Tag Archive for: #mariaparhamhealth

TownTalk: Taking Care of Your Heart

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Dr. Mohammed Akhter, an interventional cardiologist at Maria Parham Health is helping promote the American Heart Association’s theme to “reclaim your rhythm” during the February observance of heart health awareness.

No one can deny the impact that COVID-19 has had on our brains and our hearts, Akhter told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. He encourages everyone to focus again on health lifestyles that can have a positive effect on our physical and mental health.

When gyms and restaurants shut down at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, it was more than just an inconvenience, Akhter said.

It’s time to get back in the groove of those lifestyle habits like regular exercise, eating healty foods and enjoying the social interactions with family and others.

During the pandemic, he said, “we couldn’t go to the gym, we were ordering food online and not socially interacting with our loved ones – that has a major effect on our health.”
The AHA made a fundamental plea to the public, he said. “Now is the time to get back to the rhythm – exercise more, eat better and spend more time with your families.”

Those are concrete examples of steps to take to improve health and reduce stress. But  diagnostic tests performed by medical professionals are needed to determine if high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels may also be affecting your overall heart health.

Akhter said that 1 in 2 U.S. adults have hypertension – high blood pressure – but only 1 in 4 have it under control.

He recommends that his patients try to consume less than 2 grams of sodium a day, which may mean scrutinizing food labels. In addition, he recommends 30 minutes of exercise most days, limiting alcohol use and taking medicine that is prescribed for hypertension.

Women and African Americans are two groups that are underrepresented in heart studies, he said.

Maria Parham Health promoted National Wear Red Day on Feb. 4 as a way to “express a solidarity with women who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. He said it’s the number one killer in women.

Women may experience different symptoms than men, he said, adding that is a contributing factor to the under-diagnosis of heart disease in women.

Similarly, African Americans are underrepresented in studies of heart health.

The goal is equitable health for all, Akhter said, who said that in his practice, he works hard to tailor therapies to the individual patients.

 

Friday, Feb. 4 Is Wear Red Day To Promote Awareness Of Heart Disease In Women

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Tomorrow – Friday, Feb. 4 – is National Wear Red Day to promote awareness of heart health. Join the employees at Maria Parham Health by wearing red to support awareness of women and heart disease. Donna Young, MPH marketing and communication coordinator said local businesses that participate have a chance to win a free quarter-page ad in The Henderson Dispatch. See the Maria Parham Health Facebook page for details about how your business can enter.

Wear Red Day is just one way the staff at MPH are showing their support of February’s American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association created National Wear Red Day in 2004 with a mission to dismiss myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women. To support heart health in women locally, Maria Parham employees are encouraged to wear red. Photos of employees will be shared on the hospital Facebook page throughout the day. Community members are also welcomed to wear red and share their photos on social media using the hashtag #MPHWearsRed.

Maria Parham Health has kicked off “28 Days of Heart” as a way to provide a wealth of heart health information each day during February. Visit MariaParham.com each day to learn tips about how to keep your heart healthy, from recipes to fitness.

Maria Parham’s Facebook will have heart-healthy recipes, fitness tips, and medical information geared at keeping your ticker ticking as it should.

American Heart Month: Know Your Heart Numbers

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February is American Heart Month and Maria Parham cardiologist Dr. Mohammad Akhter has a question to ask: “Do you know how healthy your heart is?”

The heart is one of the hardest working parts of the body, Akhter said in an article sent to WIZS as part of American Heart Month.

Knowing some key terms – and understanding what they mean with regard to heart health – are important to keep in mind, he said.

People hear about blood pressure and cholesterol, but knowing your own numbers and taking action to control them is an important step to maintain heart help. Targets for healthy cholesterol levels can vary based on age and gender, but a general rule of thumb for adults is to aim for 125-200 mg/dL. Too much LDL (the “bad” kind)  or not enough HDL (the “good” kind) increases the risk for build-up or blockage in arteries, which could lead to heart attack or stroke.

As for blood pressure, Akhter said that the 120 over 80 is still a good guideline, and readings above those levels would be considered elevated or high. Readings greater than 130/80 are considered hypertensive.

“High blood pressure can be a significant contributor to and sign of serious heart issues,” Akhter said. “Unfortunately, it is an all-too-common condition, affecting nearly half of American adults according to the American Heart Association, and presenting no symptoms the majority of the time,” he said.

Fortunately, high blood pressure can be lowered and managed with the proper care, including diet and medication.

