Womens heart disease symptoms different than those in men – The Robesonian

February 12, 2021

An alarming 48% of Americans currently suffer from cardiovascular disease. Thats 121.5 million adults.

Throughout Heart Health Awareness Month, Southeastern Wound Healing Center, a member of the Healogics network, will work to spread awareness about how cardiovascular diseases can affect the wound healing process. Chronic wounds affect about 8 million people in the United States,

If left untreated, an unhealed wound on the foot or leg can lead to a diminished quality of life and possible amputation. As many as 82% of leg amputations are caused by poor circulation of the affected limb.

Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, strokes, arrhythmia, vascular disease and other issues with the heart and vessels can cause blockages that obstruct the flow of blood needed for proper wound healing. Differentiating between arterial and venous ulcers may be challenging, but a correct diagnosis can result in optimal treatment options. Careful vascular assessment is key when a patient presents with a lower extremity ulcer as arterial disease is generally contraindicative to compression therapy, the cornerstone of venous ulcer management.

Heart health is directly related to preventing wounds, said Dr. Karl Moo-Young, SWHC medical director. Poor circulation can lead to both venous and arterial ulcer conditions.

Southeastern Wound Healing Center offers the following tips to live a heart healthy life:

Eat Heathy: Low-fat, high-fiber food are good for your heart. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains every day.

Be Active: Walk, run, dance, swim find a way to get moving for at least 30 minutes every day. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight.

Take Care: Be kind to yourself. Practice positive self-talk. Make sleep a priority. Reduce stress with fun hobbies. Stop smoking and all use of nicotine.

Get Screened: See your health care provider at least twice a year. Ask about screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.

It is especially important for anyone living with a cardiovascular disease to detect wounds early. Seek specialized wound care to prevent possibly infection, hospitalization and amputation due to poor circulation.

February 12, 2021

Today I had a routine doctors appointment before work. Per usual, the first two things they did was get my weight followed by my blood pressure. Since for most of us getting on a scale is a blood pressure raising experience, I think perhaps that offices should swap the order.

For me today was no exception. Since the beginning of the pandemic when gyms closed, I quit weighing myself. I adopted a dont ask, dont tell philosophy about my weight. As I pretty much am in tune with my body, when I hopped on the scale today it came as no surprise that there was more of me than pre-pandemic. Even factoring in a few pounds for clothes and shoes I have gained the dreaded COVID 19. Yikes!

As I was lamenting that fact to my doctor, we talked about belly fat, particularly in women of a certain age, being the culprit. As women age and hormones change, fat concentration around the midsection is common. Doctors will tell you however, that excess belly fat is a big health concern. Deep visceral fat around the abdominal organs puts us at higher risk for heart disease, cancers and even dementia. Besides all the health risks, it makes it pretty hard to zip up your favorite jeans or want to strut your stuff on the beach. While what we eat is the key, there are also exercises that can help burn off some of that jelly belly. Here are some of the top belly fat burning exercises. Hop online and check out YouTube to see the proper way to do each movement.

Burpees: While most of my CrossFit friends dread a workout with Burpees it is one of my favorite exercises. Burpees work your core as well as your chest, shoulders and arms. Burpees burn calories and also can be done just about anywhere.

Mountain Climbers: Now we move from one I love to one I loathe: the dreaded mountain climbers. Mountain climbers combine holding a plank as well as working your legs, and, like the burpees, can be done anywhere.

Turkish Get Up: This one is a 200-year-old total body exercise that combines weight lifting, balance and coordination. I just finally mastered these this year! A Turkish Get Up works just about all muscle groups at once. Make sure you use a super light dumb bell or kettle bell.

Medicine Ball Slams: A medicine ball is an average-size ball filled with sand at varying weights. By slamming the ball into the floor repeatedly you work your Core, back arms and legs. You can slam them from either the overhead position or the side to work different core muscles. You can get a slam ball at a sporting goods store or even Walmart for about $15-$20 depending on the weight.

Planks: Plank workouts are all the rage because they are easy to do, take little time and no equipment. Planks target all the core muscles.

These are just a few ideas to get you working on that belly fat. Work these into your routine daily first thing in the morning before you head to work is best. Also dont forget your cardio exercise, be it running, walking, cycling or rowing, to get the most benefit.

