Heart disease serious, but often preventable

FINDLAY — In 1964, as research was demonstrating the effectiveness of CPR, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed February American Heart Month. Decades later, health leaders often use this season to talk all things heart-related. "February is a time that's dedicated to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease," said Kelly Hettinger, director of the heart and vascular service line and network operations director at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, which has established a partnership with Blanchard Valley Health System. She said that awareness includes recognizing that "it is serious, but much of it is preventable." Leading a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk. Lisa Lawrence, director of heart and vascular services at BVHS, first came to Findlay as an OSU employee about a year ago. A native of Wyandot County, she had been talking with Hettinger about the idea of a partnership with BVHS to expand care in Northwest Ohio, which would give community members like her family the ability to get care locally that previously would have required travel to Columbus. "I really feel passionate about ensuring that people in our area can have access to care close to home," she said. Meanwhile, Hettinger said, the OSU heart and vascular team had been exploring ways to leverage its expertise in Ohio communities outside of Columbus. She said a partnership like the one with BVHS aligns with OSU's mission. "We are the academic medical center of the state," she said. "And a cornerstone of that is a healthier Ohio." Lawrence said the beginning of the partnership involved each side trying to understand the structure of the other organization and the resources available, before setting goals and determining how to measure if those goals had been met. Also in that time, two local cardiologists — Drs. David Meier and Gregory Gerschutz — who had previously worked for years at another local practice officially became physicians employed by BVHS. "That was a big win for our cardiology program," Lawrence said. BVHS now has four cardiologists, three of whom are interventional cardiologists, meaning they can use minimally invasive, catheter-based techniques such as angioplasty and placing stents. Lawrence said existing services at BVHS remain including imaging and diagnostic testing, the stress lab, the cardiac, vascular and pulmonary rehabilitation program and the cath lab. Additionally, a vascular surgeon employed by OSU now works full-time in Findlay. Hettinger said this surgeon can treat chronic diseases of the arteries, veins and lymphatic system as well as addressing emergency situations. This new service more effectively "enables us to focus on prevention and treatment of this disease locally," she said. Hettinger said the teams at BVHS and OSU have each learned from one another. She said working together means OSU, an academic health center, can contribute its nationally recognized cardiac expertise, while BVHS is a local health system that is "already a trusted health partner to everyone and provides excellent care". "It really has been exactly what we hoped it would be," she said of the partnership. "It's collaborative, with the patient at the center." She said the goal is to improve health equity so that residents of not only Findlay but surrounding rural communities have greater access to care. They're now discussing their next goals. Hettinger said this may involve expanding services but they want any growth to be "purposeful" and sustainable. Cardiovascular disease is most common among older people, and obesity and smoking are also risk factors. However, cardiovascular disease can affect anyone, Lawrence said. Hettinger noted that in recent years a lot of heart health education has focused on women. Heart disease is the "No. 1 killer of women," but women have historically been significantly more likely to be misdiagnosed or sent home while experiencing a cardiac event. Women often experience somewhat different symptoms, and the standard of care was originally created around how men may present with heart disease, she said. Rather than suspecting a heart issue right away, medical professionals sometimes instead have tended to ask women where they are in their menstrual cycle or, "Oh, are you anxious?" At an event related to women and heart disease, Hettinger recently heard from a woman who said she first realized she wasn't feeling well while running a half-marathon. She completed the race, went home and helped her husband and daughter get ready for a school event, then at last drove herself to the hospital after that – only to discover she had had three strokes. So many women present "related to this: 'Let me just get through my to-do list,'" Hettinger said. She said women often find themselves in the role of taking care of others but may not prioritize taking care of themselves to the same extent. She and Lawrence emphasized "empowerment," as in making sure women feel empowered to take care of their own health. Symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain, pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen, pain in the jaw, neck or upper back, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, fainting, feeling a cold sweat, indigestion or extreme fatigue, according to the American Heart Association. The symptoms of extreme fatigue and nausea or vomiting, in particular, may occur in women. Many women also report that something felt "off" before they had a heart attack, although they could not pinpoint why. Anyone experiencing a heart attack is advised to dial 911 and follow the operator's instructions, to try to stay calm and to wait for emergency responders rather than driving yourself to the hospital. The American Heart Association reports that heart disease has been the top cause of death for more than a century. However, a recent study found that age-adjusted death rates have dropped 66% in 50 years and heart attack deaths are down nearly 90%, although deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease are rising. Risk factors like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and inactivity are also increasing, but advances in prevention and treatment are helping people live longer with chronic conditions. The American Heart Association encourages the public to be informed about any family history of heart disease, to maintain a healthy weight, and to regularly monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose, ensuring that they are under control. Prevention also includes quitting tobacco and getting healthy sleep, being more active, and aiming for an overall healthy eating pattern that includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola.