Category Archives: Lee Memorial Health System

(Fort Myers, Fla. – April 22, 2010) – If you’re among the many parents who have ever wished kids came with an instruction manual, help is on the way. The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Child Advocacy Program is partnering with YMCA of the Palms to host a series of free parenting classes in Bonita Springs. Classes will meet every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for eight weeks beginning April 29.

The classes teach ideas and techniques on handling nurturing routines, effective communication skills and managing children’s behavior without spanking or yelling. Free dinner and child care will be provided for attendees. The class will be taught in both English and Spanish.

“We’re excited to bring these parenting classes to families in Southern Lee County,” says Michele King, director of The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Child Advocacy Program. “They’ve proven popular in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and we’re thankful that the YMCA agreed to partner with us to host classes in Bonita Springs, so even more parents in our area can benefit from their teachings.”

The parenting classes, funded by the Prendergast Family Endowment Fund, are just one service The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Lee Memorial Health System offer to care for children in the community. It also supports programs to prevent injuries, child abuse and provide general health education to parents, adolescents of baby-sitting age, and young children.

All classes will be held at YMCA of the Palms at 27200 Kent Road in Bonita Springs. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 239-992-9622.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned system in Southwest Florida.  With more than 9,300 employees, the System is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physical offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami.  Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – April 1, 2010) – Spine problems can be a real pain in the neck…or back. Last October, the American Academy of Pain Medicine said ineffective paint care costs Americans more than $100 billion annually. Its leaders believe part of the problem is that most patients in pain today may need to visit multiple physicians or specialists that often don’t collaborate to provide comprehensive pain care. That’s exactly what Lee Memorial Health System aims to do through its Spine Center, neurosurgery and physical therapy programs. Their approach to comprehensive back and neck pain care is the topic of April 14’s Well Informed lecture from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Estero.

Collaborative and comprehensive care to treat pain is one of the Academy’s top recommendations to better treat pain and reduce costs. According to Dr. Reggie Augusthy, an interventional physiatrist at the Spine Center at Lee Memorial Health System’s Outpatient Center at the Sanctuary, the system’s approach to treating pain is very much a team effort.

“The starting point for nearly all patients coming to us for help with back or neck pain is our nurse navigator,” Dr. Augusthy says, one of the lecture’s featured speakers. “She helps assess their pain and then recommends whether they start with me, a physical therapist or need more diagnostic testing. All through the process our team works together, whether patients can be treated non-surgically or need surgery, or physical or mental therapy.”

Dr. Augusthy a physician specializing in pain management that completed specialized fellowship training in the field speaks to another Academy recommendation – pain management as a recognized specialty. As an interventional physiatrist, he seeks to treat pain using conservative, non-surgical techniques. In addition to back and neck pain, he also treats joint pain and spine disorders.

Specialists like Dr. Augusthy are becoming more and more in demand. In a position paper on pain medicine issued in October, the Academy also cites research that speaks to America’s growing pain problem over the past 10 years:

• In 2002, 26 percent of American adults have back pain. 14 percent of adults reported neck pain that limited normal function.
• In 2003, American’s spent an estimated $81 billion on arthritis-related health care.
• In 2004, a survey found that at any given time, half of Americans are in pain and a quarter has persistent or chronic pain, mostly in their backs or necks, or headaches.
• In 2005, American’s spent an estimated $85.9 billion to treat spine-related problems.
• Current research indicates 40 percent of Americans experience daily pain, including 50 million people with chronic pain and 25 million people with acute pain.

Lee Memorial Health System’s comprehensive approach to pain management also includes partner neurosurgeons like Dr. Dean Lin and physical therapists like Kurt Gray, who will also speak at the Well Informed lecture:

Date:                     Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Time:                     5-7 p.m.

Location:              Hyatt Place Coconut Point, located at Coconut Point mall

23120 Via Villagio, Estero, FL 33928

Reservations:    239-433-8505 or www.HealthyBonitaEstero.org

Reggie Augusthy, D.O.

About Dr. Reggie Augusthy

 

Dr. Augusthy is a fellowship trained and board certified interventional physiatrist specializing in the non-surgical management of spine, muscoskeletal and pain disorders. He earned his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he was chief resident. He also completed a fellowship at the Florida Spine Institute.

Dean Lin, M.D.