February 05, 2021

Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is a common circulatory problem in which cholesterol/fatty deposits build up on the wall of a blood vessel or artery, a process called atherosclerosis.

This can narrow the artery lumen and reduce the blood flow to the heart. This may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or a heart attack. Atherosclerosis can also affect arteries throughout the body, and when it occurs in arteries supplying blood to the limbs, usually the leg, it causes peripheral artery disease, or PAD. This may cause leg pain/cramps when walking, numbness, coldness, or leg ulcers. The diseases share common risk factors like increasing age, male gender, a family history of CAD or PAD at an early age, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet.

The same lifestyle habits used to help treat CAD and PAD can also help prevent it. Tips for a healthy lifestyle are to quit smoking, stay physically active, exercise regularly for 30-45 minutes, maintain healthy weight, eat a low-fat, low-salt diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and control conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Coronary artery disease is usually diagnosed by stress test, which is commonly combined with nuclear imaging. A confirmatory test called angiography is often indicated to look for blockages in arteries, which involves injecting a dye in the artery and viewing it using CT scan or under X-rays via cardiac catheterization, which is an invasive procedure that involves guiding a small hollow tube called catheter through an artery in your groin or wrist to the affected artery. Peripheral artery disease is usually diagnosed with ankle-brachial index, a test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle with blood pressure in your arm. Additional tests like ultrasound and angiography (using CT scan, or MRI or catheter) is ordered before planning the treatment.

Treatment for both CAD and PAD involves blood thinners, medications to lower blood cholesterol, and medications to relieve chest pain or leg pain. Additionally in PAD patients, a supervised exercise program is recommended initially to increase the distance they can walk pain-free. Finally, in some cases, angioplasty or bypass surgery may be necessary. Angioplasty is an invasive procedure where a catheter is threaded through blood vessel to the narrowed artery, and later is widen by inserting and inflating balloon. Often times a stent, either mesh or spring, is also inserted and left in the artery to keep it open. For bypass surgery, a surgeon creates a path around the narrowed or blocked artery using a graft either a blood vessel from another part of a body or a synthetic vessel. This technique allows blood to bypass the affected artery. After angioplasty or surgery, the patient is referred to cardiac rehabilitation, which is a program of education, counseling and exercise training thats designed to help improve health.

February 05, 2021

There seems to be a thought process that every time a COVID vaccine is administered, a dose is put in the refrigerator for future use. This, of course, is challenging when you administer thousands of doses.

The reality is that first doses are shipped to providers who then store/refrigerate/freeze the products as needed. After two weeks for Pfizer and three weeks for Moderna an order of the same magnitude is received to serve as the second dose. Obviously if one uses the second dose as a first dose, there could be a real problem when someone comes to claim the second dose.

The Health Department does not automatically make appointments for second doses for two reasons. The first is the second dose should be taken with your calendar of events in mind what can you afford not to do if you have a reaction rather than just saying 21 or 28 days have gone by and this is your appointment date -. One must remember that is the minimal amount of time that should have passed, not the exact day for a vaccination. The second reason is there is more and more discussion about delaying the second dose for months or more so that more people can get vaccinated at least initially.

On the good news front, we COVID-tested more than 1,000 students and others affiliated with The University of North Carolina at Pembroke as a part of welcoming the students back. Out of this number, only 24 were positive, which gave a positivity rate of less than 2.4%. The rule of thumb has 5% as a goal, so congratulations to all who have been responsible. Hopefully, this will carry over through the school year and the university and its communities can live safe and healthy.

The various strains have caused a lot of alarm particularly as to what effect it will have on the vaccinated population. From what I have seen, even though the efficacy declines for preventing one from getting the disease, it improves ones chances by 85% to avoid severe illness. That is significantly higher than the seasonal flu shot, which is worth the effort.

January 29, 2021

RALEIGH A free three-part virtual education series about the early stages of Alzheimers and related dementias diseases has been scheduled for February.

The Alzheimers Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter and the Alzheimers Association, Western Carolina Chapter will serve as the host of Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis. The series is designed to help families by providing practical answers to the questions that arise in the early stage of dementia. Participants will hear from experts, people directly affected, and learn what can be done to cope with the changes that come with an early stage diagnosis.

