heart health Archives | Scrubbing In

September 29, 2020September 28, 2020

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): What happens when blood can’t flow to your legs

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is one of the most common circulatory issues for Americans. According to the American Heart Association, more than 8.5 million people have PAD. People with the worst form of PAD are at risk for an amputation. “Peripheral” refers to “away from the heart, in the outer regions,” such as the legs. … Continue reading Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): What happens when blood can’t flow to your legs

June 25, 2020June 26, 2020

High cholesterol: Should you be worried?

Today, more than 95 million American adults are living with total cholesterol levels above the healthy range. 29 million of those are at high risk for heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We often hear about high cholesterol, but what is it? How does it happen and what makes it … Continue reading High cholesterol: Should you be worried?

June 16, 2020June 15, 2020

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): What you need to know

If you have ever seen a bulge in the side of a bicycle tire, you already have a good idea of what an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) looks like inside the body. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and supplies oxygen-rich blood to the head, neck, chest and abdomen before splitting … Continue reading Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): What you need to know

May 28, 2020May 27, 2020

Stress and high blood pressure: What’s the connection?

Did you know that increased levels of stress can cause your body to release certain hormones? These hormones can temporarily raise your blood pressure by narrowing the size of your arteries and causing your heart to beat faster. Though stress alone has not been linked to long-term blood pressure elevation, reacting to stress in unhealthy ways … Continue reading Stress and high blood pressure: What’s the connection?

May 14, 2020August 26, 2020

Monitoring your blood pressure at home

Most of the time, a visit to the doctor’s office begins with a temperature check, a step onto the scale and an assessment of your blood pressure. But outside of your regular doctor’s visits, how often do you think about these key indicators of your health? As you seek to stay well at home — … Continue reading Monitoring your blood pressure at home

April 6, 2020June 24, 2020

Heart condition? What you need to know about COVID-19

Update: In addition to cough, fever and shortness of breath, possible symptoms of COVID-19 have been expanded to also include sore throat, weakness, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of smell or taste, and chills. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please access the free screening questionnaire via MyBSWHealth. Although the COVID-19 virus has not … Continue reading Heart condition? What you need to know about COVID-19

February 28, 2020March 10, 2020

From story to art: How her smartwatch saved her life

Our patients inspire us to get better at our craft every day. Inspired by their stories, we challenged local artists to create unique works of heart. That’s how Elizabeth Turner and Raynor Bearden met — at the intersection of art and medicine. At 76, Elizabeth Turner is more active than most people half her age. Her … Continue reading From story to art: How her smartwatch saved her life

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Heart attack survivor finds healing through art

After spending one hot afternoon mowing the yard, Mary Owens suddenly started experiencing pain down her left arm, and then in her chest. Her husband quickly took her to the hospital, where she stayed for testing and overnight observation. The next day, they were shocked to learn that these were the first symptoms of her … Continue reading Heart attack survivor finds healing through art

February 24, 2020March 3, 2020

Arthritis and heart disease: The surprisingly strong link

Other than both being potentially serious conditions affecting millions of people, osteoarthritis and heart disease may not seem to have that much in common. Osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in the joints, while heart disease impacts the heart and blood vessels. Musculoskeletal system versus circulatory system. Separate issues, right? Actually, there is a relationship between … Continue reading Arthritis and heart disease: The surprisingly strong link

February 20, 2020February 20, 2020

Your heart on your wrist: How wearables are changing heart care

Over the past decade, our digital capabilities have advanced at an extraordinary pace. Miniaturization of processors and smart algorithms have made it possible to create tools we only dreamed about in the past — and put them right at our fingertips or on our wrists. Today, we can say that the realm of consumer electronics … Continue reading Your heart on your wrist: How wearables are changing heart care