In recognition of American Heart Month, Heritage Valley Health System is encouraging Southwestern Pennsylvania residents to learn their risk for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in Pennsylvania and the nation.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are responsible for nearly 836,546 deaths in the United States, which is about one of every three deaths. Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives each year than all forms of cancer and Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease combined.
“Heart disease is primarily a disease of lifestyle. Although risk factors such as age, family history and gender cannot be changed, many of the risk factors can be eliminated,” said Dr. Kenneth House, Medical Director of Heritage Valley Cardiology. “Individuals can take steps to reduce their risk by adding exercise to their daily routine, eating healthy and managing conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”
Additional ways to fight heart disease include quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, limit alcohol consumption, and schedule a visit with your doctor to talk about the health of your heart.
Heritage Valley’s Heart and Vascular Center and Cardiovascular Surgery programs include board-certified cardiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, and physicians specializing in electrophysiology. Heritage Valley’s Heart and Vascular team offers a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis, management and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease and provides a full range of services, including consultative care, non-invasive diagnostic testing, diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac procedures, and peripheral specialized endovascular procedures.
Additionally, Heritage Valley’s Cardiovascular Surgery program is one of the most comprehensive heart health programs in the region. The program offers patients a wide variety of services such as coronary bypass grafting, adult congenital surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and much more.
Heritage Valley cardiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons are also performing state-of-the-art procedures including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and Impella. The minimally invasive TAVR procedure implants a new heart valve for patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis who previously had no surgical options. Impella, the world’s smallest heart pump, is used during high-risk coronary procedures and protects the patient by reducing the heart’s workload while maintaining adequate blood flow to the body.
Heritage Valley’s Heart and Vascular Centers are located in Beaver and Leetsdale. Additional cardiology and cardiovascular services are offered in Cranberry Township, Calcutta, Ohio, Ellwood City, Kennedy Township and at Heritage Valley Beaver hospital, Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital and Ohio Valley Hospital. To make an appointment at any Heart and Vascular location, call 724.773.4502. For more information about the Heart and Vascular Center, click here.
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About Heritage Valley Health System Heritage Valley Health System is a $535 million integrated delivery network providing comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with 4,400 employees and more than 530 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its three hospitals, Heritage Valley Sewickley, Heritage Valley Beaver and Ohio Valley Hospital; in more than 45 physician offices; and more than 21 community satellite facilities. For more information about Heritage Valley Health System, please visit www.heritagevalley.org.