The three-part series is open to individuals with a recent diagnosis and/or in the early stages of Alzheimers and related dementia diseases, their families and care-partners. Members of the general public interested in learning more about planning, resources, and services that are available may also attend. Interested parties may register for all three, or just those sessions that best fit their schedule and interests. Attendees can attend via video/webinar or through a toll-free number. There is no charge to participate, but registration is required. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/NavigatingALZFeb2021 or call 1-800-272-3900.

Part one of the series is titled Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: What does this diagnosis mean? and will take place on Feb. 10 from noon to 1:15 p.m. This program will cover understanding the disease and diagnostic process, symptoms of early stage and approaches to managing, and the relationship(s) among doctors, patients and care-partners. Dr. Mark Pippinger, a behavioral neurologist with Novant Health, will be presenting.

Part two is titled Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: The Power of Planning will take place Wednesday,and is scheduled for Feb. 17 from noon to 1:15 p.m. This program will cover care planning, care teams, care management, a legal and financial overview, and an exploration of family and friends, relationships, and self-care. This session will include a panel of experts that includes Corinne Auman, family caregiving and aging expert; Alyssa Botte, a psychotherapist in memory counseling; and Marjorie Brown, an elder law attorney.

Part three, Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: Live Well, is scheduled for Feb. 24 from noon to 1:15 p.m. This program will include Alzheimers Association early-stage advisors who will share their experiences of living with Alzheimers and other dementias.

The diagnosis of Alzheimers disease is life-changing and leads to many questions so this program is invaluable for recently diagnosed individuals and their care partners, said Lisa Roberts, executive director of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter. We want them to know that they are not alone and that we are here for them from the beginning of a diagnosis and throughout their journey with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia.

Additional facts and figures:

Alzheimers disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

More than five million Americans are living with the disease,including 180,000 North Carolina residents a number estimated to grow to as many as 210,000 by year 2025.

More than 16 million family and friends, including 479,000 in North Carolina, provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimers or other dementias in the United States.

In 2019, friends and family of those with Alzheimers in North Carolina provided an estimated 545 million hours of unpaid care, a contribution valued at $7.15 billion.

January 29, 2021

This past Monday was my first day back at CrossFit after a weeklong stint on the injured list. The previous week, on a third set of box jumps, I started to jump and, hearing a pop in my hip, abruptly stopped. Being a woman of certain age, I fully envisioned myself as one of the ladies in the Ive fallen and I cant get up TV commercials and was sure I had fractured a hip. Thankfully the X-rays were negative and, after a week of rest, ice, some medicine and physical therapy, this old lady is once again gym ready.

But I digress. Back to last evenings workout.

It was a particularly spicy one as coach Julie says with a 25-minute time cap. I was moving along pretty well but, near the buzzer, found myself with nine more sit-ups to complete with only about 30 seconds remaining. As all of the young people were already finished, they began cheering me on. I could feel myself going faster and faster; yes, I was going to finish in time! While I would like to say I completed the last repetition under the 25-minute cap, I am sad to report that I was one repetition shy. That said, without the crew cheering me on, I never would have been close. My fitness family at QFE was there to support me and that, my friends, is why group fitness can be so special.

Here are some of the benefits of getting fitness on with your people:

Coaching: When you exercise together with other people around you, there will be a qualified fitness expert that will lead the whole group. They can answer questions, cheer you on and act as a personal trainer to modify your workout to make it the most beneficial

More bang for your buck: Joining a gym that offers group exercise will give you more bang for your buck. You can enjoy many more fitness benefits when you are in the right group of people. You can encourage each other, have fun and hold each other accountable for making it to class. When you are going solo it is easier to skip a workout and stay home because no one is expecting you.

Lower risk of injury: Having a group of people around you that have the same goals as you is very helpful and can decrease the risk of getting injured. This is because when you are doing a certain routine or a workout the wrong way, the folks that you are with during the exercise will help you correct your form and positioning. A coach or group leader can also keep an eye on you to make sure your form is correct.

Higher endorphin output: When you exercise in groups, you will feel lighter, happier, and calmer even after an intense workout session. Exercising in a group increases the production of your endorphins, or happy hormones. This is a great opportunity to share a laugh and make new friends!

Camaraderie between participants: Group exercises are not only meant to provide you benefits on your fitness goals alone. They are pretty great for building your social life. You can meet a lot of people and gain new friends! And when this happens, youll be more excited every time your group is scheduled for a class.