Health professionals usually perform the blood analysis that gives individuals their cholesterol level and blood pressure, but there’s another indicator that Akhter points to that could be a predictor of heart problems – a patient’s waist size.

He cited a study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which showed that men with a waist size larger than 40 inches and women with a waist size greater than 35 inches are at higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

“The good news is that healthy eating and physical activity can help you lower and maintain a healthy waist size and stay on the road to good heart health,” he said.

Risk factors like high cholesterol and blood pressure can also run in your family, so knowing your family’s heart health history can help you stay alert to your own health risks. And while these aren’t the only markers on the map to good heart health, they are key factors in determining how healthy your heart is and your risk for heart issues now or down the road. Your primary care provider can check these numbers for you – including during your annual check-up – and work with you on a plan to make any changes necessary to get you back on track, whether it’s simple lifestyle changes or medication if necessary.

Call 800.424.DOCS to make an appointment. For more information on heart health, visit heart.org. Take a free heart health assessment at MariaParham.com/heart-care.

Maria Parham Health

Need A COVID-19 Test? Please Do NOT Go To Maria Parham Emergency Dept.

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If you or a family member needs to be tested for COVID-19, please, please please don’t go to the Emergency Department at Maria Parham Health. According to information from the hospital, there’s a “dramatic increase” in the number of people coming to the emergency department to seek a COVID-19 test. “We are asking our community to consider alternative locations for COVID testing, in order to conserve valuable hostpiatl resources,” the statement read.

COVID tests are available at local pharmacies, urgent care clinics and primary care clinics.

Visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place/no-cost-community-testing-events to find other locations for COVID-19 testing at no cost or low-cost.

 

TownTalk: Henderson Fire Dept. Puts The Boot In For Maria Parham’s Angel Fund

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It is generally not recommended for pedestrians to walk out in the middle of traffic for any reason – especially Dabney Drive. But when firefighters do it, with their boots in their hands instead of on their feet, rest assured it’s for a good cause.

And on Tuesday, Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell presented the result of the 2021 fundraiser to the staff at Maria Parham Health’s Cancer Center – a check for $25,000. WIZS’s Trey Snide was on hand Tuesday for the check presentation and John C. Rose shared highlights on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

“It’s a great honor for us to be here with you today to present you with another donation from the wonderful residents of the city of Henderson and Vance County and the visitors that come down Dabney Drive,” Cordell said during the presentation ceremony.

He recounted that the first fundraiser to support the cancer center’s “angel fund” was back in 2014. Through t-shirt sales to fight breast cancer, the fire department was able to raise about $3,400 for the oncology department.

Since then, the annual fundraiser – except for last year when it was cancelled because of the pandemic – has netted more than $77,000.

This year’s total of $25,000 almost doubles the combined efforts of previous fundraisers, and Cordell credits the generosity of the community and the willingness of all three shifts of firefighters with this year’s success.

“This year’s total – I was blown away,” he told the group assembled at the hospital for the presentation. The original goal for Day 1 of the project was $4,700, but they’d gotten that by lunchtime, Cordell recalled. By the end of Day 1, folks had put $11,000 in those boots.

Cordell said he remembered thinking, “Man, that’s good. The rest of the days will be pretty slow, but the people just kept on giving.”

“If it wasn’t for these men and women that go out there, very unselfishly, and stand out there in the middle of Dabney Drive and hold a boot,” Cordell said, the donation to the cancer center simply wouldn’t have been possible.

Kimberly Smith is director of the hospital’s cancer center and she said the angel fund helps cancer patients with basic needs, from transportation to medicines to help with their treatment.

“We thank you very much,” Smith said.  “We appreciate you…this money will go to great use for our patients and our community here.”

She likened the work of firefighters to the work that the staff at the cancer center, saying that every day, each group of workers does an amazing job and, every day, they find ways to help people in the communities they serve.

Hope Breedlove is a social worker at the cancer center and offered her thanks as well.

“I’m so thankful.  I’m so proud right now of you, of the community.” Through the angel fund, patients can receive funds that remove barriers, Breedlove noted, and if it weren’t for the angel fund, “we couldn’t do some of the things that we’re able to do” for the patients.

“This angel fund is truly a godsend,” Breedlove said. “From the bottom of my heart, from the bottom of our hearts, and from the bottom of our patients’ hearts, we just thank you so much.”

