Davis Hospital

Help Your Heart Out Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. While certain risks — such as age, race and family history — can’t be controlled, you can keep your heart healthy through smart lifestyle choices, including: healthy eat 1 Decreasing Door- to-Balloon Time When you’re having a heart attack, every second matters. The staff in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Davis Hospital and Medical Center works diligently to treat patients as soon as possible and maintain a short door-to-balloon time. “Door-to-balloon time is the measurement from when a person arrives at the hospital until he or she receives treatment in the lab,” says Patrick Byrnes, manager, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Davis Hospital. “We’ve met the 90-minute national door-to- balloon guideline 100 percent of the time for the past 12 months.” Davis Hospital staff also has the ability to begin treatment even before patients arrive at the hospital. “We have an integrated cardiac program, so emergency medical technicians can run an electrocardiogram on a patient in the ambulance while in transit,” Patrick says. “Based on the results, which are sent electronically to the hospital, the Cardiac Catheterization Lab team mobilizes and can treat the patient as soon as he or she arrives in the Emergency Department.” • Leave processed foods behind, and hit the produce aisle or farmers market instead. Eating a diet fi lled with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy can make you and your heart feel better. Read nutritional labels and opt for fresh or frozen options before choosing canned vegetables or fruits, which lose some of their nutritional value during processing. • While a glass of red wine with dinner may give your heart an extra boost of antioxidants, too much wine or other spirits is detrimental to your cardiovascular health. If you’re a woman, stick to one alcoholic beverage per day. If you’re a man, do not consume more than two daily. get 3 active drink smart 2 • Between meetings and errands, the last thing you probably feel like doing is taking 30 minutes to exercise. However, making time for extra movement can improve your heart function, so take that extra fl ight of stairs or a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Over time, these small changes can add up to better heart health. • Smoking cigarettes not only increases your risk of heart disease, but can lead to a host of other problems, including lung cancer. Ready to quit? Set a date to speak with your physician about what options will work best for your needs. smoking quit 4 Need some extra help improving your cardiac health? Call 1-866-431-WELL (9355) to fi nd a physician on the medical staff. 4 Follow us:

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