SLCH Recognizes World Heart Day
Hospital
Newburgh, NY – St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) opened its first cardiac catheterization lab on Valentine’s Day, 2005 and has performed thousands of cardiac catheterizations since its inception. The experts at the Center for Cardiac Care at SLCH recognize World Heart Day on September 29th as a day to spread knowledge about the heart to the community and to share preventative information about Heart Disease.
Claiming more than 600,000 lives a year, Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. New York has the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease of any other state in the nation, taking approximately 60,000 lives each year.
“With such a high number of lives being taken by Heart Disease, particularly in New York State, it’s important to share certain facts and preventative information to our community,” said Beverly Keefer, Clinical Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Interventional Radiology at SLCH. “Heart Disease is very prevalent, but not impossible to prevent from happening. Ways this can be achieved are:
Quit smoking. Smokers are more than twice as likely to be at risk for a heart attack as non smokers. There’s no better way to reduce your risk for heart attack than to stop smoking.
Improve cholesterol levels. As cholesterol increases, so does your risk for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat will lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease.
Control high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the most common heart disease risk factor, and it’s no surprise that one in four adults have elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure should be checked regularly to avoid reaching those high numbers.
Control blood sugar and manage diet and weight. Poor diet often leads to obesity which can add stress to your heart. A balanced diet will help to keep your heart healthy.
Get active. Exercise is the best way to reduce your risk for heart disease. Being active can also control your blood pressure. Those who don’t exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.”
The Center for Cardiac Care at SLCH and members of the cardiac care team are available to guide patients every step of the way. “There are many tools at the Center for Cardiac Care that are available which allow a doctor to see how well a patient’s heart is functioning,” said Keefer. “Advanced accurate diagnostics and treatments for your heart are all available at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.”
Diagnostic and treatment procedures offered at The Center for Cardiac Care include, stress testing, Calcium Scoring, Cardiac CCTA, Echocardiograms, along with diagnostic and interventional and emergency Cardiac Catheterization.
Claiming more than 600,000 lives a year, Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. New York has the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease of any other state in the nation, taking approximately 60,000 lives each year.
“With such a high number of lives being taken by Heart Disease, particularly in New York State, it’s important to share certain facts and preventative information to our community,” said Beverly Keefer, Clinical Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Interventional Radiology at SLCH. “Heart Disease is very prevalent, but not impossible to prevent from happening. Ways this can be achieved are:
Quit smoking. Smokers are more than twice as likely to be at risk for a heart attack as non smokers. There’s no better way to reduce your risk for heart attack than to stop smoking.
Improve cholesterol levels. As cholesterol increases, so does your risk for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat will lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease.
Control high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the most common heart disease risk factor, and it’s no surprise that one in four adults have elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure should be checked regularly to avoid reaching those high numbers.
Control blood sugar and manage diet and weight. Poor diet often leads to obesity which can add stress to your heart. A balanced diet will help to keep your heart healthy.
Get active. Exercise is the best way to reduce your risk for heart disease. Being active can also control your blood pressure. Those who don’t exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.”
The Center for Cardiac Care at SLCH and members of the cardiac care team are available to guide patients every step of the way. “There are many tools at the Center for Cardiac Care that are available which allow a doctor to see how well a patient’s heart is functioning,” said Keefer. “Advanced accurate diagnostics and treatments for your heart are all available at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.”
Diagnostic and treatment procedures offered at The Center for Cardiac Care include, stress testing, Calcium Scoring, Cardiac CCTA, Echocardiograms, along with diagnostic and interventional and emergency Cardiac Catheterization.
