Dr. Joe Crowe, a famous breast cancer surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, had operated tirelessly all day on that Friday in November 1996. After he said goodbye to his last patient, he got a very bad headache, which hit him in a flash, and he had to sit down. A minute or two after that,… Read more »
Too many people put their lives at risk driving themselves to the hospital when they’re experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Indeed, only 30 percent of patients who come to JFK Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room complaining of chest pain come by ambulance. But reducing the time it takes to get medical treatment… Read more »
Emotions are a beautiful part of human nature. Our ability to feel makes us perfectly human! Stress, from all sorts of challenging situations and events, can significantly shorten your life, particularly in the form of a heart attack. Emotions such as depression, anxiety, anger, hostility, as well as social isolation, significantly affect heart health. Negative… Read more »
“Storage Wars” fans surely know America’s most recognized auctioneer, Dan Dotson. He and his wife Laura lead a cast of characters seeking treasures in abandoned storage units throughout Southern California in the A&E hit reality show. Dan’s gruff voice, fast-paced chatter and packed schedule give the sense of ‘life in the fast lane’ and it… Read more »
Every minute in America, a woman dies of a heart attack, stroke or another form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) — and one out of every three women experiences some form of CVD in her lifetime. And yet, most of those cases are preventable if you lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. “We are all at risk for… Read more »
If you have diabetes, heart disease can be a serious concern. In fact, cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack or stroke is by far the leading cause of death in both men and women with diabetes, says Dr. Om P. Ganda, a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, a Senior… Read more »
Proactive community members at the Indio and Coachella senior centers saw their numbers drop by participating in a 4-month educational program conducted by the American Heart Association Coachella Valley Division. The Get to Goal hypertension management program ran from October 2013 through February 2014. Program goals were: increase awareness of the connection between hypertension and… Read more »
Randal Bonnell of Banning went to bed at 11:30pm on a Thursday night and awoke the next morning with half his body paralyzed. His wife, Vickie, heard a noise around 4:45am and realized that her 55 year-old husband had fallen out of bed. Although he said he felt fine, Randall wasn’t speaking clearly and couldn’t… Read more »
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death with approximately 795,000 strokes occurring annually according to the National Stroke Association. These are big numbers, but there is good news. Despite the damage to brain cells, there is room for improvement, thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself… Read more »
Facing challenges and problem solving are strengths that Madelina Agawin has relied upon since she was a young woman, and they have formed the complex mosaic of who she is as a person today. Early on, Madelina’s father instilled in her the importance of education and being disciplined in her approach to achieving her goals.… Read more »
Reversing heart disease is a reality for many these days, and preventing it an attainable goal for millions more. It doesn’t simply take a pill or two from your doctor. It doesn’t happen solely by watching the foods you eat. Exercising alone isn’t enough, and there is no magic supplement. But through the advances in… Read more »
Desert Regional successfully treating patients Some patients with atrial fibrillation (or AFib) and heart rhythm disorders may be able to say good-bye to their medications thanks to new technology offered at Desert Regional Medical Center. AFib occurs when the heart’s electrical system has a problem that causes the heart to fibrillate, or beat very rapidly.… Read more »
A new study published in the American Heart Association Journal Hypertension suggests a correlation between retinal microvascular changes and increased stroke risk. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study authored by Dr. Mohammad Ikram reviewed retinal images of 1406 patient ages 50-73 between 1993 and 1995. With each participant, their level of hypertensive retinal disease… Read more »
Coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death for men and women worldwide, is the accumulation of plaque within the walls of the arteries which supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients. Hard plaque is the buildup of calcium, fats and abnormal inflammatory cells within the walls of the arteries. Over time, this plaque… Read more »
Many are surprised to hear that their hearts are the organ most likely to fail them. The reality is, despite all the amazing advances of medicine, the fragility of the human heart remains a key deterrent to human health. Until the last decade, there had been little in the way of preventative screening for the… Read more »
It has been an exciting time to be part of the American Heart Association Coachella Valley team as we continue to ramp up our community health efforts. In October, we launched a free heart-healthy monitoring program for seniors in east Coachella Valley called CHECK, CHANGE, CONTROL. It is a four-month bi-lingual (English and Spanish) blood… Read more »
Rancho Mirage resident and former Desert Regional Medical Center radiologist, Dr. Pam Meoli, had a stroke at age 51. Her prognosis included a walker or cane, little or no mobility of her left arm, and compromised speech. After nine months of speech therapy her ability to speak was much improved, but she was still not… Read more »
The health of the United States has hit a new low with millions of Americans at risk for heart disease and stroke. Consequently, The American Heart Association (AHA) has set a lofty goal of improving the cardiovascular health of ALL Americans by at least 20 percent by the year 2020. But they realize that this… Read more »
Throughout most of the twentieth century, neuroscientists believed that the brain was a static organ which reached its potential for establishing new pathways during early childhood. With advances in science, this theory has changed. ‘Neuroplasticity’ refers to the brain’s ability to form new pathways throughout life in response to changes in behavior and the environment.… Read more »
When we envision the classic heart attack, images of TV’s Fred Sanford grabbing his chest and calling for Elizabeth may come to mind. But if you have spoken with men or women who have survived a heart attack, you realize that the true picture is often very different. Because symptoms of a heart attack can… Read more »
