Magnolia Minute – Caring for Your Heart
September 24, 2020 3:56 pm
By: Dr. Paul Volansky, Interventional Cardiologist at Magnolia Cardiology Associates
As an interventional cardiologist, I have received specialized training in minimally invasive techniques to treat the structural problems of the cardiovascular system. Most commonly, this involves interventions to relieve blockages of the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
There have been so many new and exciting advances in this field over the last few years that it is easy to forget about the most tried and true technique we have to treat coronary artery disease. The best technique we have is to prevent it from starting. Sometimes in life things happen to us that we cannot control. For example, if mom or dad had heart disease then there is a good chance that you are at risk too. There is nothing you or I can do about which genes we inherit from our ancestors. However, there are other risks that we can control with determination and being responsible about our own health.
One thing we can do to better for our cardiovascular health is to stay active. If adults perform about 150 minutes per week of moderately intense activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous activity), they can reduce the incidence of death and the other consequences of cardiovascular disease. A second risk factor that we can control is keeping our “bad cholesterol,” also known as LDL, as low as possible. This can be done with a combination of diet and exercise as well as with medications to target LDL cholesterol. A third method would be to keep our blood pressure below 130/90 (and sometimes lower). In some people this can be assisted with medications. Lastly, and most importantly, is to stop smoking. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.
Dr. Paul Volansky
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center
