
A young, previously healthy, 42-year-old patient was brought into Beebe’s Emergency Department recently with large anterior wall myocardial infarction, where the main artery to the front of his heart (LAD) was completely blocked. This caused significant damage to his heart muscle and temporary
Our early ancestors only knew the sweet taste of fruit and honey and not the intense flavor of refined sugar. Since our early ancestors battled bees to obtain honey and fruit, sweetness was not always plentiful – the taste of sweetness was an occasional treat. According to Kelly Brownell, PhD, a
While our risk for heart disease increases with age, and is influenced by our family history, there are still many opportunities for us to prevent it and live a healthier life. Our health is impacted by the choices we make every day. Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of men and women. In the
Since Lewes is a small, quaint town, it would be natural for people to expect that the local healthcare institution would be a small community hospital with a relatively low volume of advanced cardiac procedures. Many people, even those familiar with the hospital, would probably be surprised to find
A close family member recently experienced a hemorrhagic stroke as a result of uncontrolled blood pressure. He was 42 years young and had no idea he had any health issues. Now he and his family are faced with months to years of demanding rehabilitation and recovery. Despite these tremendous