About Dr. Dean Lin

 

Dr. Dean Lin earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed a general surgery internship and neurological surgery training, and was a clinical lecturer in the department of neurological surgery at the University of Florida prior to coming to Fort Myers. He has practiced with the Lee Neurosurgery Group since August 2007 and plans to complete his board certification in Mary 2010.

Kurt Gray, PT

About Kurt Gray

 

Kurt Gray earned his degree in physical therapy from Florida A&M University and has a long history working in rehabilitation and wellness administration. Currently working with Lee Memorial Health System’s Specialty Rehabilitation Services, he specializes in sports medicine, orthopedics and chronic spine pain programs. 

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned system in Southwest Florida.  With more than 9,300 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physical offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami.  Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla.-March 25, 2010) -  Do you rely on lists during shopping trips or sticky notes in your car to remind you to pick up Fido from the groomer? Have you felt a sense of dread after washing your hands, realizing that an important name or number you’d written on them had also washed down the drain? If so, Lee Memorial Health System’s memory classes may be for you, and in April, South Lee County residents can take advantage of condensed classes in their own back yards at the Bonita Springs YMCA. A four-session series will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on April 6, 9, 13 and 16.

“Our memory classes are designed to teach participants tools and techniques to retain and remember more information,” says program coordinator Sue Maxwell. “They are part of the system’s Healthy Brain Initiative, which we started to help residents boost brain power and fight the onset of memory disorders. Since we started the classes late last year, hundreds of residents have participated and given us rave reviews. “

One such participant was Shirley Jimmerson, an 81-year-old Fort Myers resident. She learned that simply being aware and paying more attention to people and things could help power her memory. She also learned tricks to associate letters and numbers to help her remember things like phone and license plate numbers.

“We’re the only ones doing this kind of program in Southwest Florida,” Maxwell continues. “However, they are really catching on around the country. We held our initial sessions in central Fort Myers, but we’ve been able to expand around the region to match interest. We’re excited to being hosting classes down in Bonita Springs and to offer the condensed version of the class there that spreads sessions over two weeks instead of four.”

Four two-hour sessions are included in the memory class series. The cost is $20 per person, plus $10 for a class workbook. Bonita Springs YMCA members participating in the class will receive one complimentary workbook per couple. Registration is required.

Dates:                   April 6, 9, 13 and 16

Time:                     9 – 11 a.m.

Location:              Bonita Springs YMCA

                                27200 Kent Road, Bonita Springs, Fla. 34135

Reservations:    239-433-8505 or www.HealthyBonitaEstero.org

More information on the Healthy Brain Initiative can be found online at www.HealthyBrainFL.org.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned system in Southwest Florida.  With more than 9,300 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physical offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami.  Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla.-March 10, 2010) -  Joint and bone pain is a popular subject in Southwest Florida, which is not surprising considering the amount of physical activities residents and visitors can enjoy. Whether you swing a club or racquet, prefer swimming pools or swamp walks, chances are you or someone you know has felt the pain of joint discomfort. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, one in three Americans suffer from bone and joint pain, but new technologies have been developed to help the distress. Researchers, such as Dr. Markovich, have developed new surgical methods for joint replacement which can reduce the incision size as well as bone irritation as well as muscle disruption, allowing for a less painful and quicker recovery. 

Dr. George Markovich has “good news for bad joints” at Lee Memorial Health System’s March 24 Well Informed seminar.

Dr. George Markovich, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System, will discuss new technologies, debunk common myths regarding joint implants and answer questions as a part of the Well Informed Lecture Series on March 24 between 5-6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Estero.

“If you are suffering from joint pain that impacts your quality of life, whether it is keeping you up at night or limiting your physical abilities, get help,” Dr. Markovich says. “The benefit of relieving symptoms through surgery can make a significant difference in the lives of those with joint and bone pain.”

Markovich advises people to seek help as soon as possible, because early detection and treatment lead to better results.  Joint pain should not just be a job for the Tylenol bottle; to improve their quality of life, sufferers must seek medical advice.   About 773,000 Americans have a hip or knee replaced each year, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, and with less risk than ever this number is sure to increase.

Markovich will discuss new technologies, common myths about implants and other joint replacement details at Lee Memorial Health System’s upcoming Well Informed Lecture.

Date:                     Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Time:                     5-6:30 p.m.

