Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - St. Anthony - (Page 8)

durable and carry a low inherent risk of complication,” Mehta confirms. Among these next-generation stents is one offering substantial benefits for patients with CAD and diabetes. Elevated blood-sugar levels can make controlling CAD more difficult, which can lead to greater plaque (fatty deposit) buildup in already smaller arteries. Recently, the FDA approved Resolute for treatment of people managing both conditions. This new drugeluting stent from Medtronic not only props open the narrowed artery, but it also delivers medication into the arterial wall to help keep it open. Whether or not a next-generation stent is right for you is a matter to be discussed in depth with your cardiovascular specialist, Mehta says. “It’s a very individualized decision with many factors to be considered.” National Awards, Local Care St. Anthony Hospital is one of a select few hospitals in the nation to receive the American Heart Association’s Mission: lifeline® Gold Quality Achievement Award. it recognizes our ongoing efforts to meet the highest standards for diagnosis and treatment of SteMi (myocardial infarction) heart attacks. As part of this recognition, St. Anthony Hospital was recognized in the July 2012 issue of U.S.News & World Report. AdvAnce: ArcticFront bAlloon cryoAblAtion For AtriAl FibrillAtion Expert: J. Thomas Svinarich, M.D., FAAC St. Anthony Hospital cardiologist J. Thomas Svinarich, M.D., FAAC, is one of a select few specialists nationwide performing cardiac balloon cryoablation to treat the potentially life-threatening arrhythmia known as atrial fibrillation, or afib. Without treatment, a person with afib may face a higher risk of dementia, stroke, heart failure and death. St. Anthony Hospital became the first medical center in the region to offer the new procedure last year. Since then, Svinarich has completed more than 110 cases, establishing the hospital as a primary arrhythmia management center for Colorado. “This procedure has been used in Europe Cardiologist J. Thomas for more than six years, and the U.S. cliniSvinarich, M.D., FAAC cal trials were completed nearly three years ago,” Svinarich notes. “The fact that St. Anthony Hospital chose to embrace this new technology early allowed us to anticipate procedures and obtain necessary training.” Afib is an irregular heart rhythm that affects the upper chambers of the heart, resulting in blood not being completely pumped out of the heart, which leads to pooling and clotting. Cardiac balloon cryoablation offers an effective and better-tolerated treatment alternative to radiofrequency ablation. The balloon-based Arctic Front® cryoablation technology destroys the cardiac tissue through the use of a coolant, rather than the heat used in radiofrequency ablation. This freezing technology allows the catheter to adhere to the tissue during ablation, allowing for greater catheter stability. To date, more than 30,000 patients in more than 300 centers worldwide have benefited from Arctic Front cardiac cryoablation for atrial fibrillation. online Need to find a physician to help you manage your cardiovascular care? Visit stanthonyhosp.org and click on the Find A Doctor bar at the top of the page to connect with the specialist of your choice. Or call ASK-A-NURSE at 303-777-6877. Find a Specialist 8 Vim & Vigor • FALL 2 012 http://www.stanthonyhosp.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - St. Anthony

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - St. Anthony
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Community Connections
Welcome to the New St. Anthony Cancer Center
Help for Hearts
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still a Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
More Ways to Manage Pain
A New Dimension
An Important Investment
An Important Investment
A Big Occasion
By the Numbers
From the Foundation
Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - St. Anthony