CENTER FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Studies have shown that cardiovascular diseases are formidable foes. Across the nation, half of those individuals who are treated for heart disease will eventually die from it. Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in adults over the age of 40. More than 500,000 women die each year from some form of cardiovascular disease. Every minute someone dies of a heart attack. Every three minutes someone has a fatal stroke. Survivors of one heart attack live with the threat of another, one which could cause sudden death or lead to heart failure. Stroke survivors live with brain damage, the leading cause of disability.

Are you at the point in your life where you really want to know about your heart and how to avoid cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke? If so, there is a single source you can trust to answer your questions and give you practical guidance - it's called the Center for Cardiovascular Health, a program of the Carolinas Heart Institute. We're committed to helping you know what your risk is and what to do about it.

Cardiovascular disease is indeed a formidable foes indeed…but we have the personnel, equipment and strategies to conquer them.
 

Everyone has different, individual health needs. How do you lead a healthy lifestyle when a food, previously good for you, is suddenly taboo, and every week "experts" change their recommendations? There is an over abundance of information available about lifestyle diets, such as Atkins and South Beach. With all these options and conflicting reports, developing a personalized plan with your healthcare professional assures you the healthiest lifestyle possible.

Preventive Cardiology
Our Preventive Cardiology team is composed of specially trained physicians and other healthcare providers who work with you and your physician to perform a comprehensive and personalized assessment of your current cardiovascular health. Using a combination of methods, including your medical history, as well as the latest blood tests and non-invasive procedures -- which evaluate arteries directly -- we can accurately assess your risk for heart attack and related diseases. With this information we can then develop a specific plan for you, utilizing the most appropriate medical therapies, dietary approaches, and lifestyle changes shown to give you the best cardiovascular health. Children and adolescents can have special needs and risks which can profoundly affect their cardiovascular health later in life, such as inherited disorders of cholesterol metabolism or weight problems. We have personnel trained in evaluating and treating these problems, and we offer group and individual programs to help the whole family.

Nutrition Services
Cardioprotective from foods and certain dietary patterns is more than possible - it's essential. We can teach you how to experience the benefits of a healthy diet without sacrificing the pleasures of eating. We have sophisticated tools to analyze your diet, determine a healthy weight goal, measure your resting metabolic rate or analyze your body composition. This information is then incorporated as we teach you the practical skills and knowledge needed to make positive changes in your eating habits.

The Center's Nutrition staff has a keen interest in assisting adolescents and adults with issues of weight management. We offer a broad array of services, from simple behavioral interventions to structured meal replacement programs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation
This outpatient program, certified by the State of North Carolina and the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of individuals with heart disease and related health problems. The Cardiac Rehab team works with each individual participant to develop and implement a program of physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. Where appropriate, the program begins while the patient is still in the hospital and continues after he or she has gone home. The goal is to restore the patient to optimal capacity while making lifestyle changes that may prevent or minimize problems in the future.

The benefits of Cardiac Rehab are not limited to people who have had heart surgery or suffered a heart attack. Cardiac Rehab is also beneficial for those who have been diagnosed with other cardiovascular conditions or shown to be at risk for a heart attack due to the presence of one or more cardiovascular risk factor.

Community Outreach
Community outreach to increase knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease is an important component of our mission. We are active in the community, providing programs to educate, screen and promote health where you live, study and work. Our Heart of a Woman® program is already well-established, and more community and school-based programs are planned. We are available to interested groups or businesses to address specific needs related to cardiovascular health.

Clinical Research
By designing our own clinical studies and serving as a site for some of the major cardiovascular prevention trials, we contribute to of scientific knowledge, improve current approaches and find new methods to help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease in future generations. We are proud to have already contributed, and will continue to help answer the questions that will ultimately lead to the eradication of cardiovascular disease from our society. By virtue of our research activities, we are able to offer our patients access to state-of-the-art, preventive cardiovascular care that may not be available elsewhere in our community.

If you are ready for answers to the questions you have concerning your cardiovascular health, to assess your risk, or to develop a personalized "game plan" for achieving a healthier lifestyle, please call the Center for Cardiovascular Health at Carolinas Medical Center to schedule an appointment at 704-446-1800.