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Getting the Most Out of Your Health Insurance — End of Year Care

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— Submitted by Dr. Ronald Stahl, Chief Medical Officer, Maria Parham Health

Have you been putting off your annual doctor’s visit? Or perhaps even a needed screening or procedure? If you’ve been putting off care – whether it’s a recommended surgery, screening or simply your annual check-up – now’s the time to do it. Your health means everything. Taking care of it now is a great opportunity to really get the most out of your health insurance. If you’ve already met your deductible for 2021, your out-of-pocket expenses for care could be minimal – or even zero. Even more importantly, giving your health the attention it needs is also a great way to ensure you’re doing all you can to get and stay well – a priority that is more important than ever.

Annual check-ups and recommended health screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies give you and your provider the opportunity to catch any health issues before they become serious and help you stay on top of things like recommended immunizations. And staying on track with any procedures your provider recommends – whether it’s a hip or knee replacement, a hernia repair, wound care or a foot/ankle surgery – can help get you get back to fully enjoying the things you love and aid in avoiding any issues or complications that can arise from delaying care.

Don’t make your health wait. Take care of it now. Many health insurance plans make annual check-ups and age-specific preventive screenings available at little or no cost to you, and out-of-pocket expenses for procedures like the ones mentioned above could be minimal or nothing if you’ve already met your health insurance deductible for the year.

If your safety is a concern, please know that, at Maria Parham Health, your health means everything to us, too. We’re committed to creating a safe place for you to receive care. From enhanced cleaning to required masking in our facilities and more – we’re working hard to create a
place where you choose to come for healthcare.

Call 800.424.DOCS to make an appointment and take care of your health now.

(MPH is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)

Diabetes: A Simple Blood Test Is First Step To Management, Treatment

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When it comes to vital statistics, most of us know our height and weight. Knowing our blood sugar level is one that most of us wouldn’t be able to recite, but health professionals suggest that this number is an important one – too little sugar in our blood can lead to cognitive difficulties and too much can be a sign of an underlying condition like diabetes.

November is American Diabetes Month (designated because insulin was discovered in November 1922).

Cheryl Hester, a board-certified family nurse practitioner at Maria Parham Health, said that having a simple test to check blood sugar levels is an easy way to find out whether you may be at risk for developing diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of those with the condition are not even aware they have it.

Additionally, more than 88 million American adults have what is known as prediabetes – a condition where blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not quite high enough to qualify as Type 2 diabetes.

Persons with prediabetes can adjust their diet and lifestyle in the hope of staving off Type 2 diabetes.

There are three types of diabetes – Type 1 is usually diagnosed at an early age, Type 2 is often referred to as adult-onset and gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.

Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disorder because the body does not produce insulin; rather, the body destroys the cells that produce insulin.

Having Type 2 diabetes means that your body doesn’t use insulin properly. Some Type 2 diabetics can manage their blood sugar levels through healthy eating and exercise and others may need medication or insulin to regulate levels.

And a pregnant woman may develop gestational diabetes, which also can be managed to ensure a safe delivery for mother and baby.

Type 1 diabetes usually develops suddenly and intensely; Type 2 is slower to develop, sometimes without symptoms.

The most common symptoms include increased hunger or thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, numb or tingling hands or feet and slow-healing sores.

Having a blood sugar test is the first step in knowing what your levels are and starting a treatment plan, because, left untreated and unmanaged, diabetes can have devastating effects on your health down the road. Hearing or vision loss, heart attack, stroke and more are several of the complications that unchecked diabetes can lead to.

If you would like to schedule a blood sugar test or talk with a provider about your health, call 800.424.DOCS. For more information about diabetes, visit diabetes.org and cdc.gov/diabetes.

TownTalk: Peripheral Artery Disease

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People who suffer from peripheral artery disease can experience a range of symptoms, but a physician who specializes in treating patients with PAD said advances in care can shorten recovery time and improve quality of life.

Mohammad Akhter, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist affiliated with Duke Hospital. He has been with Maria Parham Health since the summer and talked with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk about some of the causes and symptoms of PAD, as well as some of the things that specialists in his field can do to help patients feel better.

PAD is a condition that happens when plaque builds up in your arteries which restricts blood flow to extremities. In the early stages of PAD, a person may not experience any symptoms, but that changes as the disease progresses unchecked.

It primarily affects the lower legs, Akhter explained. “As the disease progresses, (patients experience) painful cramping in one or both hips or calves, leg numbness or weakness, or coldness in the lower leg or foot.”