Location:              Hyatt Place Coconut Point, located at Coconut Point mall

23120 Via Villagio, Estero, FL 33928

Reservations:    239-433-8505 or www.HealthyBonitaEstero.org

About Dr. George Markovich

Dr. George Markovich, one of America’s Top Doctors as determined by Castle-Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers, has specialized in joint implant and reconstructive surgery in Fort Myers since 1998, and is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.  After earning his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1988, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his medical internship and residency at the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine as well as total joint replacement fellowship. Concurrently, he spent 14 years in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps Reserves and in active duty, including time spent as an orthopedic specialist for the Navy SEALs and as director of joint implant and reconstructive surgery at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. He received Patient Choice awards in 2008 and 2009 and is a member of several prestigious orthopedic societies and organizations. Dr. Markovich has offices in Fort Myers and at the Estero Medical Center at 10201 Arcos Avenue, Suite 206. For information or appointments, call 239-3117.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned system in Southwest Florida.  With more than 9,300 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physical offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami.  Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – March 5, 2010) – Glance at lists of top men’s health concerns on popular Web sites like WebMD and you’ll most likely find several pertaining to the prostate. Cancer, urinary problems and even impotence and erectile function can all be impacted by men’s prostate glands. Dr. Meir Daller will explore these and other top health issues men face as they age at Lee Memorial Health System’s Well Informed lecture on March 16 between 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Estero.

Urologist Dr. Meir Daller will discuss prostate health and other men’s health concerns.

“As men age, factors like changing hormones, cell growth and genetics come into play and often causes changes in the prostate,” says Dr. Daller, a Fort Myers urologist. “These can range from an enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction and incontinence, which are fairly common and easy to treat, to more serious problems like cancer.”

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services estimates that enlarged prostate will impact more than half of men over age 60, and increase to about 80 percent of men by age 80. And while prostate cancer mortality rates have improved over the past 50 years, more than 28,000 men still die of the disease each year.

“Even though prostate problems are common, it’s still important for aging men to know the warning signs and understand what their treatment options are,” Dr. Daller says. He will discuss these, and health concerns like other cancers and kidney stones at Lee Memorial Health System’s upcoming Well Informed lecture.

About Dr. Meir Daller

Dr. Meir Daller specializes in minimally-invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery, urological oncology, surgery for incontinence, erectile dysfunction, kidney stones, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate. He earned his medical degree with honors from Boston University School of Medicine, received general surgery training at Boston Medical Center and gained experience in urology at several prestigious Boston-area medical facilities. He trained with world-renowned surgeons and published and presented numerous papers at various urological conferences. In addition to his active practice, Dr. Daller is an assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University and has trained many urologists and gynecologists in new surgical techniques.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,300 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 22, 2010) – With more than 23 million people living with diabetes in the United States, nearly everyone has heard of ways to prevent the disease and is most likely familiar with the daily blood sugar tests and insulin injections some patients give themselves. But thanks to ongoing research, there are emerging ways to treat diabetes more effectively, such as using insulin-stimulating hormones called incretins. Dr. Sergio Mather, a physician associated with Lee Memorial Health System, will discuss some of these new therapies at the system’s Well Informed lecture on March 3 between 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Estero.

“Incretins are hormones that are typically released by your gut when you eat,” Mather explains. “It stimulates the production of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. In diabetics, insulin either isn’t being created or doesn’t work well, so understanding patients’ incretin levels is very important.

“We first learned about incretins in the mid-1990s and there are now drugs designed to make the pancreas more receptive of incretins, so it produces insulin more regularly,” Mather continues. “However, there is still a lot of research going on involving incretin hormones, and we’re learning more about them and how they work every day. We’re also finding other hormones that ‘mimic’ their effects.”

One example: In 2005, researchers presented a drug containing a hormone found in the saliva of the Gila monster, a lizard that eats just four times per year. The isolated hormone is only secreted when it eats to stimulate insulin production; its pancreas remains unused at other times. In humans, researchers found this hormone aids incretin absorption, which helps diabetics make more insulin.

“As we understand more about incretins, it will open the door to a lot of additional treatment options for diabetics,” Mather says.

Mather will discuss incretins and other advances in diabetes therapies at Lee Memorial Health System’s upcoming Well Informed lecture.

