303.651.5111
lUHCaRes.oRg
Featured Service:
AMbULAtOry
HEarT MONiTOriNG
the car keys
conversation
Help is available for the difficult discussion with an
elderly loved one about giving up the car keys.
sHarP senses and responses are needed behind the wheel of
a car. When age begins to slow down a family member enough to
raise questions, it may be time for a ride-along to see how his or her
driving skills are holding up.
Clues an older driver should call it quits may include recent dents
in the car and other exterior damage. Traffic tickets could be red flags.
Maybe he or she doesn't want to go out at night. Are you hesitant
to trust the senior driver with young passengers or yourself?
let the Doctor DeciDe
If any of this sounds familiar, it may be a good idea to schedule
a driving evaluation with a physician. The physician's exam will
include vision and hearing tests as well as reflex and memory
checks. If it is time to put down the keys, the physician can help
explain why and provide support.
Your loved one will likely feel as though his or her independence is
slipping away, so it is important to offer reassurance. Transportation
alternatives are available and family members can help by offering
rides to the store or appointments. This conversation may be
uncomfortable in the short term but could be an important step
toward your family's safety in the long run.
to schedule an evaluation, call Milestone Medical Group
internal Medicine at 720.652.8400.
ever Have an intermittent electrical problem with your
car—a light, a gauge, or some other function that surprises you
by occasionally refusing to function? When a person's heart
develops an abnormality that comes and goes, physicians can use
ambulatory heart monitoring to isolate the cause.
For the period of the test, typically 24 hours, a patient is given
a small device that records heart activity. Depending on the
type of device, it may be wired with pads that are applied to the
chest. These pads are similar to the electrodes used to obtain an
electrocardiogram, or EKG, during a physical. Some devices use
wristbands with a finger attachment. Once the test is complete,
physicians use information recorded by the device to make
recommendations about further testing or treatment options.
Ambulatory heart monitoring may be used for:
• Fainting spells that appear to be heart related
• Palpitations or feelings that the heart is racing
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a heart rhythm treatment
As with any concern about the heart, these symptoms should
be taken seriously and addressed in consultation with a physician
or cardiologist.
to learn more about how the heart is evaluated, visit luhcares.org
and click on "Heart Care" then "evaluating the Heart." For a
cardiologist, call 720.652.8400.
classes
available
at longmont
united hospital:
• cardiac rehabilitation
education
• childbirth
Preparation
• breastfeeding
• cPr
• sleep lab
• much more
call 303.485.4184.
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