MANSFIELD -- Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, and The American Heart Association wants you to know it can be prevented.

The association started a nationwide observance in February 2004 called Go Red for Women to educate the public.

Brianne Harman, communications director of the American Heart Association of Central Ohio, said the AHA is urging everyone to wear red Friday for their family, friends and neighbors who have suffered from a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or some type of cardiovascular disease.

"Thanks to the participation of millions of people, the color red and the red dress have become linked with the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives," Harman said.

According to the AHA there are risk factors you can control. You can "love your heart" by controlling high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes. There are other risk factors to be aware of also, like your age, race and heredity.

Knowing your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and weight numbers is also another way to "love your heart."

"These numbers can help you and your doctor determine your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier heart," Harman said.

Dr. Michael Amalfitano, president of the Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic, said heart disease is the number one cause of death of women in the country.

"Women are two to three times much more likely to die of heart (failure) than anything else," he said.

In the past, only 25 percent of all heart-related research included women, Amalfitano said. "We did not have the research, (but) now we do."

"Women with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have a heart attack," he said.

Amalfitano also said it's also imperative to spread awareness throughout the community and among the general population.

"Not all health (departments) are totally embracing (the new findings of heart disease and women)," he said.

The Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic supports the Go Red for Women initiative and will offer a heart healthy cooking session in the near future, Amalfitano said

Article published Sep 7, 2005
Four MedCentral doctors honored as tops in the nation
    

Gregory M. Eaton, M.D.     Steven D. Nelson, M.D.,F.A.C.C.

News Journal staff report

MANSFIELD -- Four MedCentral Health Systems doctors have been honored as among the best in the nation.

Cardiologists Gregory Eaton and Steven Nelson, both of Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic, and ophthalmologists John Marquardt and Leonard Quick, both of Ohio Eye Associates, appear on the 2005-06 Best Doctors in America list.

Eaton is the medical director of MedCentral's cardiac catheterization laboratory and president of Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic. Nelson, an electrophysiologist, is the medical director of MedCentral's electrophysiology laboratory.

More than 3,000 procedures were performed in the catheterization lab last year and more than 600 in the electrophysiology lab. Since Nelson's arrival in October, the electrophysiology lab has experienced a 50 percent growth in the number of procedures performed.

Cardiac electrophysiology is the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, specifically heart rhythms. It is a method of measuring the electrical activity of the heart through electrode catheters in the heart.

Construction on an electrophysiology lab at Mansfield Hospital is slated for completion this fall.

"We have many excellent doctors on our medical staff and the Best Doctors' honor validates that and supports our goal of delivering expert health care close to home," said James E. Meyer, MedCentral president and CEO.

The Best Doctors Web site list represents the top 5 percent in over 400 subspecialties of medicine in the U.S. Since 1992, patients and doctors have used the Best Doctors in America list as a guide when choosing a physician.

Physicians anonymously colleagues to the list and only those doctors rated the best by other doctors make the list.

Great news for those with heart disease

The issue:

Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic takes part in another

clinical trial of medicated stents.

Our opinion:

Medical technology makes another advance

in prolonging human lives.

The fight against heart disease continues to make strides. The encouraging news for area residents is Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic is involved in a second clinical trial of medicated stents.

That means more patients with blockages could be helped thanks to drug-coated stents. Stents, small wire-mesh tubes, help keep arteries clear of blockages, critical to those with heart problems.

This is the second foray into the use of stents for the clinic, the first one coming in 2003.

It is still too early to tell how effective their use will be for individual patients. The stents will be used for those having a heart attack to see if the tiny, mesh tubes improve patients' conditions.

New studies on stents were presented Sunday at an American College of Cardiology conference in Orlando, Fla. They showed benefits apparently last for years, and that even very big blockages in very small vessels can be fixed with such stents, sometimes using overlapping ones.

The trial stents help reduce scar tissue by medicating blood vessels to keep them from shutting after procedures, Dr. Gregory Eaton, Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic president, said this week. With these stents, there is less likelihood of heart-bypass surgery.

This is great news for Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic as well as those north central Ohio residents who have heart disease. The fight against this deadly killer continues with new advances in technology.

Helping people avoid heart bypass surgery would truly be one of those advances.

Originally published March 9, 2005

Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic is helping to heal hearts quicker

By Jennifer Kowalewski
News Journal

MANSFIELD -- Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic is involved in a second clinical trial of medicated stents.