So whether its CrossFit, Zumba, Spin or even a running club, exercising with other people can be a great way to keep your fitness routine fresh and develop some lifelong friendships. And who knows, for those of us single folks, we just might meet someone special who shares our love for fitness!

January 22, 2021

LUMBERTON The UNC Health Southeastern board of trustees has a new chairman and a new member.

Joann Anderson, president and CEO of UNC Health Southeastern, recently announced the election of Wayland B. Lennon III, of Fairmont, to lead the board. Dr. Jeffrey P. Campbell, an otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon, has joined as the boards newest member.

Lennon, who first joined the board in 2013, received a bachelors degree in business and math, with a concentration in computer science, from Pembroke State University, now The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, in 1985. He received a masters degree in business administration from Campbell University in 1988. He is president of AnyTable, Inc., which owns Dairy Queen of Lumberton.

Lennons civic commitments to Robeson County and Fairmont include being a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Fairmont, Eagle Scout 76, WoodBadge 16, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor 18, Cape Fear Award 18, past Japeechen Chapter OA chapter advisor, Cape Fear Council board member, former Town of Fairmont Board of Commissioners member, former Lumber River Council of Governments board member (treasurer), past president of the Fairmont Civitan Club, past master pf the Fairmont Masonic Lodge #528, and past president of the Fairmont Shrine Club.

Southeastern has always felt like a second home to me as my mother, Pat Lennon, worked in the lab at SRMC for 45 years, Lennon said. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to continue my familys service to our community through the health care system, with the desire to help shape the future of health care services in our area.

Lennon and his wife, Melissa, live in Fairmont with their two children, Caroline and Tyler.

I look forward to working closely with Mr. Lennon as he assumes the chairman role, Anderson said. He has served our board in an exemplary fashion for the past several years. His input in the selection process for UNC Health as a partner was invaluable to our decision. He has a strong affinity for Southeastern through his mother and is committed to ensuring excellent healthcare is provided in our community.

Dr. Campbell is affiliated in private practice with Campbell Ear, Nose and Throat, LLC, in Lumberton. He graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina State University in chemical engineering before graduating with honors from the UNC School of Medicine. He completed his residency in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at UNC School of Medicine and a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in Birmingham, Alabama.

He is board certified in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, and in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He maintains clinical appointments at both UNC School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and the Campbell University School of Medicine.

Campbell and his wife, Sarah, live in Lumberton and have two sons, Collin and Boone; and twin daughters, Emma Grace and Katie Beth.

Adding Dr. Campbell to the board is key to getting physician input and perspectives at the board level, Anderson said. I know he will bring an insight that is much needed as we plan for the future. The nominating committee of the board felt the need to include additional physicians and, in particular, at least one not employed by the system. Dr. Campbell represents that section very well.

In addition to Lennon and Dr. Campbell, the other members of the UNC Health Southeastern board of trustees are, Cherry Beasley, Ph.D.; Kenny Biggs; Faye Caton; Larry Chavis; Daniel Cook; Dr. Robin Cummings; Katherine Davis; Randall Jones; Duncan Mackie; Alphonzo McRae Jr.; Eva Meekins, DNP; Kenneth Rust; Michael Stone; and W.C. Washington.

January 22, 2021

LUMBERTON UNC Health Southeastern recently welcomed cardiologists Drs. Hiten Patel and Ifad Rahman.

Both doctors provide care at Southeastern Cardiovascular and Cardiovascular Clinic, which is located within Southeastern Health Mall on the campus of Biggs Park Mall.

Patel completed medical school in India at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Government Medical College Surat in 2007. He completed internal medicine training at Weill Cornel Medical College, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York in 2013. He served as chief resident in internal medicine at Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences in New Jersey.

Patel completed fellowships in cardiovascular diseases in 2017 and in interventional cardiology in 2018, both at New York Medical College, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in New Jersey, where he also served for two years as chief resident. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the areas of cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is also certified by the National Board of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and is a registered physician in vascular interpretation. He is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

He most recently practiced at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, where he also served as an associate professor of medicine at Campbell University.

Rahman completed a medical degree from Universidad Catolica Nordestana, Dominican Republic in March 2002. He completed an internal medicine residency at University of South Carolina in 2010.