About Dr. Sergio Mather

Dr. Sergio Mather has practiced internal medicine in Fort Myers for 27 years. He is certified in endocrinology and metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Mather earned his medical degree from Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, completed internships in Peru and with the University of Miami, served his residency at the University of Miami, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,300 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 18, 2010) – “As we get older, we try to do the right things to keep ourselves in shape,” says Shirley Jimmerson. The 81-year-old Fort Myers resident exercises regularly and has been a member of the Lee Memorial Health System’s Wellness Center of Cape Coral since it opened. So when Lee Memorial Health System announced its Healthy Brain Initiative memory classes, it was only natural for her to join up and exercise her mind, too.

“I had kind of slipped into some bad memory habits,” Jimmerson says. “Everyone develops some lazy memory habits over time, but the classes taught me some tools and tips to help me remember things better.”

The Healthy Brain Initiative was started by Lee Memorial Health System’s Lee Memory Care division to provide ways for residents of Southwest Florida to boost brain power and fight the onset of memory disorders. It’s based on a program by the UCLA Center for Aging. Participants follow activities in “The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young,” a book by Gary Small, PhD, Director of the UCLA Center.

However, Jimmerson feels people of all ages can benefit from the memory classes and computer-based modules. The class series begins by exploring individuals’ learning styles and as it progresses, participants are asked to share the techniques they used to remember information. Jimmerson says every person in her class had different methods for remembering, which she found interesting. She learned that simply being aware and paying more attention to people and things could help power her memory. The computer-based modules are also self-paced and adjust to participants’ strengths and pace, so there’s no competition or comparing with others in the class.

“One of the other most helpful tips I learned was to associate numbers and letters when I’m trying to remember things like names or phone and license plate numbers,” Jimmerson says. “For example, if the first four digits of someone’s number are 224, I think, ‘two plus two equals four.’ Some numbers also look like letters, and vice versa, so you can make a game out of remembering.”

While the system’s program is the only one of its kind in Southwest Florida, memory classes and spas are catching on across the country. Programs in seven states use “The Memory Bible” including California, Texas, Illinois and Florida. Jimmerson says she’s noticed memory classes being advertised more and more in literature she receives from elder care programs up north.

Memory classes are starting up on various days all around Lee County. A six-week session of two-hour classes once per week costs $90. For more information about the Healthy Brain Initiative or current class schedule, visit www.healthybrainfl.org or call the SHARE Club at 239-772-6765.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,000 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.
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Lee Memorial Home Health telehealth monitors track and transmit patient statistics to health professionals seven days a week from the comfort of their own homes

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 10, 2010) – Patients hospitalized for problems resulting from congestive heart failure, hypertension or diabetes often require ongoing monitoring, either through home health agencies or frequent trips to the doctor. Failure to pay careful attention to vitals like heart rate and blood pressure could result in further health risks, or even a trip back to the hospital.  In fact, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration found 7.3 percent of patients readmitted to hospitals within 15 days of being sent home had “potentially preventable” readmission reasons. Of these, nearly half were readmitted for cardiology-related concerns.

That readmission risk is about to get a little bit lower in Lee County, thanks to 50 new telehealth monitors purchased for Lee Memorial Home Health by Lee Memorial Health System hospitals’ auxiliaries. Telehealth monitors are essentially home stations set up with scales, blood pressure sleeves, and other equipment patients need to conduct basic health tests. At a designated time each morning, the monitors “talk” patients through the tests, giving them step-by-step instructions to put on or remove sleeves or sensors and asking them three to four basic questions. Once the tests are complete, the results are sent to the Home Health office through an analog or wireless phone line.

Lee Memorial Home Health Patient Jeanne Nesbitt uses a telehealth monitor daily to check her vital statistics. Lee Memorial Home Health’s telehealth monitors give patients clear, step-by-step instructions on taking their vitals, including when and how to put on a blood pressure sleeve and heart rate sensor. The monitors can be programmed to speak to patients in different languages, like Spanish, or accents, such as a British English accent.

“The monitors don’t replace home visits from our nurses, but they do allow us to monitor patients daily even when a nurse isn’t there,” says Cindy Christman, RN and Executive Director of Lee Memorial Home Health. “This is very important for patients with heart conditions at risk of sudden severe symptoms or worsening of their conditions.” Lee Memorial Home Health’s 30-nurse team offers home-based care for 250 – 450 patients in Lee County at a time, depending on the time of year. Nurses, therapists and social workers visit patients’ homes an average of three times per week, depending on the care they require.

Christman says the monitors improve patient care and make good sense financially.