Dr. Gregory Eaton, president of Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic, said the clinic was part of a 2003 trial that used stents to avoid heart-bypass surgery. The stents will be used for those having a heart attack to see if the tiny, mesh tubes improve patients' conditions.

New studies on stents were presented Sunday at an American College of Cardiology conference in Orlando, Fla. They showed benefits apparently last for years, and that even very big blockages in very small vessels can be fixed with such stents, sometimes using overlapping ones.

"When we participate in these trials and we can improve the outcome, the entire community benefits," Eaton said. "Instead of going to Cleveland or Columbus, they can get the same type of care here. We are advancing heart care not only for patients, but for everyone in the community."

Old metal stents and balloons, which were used to treat heart blockages, often left scar tissue, Eaton said. The scar tissue often could cause narrowing of the blood vessels, leading to more blockage.

"The Achilles' heel of these procedures was the renarrowing of the blood vessels," he said. "Frequently, it led to heart-bypass surgery."

The trial stents help reduce scar tissue by medicating blood vessels to keep them from shutting after procedures, Eaton said. With these stents, there is less likelihood of heart-bypass surgery.

More patients at Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic head to the lab instead of the hospital, he said, adding the medicated stents have reduced the number of area bypasses.

Also, patients who have medicated stents often need less recovery time, he said.

"Now, the stent is an attractive alternative to heart bypass," he said. There are two types of stents, each with different medicines. The stents are made by Boston Scientific Corp.'s Taxus stent, and Cypher, made by Cordis Corp., a Johnson & Johnson company.

Research continues regarding which is most successful.

What is a stent?

A stent is a wire-mesh tube used to open an artery that's been cleared using angioplasty. The stent is collapsed to a small diameter and put over a balloon catheter.
It is moved into the area of the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and forms a scaffold.

This holds the artery open.

The stent stays in the artery permanently, improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms (usually chest pain).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Originally published March 8, 2005

Shoveling heavy snow can be hard exercise
By: Jennifer Kowalewski

News Journal

MANSFIELD -- Dr. Andrew Fahmy hopes the elderly and those with heart problems will find someone to shovel their sidewalks and driveways.

The season's first major winter storm will bring strained muscles or, worse, heart problems that often accompany shoveling.

"This is a strenuous exercise," said Fahmy, a cardiologist at Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic. "It tends to be the only exercise one gets all year."

After the season's early snowfalls Fahmy and his colleagues see a spike in the number of patients with heart problems. Patients may suffer an irregular heart rhythm, or even a heart attack from shoveling snow.

Arteries shrink in cold weather, causing the heart to pump more to get blood throughout the body, he said. That, on top of shoveling, can put the heart under a tremendous amount of strain.

Shoveling is isometric exercise, similar to weight lifting, Fahmy said, which strains the heart more than aerobic exercise.

"If you have to do it, take frequent breaks," he said.

He suggests that shovelers cover their noses and mouths to warm the air they breathe.

Anyone who experiences any type of chest discomfort or shortness of breath should stop shoveling immediately and seek medical care, he said. Classic signs of heart problems include burning or pressure in the chest.

Those without heart problems also need to be careful, Fahmy said. Strained muscles, including back problems, can result from shoveling.

Fahmy suggests everyone bend from the knees, not the waist.

Careful when shoveling

Before shoveling, warm up and stretch. Warm, relaxed muscles are less likely to suffer strains.

Choose the right shovel. A shovel's handle length is right when you can slightly bend your knees, and hold the shovel comfortably. A plastic shovel blade is lighter than a metal one. Ergonomic shovels with a bent shaft are better than straight shafts.

Keep hands at least 12 inches apart. This increases leverage and reduces strain.

When lifting snow, squat with your legs apart, and keep your back straight. Make sure to lift with your legs.

Spraying a lubricant on the shovel will help prevent snow from clinging to it.

If there's heavy snow, tackle it in two stages. First, skim off the top layer and then remove the bottom layer.

Take plenty of breaks while you shovel. Every so often, stand up straight and walk around to extend the lower back.

Source: www.medcentral.org

Originally published Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Heart drug could save many lives
Mansfield doctor encouraged by study of black patients

By David Benson, dbenson@nncogannett.com
News Journal