People with severe PAD may have open sores or ulcers on their legs or feet that won’t heal because of the restricted circulation.

Until relatively recently, treatment of PAD almost certainly involved surgery. Advances in care such as the care that Akhter provides can include catheterization and placement of balloons and stents to open the arteries.

Patients hear that they have a blockage in their extremities and they think that surgery is the only treatment option. Those with mild or moderate disease, he noted, can get relief through less-invasive catheter techniques, which is Akhter’s specialty. Often, patients can go home that day or the next morning, he said, and face a much shorter recuperation period.

“Seek treatment sooner rather than later,” he advised.

Screening for PAD can be as simple as having a primary care provider take a detailed history, conduct a physical exam and check for pulses in arms and legs. And the use of a Doppler probe can help find pulses that aren’t easily detected, he added.

Medical treatment is part of the care plan, but simply increasing your level of activity through rehabilitation or exercise can also help. The body, Akhter said, will try to adapt to how much you ask of it. “Patients can actually lessen symptoms in weeks or months (after) introducing activity into their lives,” he said. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week is an “excellent way to treat symptoms of PAD,” Akhter added.

Risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure all contribute to a person’s overall health, so bringing blood sugars and cholesterol down will help as well. “Behavioral changes significantly reduce the progression of the disease.”

Once the disease is advanced, preventative care is less effective, so patients could wind up needing more invasive treatment, including surgery, to address the disease and its effects on the body. Maria Parham offers a full spectrum of diagnostics and therapeutics including arterial ultrasound and a dedicated wound care center.

Akhter moved to Durham in 2018 after beginning his specialized work at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and then practicing as a board-certified interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist for about 10 years at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston.

He completed medical school in his native Pakistan and completed his residency and a fellowship at University of Southern California.

He made his way to Durham to complete a master’s degree in global health, but COVID-19 derailed his plans, for the time being.
“It has been gratifying practicing my skill set here in North Carolina,” he said, adding that although he has been amazed to see disadvantaged populations debilitated by PAD, he also remains hopeful because he can utilize his specialized treatments to improve medical conditions.

He praised his cath lab coworkers at Maria Parham Health for being advocates for patient care and for making his work easier.

“I don’t know what this community would do,” Akhter said, without a hospital that he called a “lifeline” for the area.

Although there’s no cure for PAD, there are treatments and care plans that can help.

Call 800.424.DOCS to find a specialist and schedule an appointment.

(Maria Parham Health is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)

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Trunk-Or-Treat! Maria Parham Hosts COVID-Safe Drive-Through Event For Youngsters On Oct. 29

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The parking lot of Maria Parham Health will be the site of a COVID-safe, drive -through Trunk or Treat event on Friday, Oct. 29. Children in costumes don’t have to navigate sidewalks or uneven driveways to fill their bags with goodies – they stay in their cars and get their candy and treats handed to them through open windows.

The trunk-or-treat will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the hospital’s back parking lot. All participants should enter through the main entrance and follow signs to the right upon arrival, according to Donna Young, hospital spokesperson.

Civic groups, as well as church groups, local government and other community groups are invited to decorate car trunks and distribute candy to the trick-or-treaters as well. Please contact Young at donna.young@pnt.net by Oct. 26 to join in the fun.

Mammograms Key To Early Detection, Treatment For Breast Cancer

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According to data from the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., second only to skin cancers. Moreover, it is the most common cancer globally, accounting for 12 percent of new cancer cases.

But deaths from breast cancer have been steadily dropping, according to information from Emma White, DO, a women’s health physician at Maria Parham Health. White said deaths from breast cancer have decreased a full percent each year between 2013 and 2018.

And she attributes that decline to early detection – so if you’re a woman and you haven’t scheduled your mammogram yet, there’s no time like the present.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and White said women over the age of 40 should have an annual mammogram. It takes about an hour from start to finish, and it is a key tool to early detection.

Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, a mammogram that picks up a problem could result in easier and more effective treatment.

There are additional risk factors to consider – genetic mutations, sedentary lifestyle, hormone replacement therapy and a history of radiation therapy – but White said 85 percent of breast cancer cases are in women with no family history of the disease.

Schedule a mammogram by calling your primary care provider or call 800.424.DOCS. To learn more about breast cancer, visit breastcancer.org and cdc.gov/cancer/breast.