Advancing Your Health

Joan Jahnke, Emory Clinic patient and patient of Emory Heart & Vascular physician, Dr. Habib Samady, shares her journey through her diagnosis and treatment of Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction with Vasopastic Angina. I have led an active life and thought I was doing everything possible to keep my heart healthy - eating right, exercising and not smoking, and trying to maintain a relatively low stress life. I was also a cardiac nurse and knew what it meant to be healthy, and why I wanted to remain healthy. So when I closed in on retirement age, I was surprised when I started clutching my chest first, with shortness of breath then with chest pain. I was diagnosed with Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction (MVD) with Vasospastic Angina in 2008 during a drug challenge catheterization test at Emory Healthcare [...]

Current estimates are that more than 80 million Americans suffer from varicose veins and/or spider veins. While cosmetic improvement is often a factor in seeking treatment of varicose veins, relief from pain is a concern for many patients. If you or someone you know suffers from varicose veins, join us on Tuesday, January 24 at 12:30 p.m. for an interactive, online Q&A web chat on the topic of varicose and spider veins. Emory physician assistant Stephen Konigsberg will be available to answer questions and discuss various topics about varicose veins, including symptoms, prevention and treatment options, such as low-impact treatment methods (i.e. compression stockings to support and compress veins and improve circulation) and corrective approaches (i.e. procedures like sclerotherapy, Endolaser™ ablation or phlebectomy). ...]

U.S. News & World Report released their 2nd Annual Best Diets.  The annual rankings were designed to help dieters determine what the best diet for them is.  Emory Heart & Vascular Center physician Laurence Sperling, MD was one of the 22 nationally recognized experts who judged the diets.  According to the “Best Diets 2012” rankings, the 22 experts evaluated 25 different diets and concluded that the five Easiest Diets to Follow are:

1. Weight Watchers
2. Jenny Craig
3. Mediterranean Diet
4. - (tie) Slim-Fast and Volumetrics

If you made the resolution to lose weight and start a heart healthy diet this year, try one of Emory’s Heart Healthy Recipes for Wellness!  We have recipes for all categories including appetizers, breakfasts, entrees, soups, salads and [...]

Do you have your New Year's resolution ready? If you need help picking one, how about making a decision to protect your heart? We have four ways in January for you to get started towards meeting your goal with our HeartWiseSM Risk Reduction Program free educational seminars. The HeartWise program aims to reduce people’s risk of heart disease through education and interaction. In addition to serving patients who currently suffer from heart disease, we also provide help to individuals who could be at risk for heart complications in the future including those who smoke, do not exercise or have high blood pressure. Admission to HeartWise events is free and everyone is welcome! Call 404-778-2850 to reserve your seat, or you can sign [...]

The Emory Department of Cardiology started an annual holiday tradition 15 years ago when one of the employees asked that instead of exchanging gifts within the department they could sponsor a family in need.  Each year the tradition has grown and the department has worked with the CASA (Fulton County Court Appointed Special Advocates) to support 20 children per year! This year, the cardiology department team expanded the reach of their tradition, by including the Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology. In doing so, our Emory team was able to provide holiday gifts for 56 children that are in the care of the Fulton County court system.  These are children that have either been abandon by their parents or removed from their [...]

During the hectic holiday season take time to eat a healthy breakfast by preparing these heart healthy No Bake Breakfast Bars. You can find more information on these recipes and other weight management and heart healthy recipes from Emory Healthcare by visiting: http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/healthy-recipes/. Recipe developed by Meagan Mohammadione, RD, LD, and is courtesy of the Emory Bariatric Center.

No Bake Breakfast Bar Recipe Ingredients

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter such as almond or cashew butter)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries (or your favorite dried fruit, diced)
• 5 cups high fiber cereal (we used Kashi Go Lean! Crisp cereal)

Recipe Instructions

Emory physicians are conducting research on how to use heart stem cells to help regenerate heart muscle in individuals who have experienced a heart attack. This effort is looking at ways stem cells can replace damaged heart cells and restore cardiac function. Heart attack survivor Don Robinson was involved in a phase I clinical trial at Emory to test if his own stem cells would help regenerate his heart. For this, stem cells were taken from his body during a bone marrow transplant. Clinicians involved in the trial are working to find cells that are likely to enhance blood vessel formation and protect the heart muscle from further damage. Mr. Robinson was given 10,000,000 cells after the heart attack, but before the scaring could take place. Scans performed as part of the study now show that Mr. Robinson’s heart has regenerated. Emory is continually leading the way for advanced new [...]

The Emory University Hospital Pacemaker/ICD Services Program was established in 1991 by Paul Walter, MD, and Nancy Romeiko, RN. Dr. Walter was the medical director and overseeing physician and Ms. Romeiko served as head nurse. In 20 short years, the Pacemaker Program at Emory has grown to employ nine nurses, a technician and full-time administrative staff. The Pacemaker/ICD Services Program serves over 3,500 patients who are actively receiving device monitoring services, and it has cared for more than 12,000 patients in the last 20 years! Emory's Pacemaker Program averages approximately 400 to 430 procedures per week, including monitoring services by phone or remote system, and office visits in The Emory Clinic or one of the Program’s five outlying sites (Snellville, Decatur, Conyers, Hiawassee and Toccoa) in addition [...]

Do you have uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) and need another option for your care? If so, the Emory Heart & Vascular Center is now enrolling patients in a study for this condition. Called the Symplicity HTN – 3 Study, this clinical research study will test the safety and effectiveness of a procedure called renal denervation using the Symplicty Catheter System as a treatment for uncontrolled hypertension. You may be eligible to participate in the research if you are between the ages of 18 and 80, you have an average systolic blood pressure (SBP) > to 160mmHg and you are taking three or more antihypertensive medications. Chandan Devireddy, MD, FACC, FSCAI is the principle investigator in the trial at Emory. For more information about the clinical [...]

Take time during the Holidays to take care of yourself and protect your heart! Attend an Emory HeartWiseSM Risk Reduction Program free educational seminar. The HeartWise program aims to reduce people’s risk of heart disease through education and interaction. In addition to serving patients who currently suffer from heart disease, we also provide help to individuals who could be at risk for heart complications in the future including those who smoke, do not exercise or have high blood pressure. Admission to HeartWise events is free and everyone is welcome! Call 404-778-2850 to reserve your seat, or you can sign up for one of our December HeartWise lectures online! ♥ New Year Goal Setting Cheryl Williams, RD/LD Monday, December 5, 2011 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM [...]