Page 48 - February_2016_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

DOCTOR’S CORNER

PREVHEENARTTDIISOEANSE
A PRIMARY CARE UPDATE

by Cristina Sciavolino- Day, MD

H eart disease continues to be the leading
cause of death for both American men
and women. According to the 2015
American Heart Association update (1), 1 in 7 deaths

were caused by heart disease. There is a cardiac event

every 34 seconds and someone dies as a result every

24 seconds. These numbers are sobering.

Even more troubling is the sharp rise in obesity

among adolescent boys which is a leading risk factor

for heart disease. This risk has improved with higher

socioeconomic groups but worsened for lower ones. One could surmise

that healthier food costs more and access to healthcare is easier to those

with more financial means. With obesity comes a higher chance of having

complications of diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol disorders. speak to your primary care doctor about getting a calcium cardiac

Smoking is the second leading risk factor for the cause of death in score done. It is a quick painless way to assess calcified plaque

the US. In fact, per the AHA, 33 percent of all heart disease related present in your coronary arteries. The Eisner study found that

deaths may be attributed to smoking. Per the 2015 update, the number of patients simply assigned to the cardiac scan imaging group had

people smoking has decreased. In 2013 the percentage of adult smokers improvements in their blood pressures, cholesterol levels, waist

has decreased from 24 percent to 17.9 percent and from 36 percent high size and risk scores compared to those not scanned with a cardiac

schoolers smoking to 15.7 percent. Media attention has helped. Some of score (2). Being more aware of their status helped with motivation

the reduction in traditional cigarette smoking has been due to a shift to compared to those not being scanned and informed. As opposed

electronic cigarettes; however, their own safety is coming into question. to screening, if the cardiac score is abnormal or if some mild

Prevention is key. Starting a proactive approach from a young age is symptoms occur, modern technology now exists that evaluates

essential. Avoidance of smoking is important. Follow a low fat diet rich both large and small vessel heart disease. This is done via a cardiac

in fruits, grains, vegetables and fish. Exercise with the family so children pet scan which provides more information than regular nuclear

stay active as well. Fifteen percent of adolescents are felt to be inactive. stress tests. Cardiac pet scans are now available in Naples.

Females are more likely to be the offenders. Perhaps if the family as a Prevention does save lives.I encourage you to take an active role

whole exercises more together, this would be addressed more. Exercise not in your health and fitness. Now that you know that adolescents

only lowers weight which itself lowers both cholesterol and diabetes, it also are at an increasing risk, talk to your children. Encourage them to

helps to stabilize blood pressure. eat well and exercise. Do things as a family. Eat more fruits and

Get your annual check-ups in order to get examined physically and vegetables. Schedule the annual check-up that you may have been

get your risk factors assessed. Get your lab work done as advised by your putting off. Know what your test results are now that you know

physician. For average risk factors, your LDL should be less than 100, what the goals are. If you smoke, stop. Drink in moderation. We

triglyceride less than 150, glucose less than 99 and vitamin D level above only have one life to live. Let’s make the most of it.

40. If you have higher risk factors such as heart disease or diabetes, your Dr. Sciavolino-Day is a primary care physician specializing in

LDL goal becomes stricter at less than 70. If you have medical conditions, Internal Medicine at Coastal Physician Care. Her office number is

optimize their control. Remember, many times, simple weight gain was the 239.597.0143.

cause of the high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. As a result, (1)AHA Statistical Update:Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2015 Update-A
Report from the AHA- Circulation 2015;131:434-441
weight loss may reverse it. (2)Interpreting the Coronary Calcium Score-N.England J.Med

If you have strong risk factors for heart disease and are asymptomatic, 2012;366:1550-1551-April 19 2012

48 Life in Naples | February 2016