Page 11 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - February 2017 - 24-02

AT RISK FOR HEART FAILURE?
Are you among the five million Americans who have heart failure? This common, yet often undiagnosed, condi- tion occurs when a person’s heart muscles weaken. They slowly lose the ability to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Heart failure causes more hospital stays than all forms of cancer combined. Every year, 670,000 new heart failure patients are diagnosed in the United States.
Is my heart healthy? To find out
if you’re at risk for heart disease, visit learnyourrisk.com. Take Bronson’s Online Heart Risk Assessment. It’s free and con- fidential. You will get a tailored report of your heart disease risk in just 10 minutes.
How do I know if I am at risk for heart failure? Even one risk factor can result in heart failure. Having many risk factors only increases your chance. Risk factors include:
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Damage to the heart valves or history
of a heart murmur
• Enlarged heart
• Family history of enlarged heart
• Diabetes
• Lung disease
• Infection of the heart muscle
• Drinking too much alcohol
What are the symptoms of heart fail- ure? Heart failure usually develops slowly and is a chronic, long-term condition. However, sometimes the symptoms can develop quickly. Some of the signs and symptoms are:
• Breathing problems: shortness of breath from walking stairs or simple activities, trouble breathing when rest- ing or lying down, waking up breath- less, or needing more than two pillows to sleep.
• Fatigue/exercise problems: tiring eas- ily, swelling of feet, ankles or legs, and general feeling of fatigue.
• Coughing: frequent coughing, cough- ing that produces mucus or blood,
or dry, hacking cough when lying flat.
How is heart failure treated? Heart failure is a chronic disease that needs lifelong management. However, with treatment, a heart can become stron-
ger. Symptoms of heart failure can also improve. The first line of treatment for heart failure consists of medicines taken daily, lifestyle changes and careful moni- toring.
When should I call my healthcare provider? Call your doctor right away if you have any of the signs or symptoms associated with heart failure. You should also call if your diagnosed heart failure symptoms change.
Call 911 right away or go to the emer- gency room if you have any of the follow- ing problems:
• Breathing problems
• Chest pain, tightness or heaviness • Confusion or trouble thinking
clearly
Choose Bronson Heart & Vascular for your heart care. When it comes to your heart, you deserve the very best. You and your family can feel confident that
at Bronson, you will receive outstanding heart care.
Bronson Heart & Vascular is a com- prehensive, regional collaboration for
the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular conditions.
A multidisciplinary team of adult and pediatric cardiovascular physicians, four hospitals and supporting services deliver an advanced, seamless continuum of
care for patients throughout southwest and south central Michigan. Specialties include minimally invasive valve replace- ment, electrophysiology, peripheral vas- cular procedures, thoracic procedures, and endovascular procedures.
For information about heart care or to find a heart doctor, visit bronsonhealth. com/heart or call Bronson HealthAnswers at (269) 341-7723 or (800) 451-6310.
Brett J. Eliuk, DO, FACC, FACOI, is board certified in internal medicine. He sees patients in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Allegan, and Paw Paw.
Senior Times - February 2017 Bronson Health
Page 11
UPDATE
By: Dr. Brett J. Eliuk, Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare
Dr. Atul Gawande
Presents at Chapel Hill
By: Pat Fosdick
Heart-of-the-Village Calhoun County is extending an invitation to the public to join them on February 13, 4:30-6:30pm, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 157 Chapel Hill Drive, in a live-stream presen- tation of Dr. Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, and author of Being Mortal, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the “Village Movement” and the formation of Beacon Hill Village.
Dr. Gawande is a renowned surgeon public health researcher and writer, who will speak about the “value of commu- nity” and opportunities as we grow older. He will describe people’s efforts to main- tain autonomy as they age in the face of ingrained habits, cultural expectations and one-size-fits-all corporate offerings. One of the great issues worldwide today is how to support and care for aging populations. By 2030, twenty percent of our nation’s population will be over 65 or an estimated 83 million people. The Village concept and Dr. Gawande’s profound understand- ing of the importance of choice and com- munity offer valuable insights and solu- tions for this challenging phenomenon.
The “Village Movement” began with Beacon Hill Village in Boston 15 years ago and is now a burgeoning, worldwide movement that champions an alterna- tive approach for adults as they grow older. Today there are over 200 operating
Villages and more than 150 in develop- ment in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
Villages across the country and around the globe are unique in that they are created by and for older adults, empowering their members to make wise, safe, and vibrant choices about how they wish to live.
Villages members share the common goals of:
• Creating opportunities for individuals to use their talents to direct and sustain their villages thereby enhancing the com- munities in which they live.
• Providing opportunities for social engagement, which minimizes isolation and promotes interaction and trust within the Village community between individu- als who offer their help and those who ask for help.
• Helping older adults to age in the place of their choosing, closely connected to their communities and with the supports and tools they need to create successful aging of their own design.
For questions about the event, contact either Pat Fosdick at (269) 979-1479 ext. 308 or Sherii Sherban at (269) 979-2411 ext. 302.