Rahman completed a fellowship in preventive cardiology at Brown University in 2012, a fellowship in cardiology at Rutgers University in New Jersey in 2015, and a fellowship in advanced cardiology imaging at Mount Sinai in New York in 2016. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, echocardiogram, nuclear cardiology vascular studies and cardiac/coronary CT. He is a fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, American Society of Echocardiology and the American College of Cardiology. He most recently practiced at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana.

For more information about Patel and Rahman, call Southeastern Cardiology and Cardiovascular Clinic, located at 2936 North Elm St., Suite 102, in Lumberton, at 910-671-6619.

January 15, 2021

LUMBERTON When The Rev. Dr. John Campbell, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Marietta, started having symptoms of COVID-19 after a direct exposure, one of the first people he contacted was Dr. Robin Peace, a family medicine specialist at Southeastern Medical Clinic North Lumberton.

Campbell learned about the benefits of Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy before his positive test result, including how, if administered early in a COVID-19 diagnosis, it could be a powerful tool in overcoming the, often times, serious symptoms of the virus and preventing hospitalizations in high risk individuals.

I am over 65 and I dont mind sharing that Ive had three stents, am overweight and pre-diabetic, so I was at risk for more serious symptoms and hospitalization, said Campbell, a native of Robeson County who served on the Public School of Robeson County Board of Education for 25 years.

Campbell advised Peace of his symptoms and recent exposure and inquired about infusion therapy. Peace guided Campbell through the steps to get a PCR COVID-19 test (nonrapid), which is required to be eligible for the infusion therapy.

I got tested on Dec. 21 and received a positive result on Dec. 23, Campbell said. By the afternoon of Dec. 23, Dr. Peace had completed the referral and I was receiving the infusion therapy.

Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy is medically indicated for positive COVID-19 patients ages 12 and older who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19. This includes patients ages 65 and older with chronic medical conditions.

I began to feel better immediately, Campbell said. My headache was milder and I wasnt aching as much. As time has progressed, the symptoms have gotten less and less. I credit the antibody infusion to my recovery.

According to UNC Health Southeastern Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Roberts, the health system is administering Bamlanivamab, which is produced by Lilly. The infusion process takes about three hours ,with infusion being one hour and observation for one hour after completion of the infusion.

I dont yet have the energy level that I had, Campbell said 13 days after receiving his infusion. I still get tired. I was advised by Dr. Peace not to do everything I feel like doing to give my lungs a chance to heal and restoration to take place. I continue to take it easy and not push myself. Compared to where I was, it was a complete turnaround.

Patients who receive a positive COVID-19 test result and are at risk for complications because of their age or health conditions should ask their primary care provider if antibody infusion therapy would be beneficial to their recovery. UNC Health Southeastern administers the therapy at Southeastern Health Mall Clinic within the Southeastern Health Mall on the campus of Biggs Park Mall in Lumberton.

I have shared my experience with my church members so that if any of them were to test positive in the future, they could explore that as just another tool to fight this thing until everyone can get vaccinated, Campbell said. The results of the infusion therapy did last and it was real. I am even more of a proponent for folks to get it.

Individuals who would like more information about antibody infusion therapy or providers who need to make a referral may call Southeastern Health Mall Clinic at 910-272-1175.

January 15, 2021

We have been vaccinating people ages 75 and older against COVID-19 for a week now and there have been some eye-opening aspects to it.

First, it changed the tenor of the waiting rooms. It has become much more social in nature. While chairs are socially distanced and everyone is masked, there is a general feeling of camaraderie among the people being served.

Second, they are so appreciative of receiving services in a timely fashion, and they have no problem sharing their gratitude with staff. This becomes a boost to the staff and has served as a recharge. One has to remember that we have been involved in the pandemic for nine months with the same personnel contact tracers were hired but that did not take away from the clinic or testing duties.

A third item is that this population wants someone to answer the telephone. A common complaint heard is that such and such never answers the phone. Given that these people generally have a lot of time to call, they have no problems calling over and over.

Fourth many in this older population do not have email addresses registrations that center on this type address are doomed on-site registration is a must. While almost all younger people have smart phones and multiple addresses, many of the senior crowd still use a flip phone, which is extremely limited.

A younger employee looked at the waiting room and said she never knew that so many old people lived here. Of course, she was also counting the 60-year-old child who was bringing a parent for a vaccination as part of that age spectrum.

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Womens heart disease symptoms different than those in men - The Robesonian