Cardiology

Cardiology services 

Regional Medical Center provides life-saving heart attack care and treats other types of heart disease, such as heart arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.

Our cardiovascular team includes cardiologists, vascular surgeons, radiologists and nurses who provide innovative treatments when caring for patients with heart disease.

Our hospital's advanced cardiac care

Our cardiologists provide a wide range of services to help you regain your heart health. Whether you are experiencing a cardiac emergency or require treatment for an abnormal heart rhythm, we are here for you. Heart care at our hospital includes:

• Cardiac catheterization laboratory
• Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) services for heart arrhythmias
• Emergency heart and vascular services for heart attack and stroke treatment
• Specialized heart imaging technology

Innovative cardiac technology

We use innovative technology to treat cardiac conditions, including:

• An advanced suction and filter system to remove large blood clots.
• An implantable device to identify the potential for heart failure up to a week prior to symptom onset.
• One of the world's smallest pacemakers with atrioventricular (AV) synchrony to treat AV block, a type of heart arrhythmia.

Heart screening and imaging

Our team is able to gather precise information about the heart and its blood supply through a variety of imaging procedures and cardiac tests, including:

• Cardiac stress tests
• Echocardiogram (echo)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
• Holter monitoring
• Nuclear imaging
• Tilt table testing
• Vascular ultrasound

Emergency heart attack treatment

You can count on the emergency care team at our hospital for fast treatment when an emergency cardiovascular condition occurs, such as a stroke or heart attack.

Heart attack warning signs

Generalized heart attack symptoms for men and women include:

• Chest discomfort, including pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
• Cold sweat
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath

Heart attack symptoms in women

Often, men and women do not experience the same symptoms when having a heart attack. It is important for women to educate themselves on these different symptoms so they can know when to seek emergency care.

Women may experience the following symptoms of a heart attack, with or without chest pain:

• Clammy skin
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Pain in the abdomen or upper back
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Cardiac catheterization laboratory

Our hospital has its own cardiac catheterization lab equipped with specialized digital imaging equipment that allows our doctors to diagnose and treat various heart conditions. When possible, we perform heart catheterization procedures using minimally invasive techniques.

Heart arrhythmia care

Our cardiac electrophysiology (EP) department is dedicated to diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, also called heart arrhythmias. Heart arrhythmias can lead to additional medical complications, such as stroke and heart failure if left untreated.

We offer EP studies to help diagnose arrhythmias. This test uses electrode wires that are passed through a blood vessel and into the heart. Once in the heart, the electrodes can record abnormal heart rhythms and even create electrical activity. These studies help our cardiologists identify problems that may occur with the flow of electricity through the heart.

In addition to EP studies, we also perform Holter monitoring. This is a type of EKG that allows cardiologists to closely monitor the heart's electrical activity over an extended period of time.

Our heart rhythm specialists care for patients experiencing the following types of arrhythmias:

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Bradycardia
• Complete heart block
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular dyssynchrony
• Ventricular tachycardia

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is a heart arrhythmia that is characterized by an abnormal rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart. It causes the heart to beat at a rapid rate, which affects the heart's ability to pump blood properly. When left untreated, AFib can lead to blood clots that may put patients at a higher risk for a stroke.

AFib risk factors

AFib is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. When treated properly, it is not considered a life-threatening condition. Some risk factors for developing AFib may include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve problems
• High blood pressure
• Lung disease
• Previous heart attack
• Sleep apnea
• Using stimulants

Heart arrhythmia procedures

Our cardiac electrophysiology doctors perform a variety of procedures to treat abnormal heart rhythms, including:

• Cardiac ablation—This procedure uses heat to destroy tissue in the heart that causes an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)—This device is placed inside the body to correct an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Pacemaker—This device is placed inside the body and connects electrodes to the heart. The pacemaker can deliver electrical impulses to help regulate the heart's activity.

Heart disease risk factors

Many factors may contribute to a person's risk for developing heart disease. Some factors are controllable, while others are not, such as a family history of heart disease.

We encourage our patients to take charge of their heart health by educating themselves on the major risk factors associated with heart disease, which include:

• Genetics
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Poor diet
• Tobacco use

Exercise benefits your heart

Even low-intensity movement, such as walking, offers benefits to your future heart health. People who lead active lifestyles have a lower risk of developing heart disease. Regular physical activity can also contribute to:

• Increased heart strength
• Lowered resting heart rate as the heart becomes more efficient
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced body weight
• Improved oxygen circulation
• Improved cholesterol
• Reduced levels of fatigue
• Improved vascular wall function