Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. However, it can be partially prevented, controlled or treated with diet, exercise and medications.”
Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes.
A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best defense against heart disease. Physical activity in daily life is also an important step in preventing heart disease. However, sometimes diet and exercise are not enough. When people have multiple risk factors for heart disease, including family history, medication may be necessary.
WCMC offers comprehensive heart care. Four cardiologists—Dr. Leon Blue, Dr. David Evans, Dr. John Henderson, and Dr. Kala Mehta—offer a complete line of services, including general diagnostic cardiology, preventive cardiology, pacemaker placement, nuclear cardiology, EKG’s, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization, treadmill stress tests and lipid profiles.
WCMC’s two cardiovascular surgeons—Dr. Miguel Aguinaga and Dr. Donald Patrick—perform cardiac surgery (both on bypass and off bypass), open and endovascular repair of peripheral arteries and aneurysms and diagnostic and surgical treatment of lung cancers.
In 2007, WCMC performed its 1,000th heart surgery. The hospital has been performing heart surgeries since 2000.
White County Medical Center also has a 64-slice CT imaging system. This CT has significantly improved the ability to diagnose previously undetected heart disease. This test is useful for patients who have risk factors for heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. However, it can be partially prevented, controlled or treated with diet, exercise and medications.”