Newspaper Page Text
♦ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008
6A
HEALTH
Living with congestive heart failure
Special to the Journal
Approximately five mil
lion Americans are living
today with congestive heart
failure, a condition in which
the heart cannot efficiently
pump enough blood to the
body’s other organs.
In fact, it’s one of the
most common reasons peo
ple age 65 and older are
admitted into the hospital.
Congestive heart failure, or
CHF, starts slowly and can
take years to develop mak
ing it easy to miss the first
few warning signs such as
slight breathlessness and
swollen ankles and feet.
Fortunately, people with
heart failure can lead com
fortable lives by following
a physician’s orders, get
ting good medical care, and
learning about their condi
tion.
“Any condition that pre
vents the heart from pump
ing effectively - such as
congenital heart disease,
valve disease, coronary
artery disease and previous
heart attacks - can lead to
congestive heart failure,”
explains Mueez Ahmed,
MD, FACC, cardiologist
and member of the medical
staff of Houston Medical
Center.
“The most common cause,
HHC, RAFB la host 13Ui Annual Pink Picnic Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon
Special to the Journal
Houston Healthcare and the
Robins Air Force Base Health
and Wellness Center will host its
13th Annual Pink Picnic Breast
Cancer Awareness Luncheon Oct.
22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the
Museum of Aviation’s Century of
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JL JLouston Healthcare’s Med-Stops offer care for your family’s
minor illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis when your regular doctor’s office
is closed or when you don’t need the technical services of the Emergency Room.
The Med-Stops are staffed by Board Certified Family Practice and Internal
Medicine physicians working with nurses and medical technicians. Lab and
x-ray services are available on-site.
JL Houston Lake
■T Med-Stop
Hwy. 127 and Moody Road
9884865
Open Mon -Sat
7 am - 6:30 pm
however, is prolonged high
blood pressure, which
causes the heart to pump
harder than it should.”
When a person is diag
nosed with congestive heart
failure, it does, not mean
their heart stops beating;
rather, their heart is not
able to pump efficiently to
meet their body’s need for
blood and oxygen.
As blood flow out of the
heart slows, the blood
returning to the heart
through the veins backs
up causing congestion in
the tissues, which results
in swelling, usually in the
legs and ankles.
Sometimes fluid collects
in the lungs and interferes
with the person’s breath
ing, especially when the
person is lying down.
Heart failure can also
affect the kidneys’ ability to
rid the body of sodium and
water, leading to increased
swelling!
"The most common signs
of congestive heart failure
are swollen legs or ankles
and difficulty breathing,”
says Dr. Ahmed. “Another
common symptom is exces
sive weight gain in a short
period of time due to fluid
build-up.
Symptoms usually devel-
Flight Hangar. Doors open at 11
a.m.
This year’s event will focus on
new developments in the preven
tion, detection and treatment
of breast cancer featuring guest
speakers Richard Macarin, MD,
radiologist and member of the
medical staffs of Houston Medical
fl
BHHi
op over weeks and months
as the heart becomes weak
er and less able to pump
the blood that the body
needs.”
According to Ahmed, left
untreated, congestive heart
JL Pavilion
SB Med-Stop
N. Houston Road at Houston Mall
923-2843
Open Daily
8 am - 7:30 pm
failure can be deadly, but
people with CHF can lead
near-normal lives by mak
ing a few lifestyle changes
and taking their medica
tion regularly.
“Most people with mild
Center and Perry Hospital; Ahmad
Al-Hajj, MD, oncologist and mem
ber of the medical staff of Houston
Medical Center; and Georgette
Porter, Senior Vice President of
the Georgia American Cancer
Society South Atlantic Division.
In addition to the panel of
guest speakers, the luncheon will
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Help for the Heart
Houston Healthcare's new Help for the
Heart program meets on Mondays, begin
ning October 6th at 10 a.m. at the Houston
Health Pavilion EduCare Center located in
the Houston Mall on North Houston Road
in Warner Robins.
The free eight-week program offers heart
failure education, management skills and
support to individuals diagnosed with
heart failure.
For more information and to pre-register
for the eight-week program, call 478-923-
9771.
to moderate congestive
heart failure can be treated
and proper medical super
vision can prevent them
from becoming invalids,”
he adds.
“Treatment often
include a fashion show featuring
the latest sporty fall attire pro
vided by Belk’s and modeled by
breast cancer survivors.
The luncheon is sponsored
by Houston Healthcare, RAFB
Health and Wellness Center, the
Susan G. Komen for the Cure,
the American Cancer Society,
Hilary Kate EUwood, MD
Board Certified, American
Academy of Family Medicine
Kimberley R. Ham, MD
Board Certified, American
Academy of Family Medicine
Cynthia M. Jones, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
Gayatri Kamat, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Internal Medicine
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
"Something to feel good about"
and the Central Georgia Cancer
Coalition.
Tickets are $lO each and include
lunch and a gift. Tickets must be
presented at the door for admit
tance.
For more information or to
purchase a ticket, call 478-923-
9771.
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Barbara A. Matthews, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
Jody VeUe, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Practice
Ferial WaUd, MD
Board Certified, American
Board of Family Medicine
includes rest, following a
proper diet, modifying daily
activities, and taking pre
scribed medications such as
ACE inhibitors, beta block
ers, digitalis, diuretics, and
vasodilators.”
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