A Good Fight Against the #1 Killer in America

You have heard about them. You have read about them. But how many would you recognize in yourself or your loved ones. Would you know the warning signs and symptoms of heart disease? “One in every 3 people will die of heart disease.  And that is just one too many," was the purpose and theme of and Partnership Gwinnett first event of 2011 health council series. This event was held at .

The event entitled, "The Hidden Epidemic: Heart Disease in America," drew over 250 attendees. They came from all over Gwinnett County. Many came because they suffer with heart disease. Some came because they have family, friends that were lost due to heart related diseases.

“I believe the crowd is indicative of the importance of controlling cardiac disease in Gwinnett County,” said keynote speaker Dr. Searle W. Videlefsky, Cardiologist, Gwinnett Medical Center.

“Lifestyle changes are the most important choices we have in controlling and preventing heart disease. Heart disease is incurable, so we must learn to control lifestyle choices much earlier. Lifestyle choices are just as, if not more important, as the medication prescribed by physicians,” said Videlefsky.

Videlefsky said he believes heart disease warning signs start early, but manifest or present later in life. Teens with elevated cholesterol levels would qualify for heart disease testing and monitoring. Obese children who are also susceptible to diabetes are good candidates for lifestyle preventive measures.

“Early detection and treatment will decrease tremendously, the amount of patients that suffer from heart disease. For those with childhood obesity, we monitor cholesterol and blood pressure, and make healthier lifestyle choices a part of their everyday living. By the time they become young adults making good, healthy lifestyle choices and changes should be easy,” said Videlefsky.

Heart Disease is the number one killer in America. Two out of five deaths a day are related to cardiovascular disease. Heart disease encompasses diseases of, or related to blood vessels, i.e. high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (aka coronary artery disease), heart failure, stroke and heart defects present at birth.

“The whole issue is near and dear to me because of my mother. She has suffered four heart attacks and nine or ten strokes,” said Sharon J. Bartels, President, Gwinnett Technical College, of her 79 year old parent. She said that the very center in which event was being held, named for former Georgia Governor George Busbee, had himself suffered and died of a heart attack in 2004.

Bartels said Gwinnett Technical College’s new Life Science Center will increase capacity to educate healthcare professionals that will join the fight against heart disease.

During Dr. Videlefsky’s address, he conducted a five question quiz to aide in the learning process. Members of the audience seated up front via hand held devices responded to the questions. Those seated further back were encouraged to shout out the answers. The audience passed the quiz with ease.

“Great attendance is a testimonial to people’s awareness of heart disease. And their willingness to learn and do more to prevent and treat them,” said Videlefsky.

Kenneth Sung, 70, had heart surgery to repair heart valve in November of 2010, said, “I came to find out more about how to maintain my healthy heart. How to prevent further damage. I am almost a vegetarian, still eat eggs.”  

Heart disease survivor and Executive Director of Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, Judy Waters, urged women to know warning signs and not to dismiss them. She said when symptoms presented in her she shrugged them off to being tired and later thought she had a gall bladder issue. Working with her physician she was properly diagnosed and treated.

Women are most often undertreated for heart diseases, because they don’t believe they are having heart related issues. Also, women are most often misdiagnosed. This in part is due to women experiencing symptoms that resemble other conditions. Most common of these are cold sweats, back or jaw pain, nausea/vomiting and or lightheadedness. Symptoms experienced by both male and female include shortness of breath, discomfort/tightening of chest and discomfort in other areas of the upper body.

Dr. Videlefsky recommended the following preventive lifestyle choices:

• Exercise—40 minutes of aerobic exercise 4-5 days a week
• Do not smoke
• Do not skip meals, because this causes metabolism to slow down the process of burning fat
• Eat slowly---chew more to savor every bite of meals
• Avoid high caloric food---don’t bring them home
• Know difference between stomach hunger and mouth hunger. Avoid mouth hunger or the temptation to eat not because of hunger, but just to put food in mouth because it is there.
• Eat 2 hours before going to bed to allow proper digestion
• Cook without fat---instead of frying---boil, broil or bake foods
• Eat fatty fish, lean pork, chicken and turkey with skin removed

Rounding out event speakers, Jeff Nowlin, Gwinnett Medical Center Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, gave an update on the construction of Gwinnett Medical Center's Heart and Vascular Center. The Heart and Vascular Center is due for completion early 2012.

“When I moved here three years ago, I could not believe that a county with 800,000 residents did not have access to open heart surgeries or all heart related procedures. But now, I am proud to say they do and will. Starting this month, for the first time, Gwinnett County residents can get PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) procedure at Gwinnett Medical Center.”

PCI is a minimally invasive therapeutic coronary angioplasty procedure. It is performed to expand blocked blood vessels.

Nowlin said that the new Heart and Vascular Center will enable comprehensive cardiovascular procedures, treatment and services for all of Gwinnett County and beyond.