“The new telehealth monitors help us track patients’ vital signs remotely and more regularly, so we can act quickly if something starts to look like a problem,” Christman says. “We also can provide daily readouts of patients’ results to their physicians at their request, so the physicians can also monitor their progress and give us further instruction if needed. And, we’re able to do all of this from patients’ homes, which is where they want to be.

“Earlier detection of minor changes helps us keep patients at home and avoids the cost of additional emergency room treatment or hospital readmissions, which benefits all LMHS patients,” Christman continues. AHCA found that the average cost of potentially preventable readmissions was $31,643 for a 6-day stay.

Since deploying its first monitors earlier this month, Lee Memorial Home Health has installed approximately 30 in patients’ homes. Christman hopes to have the rest installed by mid-February. Patients are selected by level of risk, which is determined in partnership with the hospital and physicians. Congestive heart failure is the most common condition telehealth monitors are used to track, though patients who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and diabetes can also benefit from the machines.

In time, the monitors can be developed to record even more patient symptoms, such as electrocardiogram, or EKG, readings.  Lee Memorial Home Health also plans to integrate the ability to transmit results to patients’ primary physicians electronically and automatically in the future, instead of via fax machine as it does today. Lee Memorial Health System also wants to install a monitor at The Wellness Center of Cape Coral so members can record their vital statistics when they work out and print out reports showing trends for their doctors.

Once patients finish, the monitors transmit their test results to Lee Memorial Home Health’s office wirelessly or though their land phone line.

“The monitors are definitely part of the future of health care in Lee County,” Christman says. “We probably aren’t the only health system or home health agency using the monitors, but the partnership between all of the systems’ departments is unique and adds to the monitors’ potential. “

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,000 employees, LMHS is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, LMHS provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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Lee Memorial physician discusses risk factors and simple lifestyle changes to help stave off nation’s

No. 1 killer

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 8, 2010) – Staying heart healthy and preventing cardiovascular disease doesn’t need to be hard. That’s Dr. Jesus Mendiolaza’s message for Lee County at Lee Memorial Health System’s Feb. 23 Well Informed lecture from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point, 23120 Via Villagio, in Estero.

“Heart disease is a very serious problem to be sure. It causes more than 630,000 deaths each year,” Mendiolaza says. “But we could prevent so many of these deaths if people at risk made some easy and different lifestyle choices.”

Since February is American Heart Month and devoted to heart disease awareness and education, there’s no better time to take action. With each minute that passes, another life is lost to heart disease, and it’s just as likely to strike women as men.

Mendiolaza advocates a simple approach to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults with four parts, all of which he will discuss during his lecture.

• Education on basic, primary ways to prevent cardiovascular disease that everyone should know
• How to be proactive in preventing disease
• Identifying risk factors and lifestyle modifications to improve your overall heart health
• Diagnostic testing to help us determine your heart health

Dr. Jesus Mediolaza will discuss ways to prevent heart disease at Lee Memorial’s Feb. 23 Well Informed lecture.

“Being aware of your risk and lifestyle factors is only half of the challenge,” Mendiolaza adds. “The hardest part is making lifestyle changes to ward off disease. By talking about simple changes people can make to reduce their risk, we’ll hopefully increase their likelihood of doing so and in turn, reduce their likelihood of suffering heart attacks or other problems.”

Mendiolaza will discuss more and answer attendees “burning questions” about preventing heart disease at Lee Memorial Health System’s upcoming Well Informed lecture.

About Dr. Jesus Mendiolaza

Dr. Jesus Mendiolaza specializes in non-invasive cardiology and cardiac imaging at Associates in Cardiac Care. Mendiolaza earned his medical degree from Federico Villarreal University School of Medicine in Lima, Peru. After three years in research with the University of California San Francisco and Stanford University School of Medicine, he completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago. He then completed his internal medicine residency and a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Prior to joining Associates in Cardiac Care, Mendiolaza practiced with Anchor Health Centers in Naples, Fla. He is board certified in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology.

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,000 employees, LMHS is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, LMHS provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

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Cupid takes aim for lovers in February; American Heart Month strikes blow

to reduce deaths from heart disease.

(Lee County, Fla. – Feb. 1, 2010)  – The numbers are telling: every minute someone dies from coronary heart disease making heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 630,000 people die from heart disease each year – representing more than one in every four deaths in the U.S. Just as many women, as men, die from heart disease each year; and nearly one million Americans will suffer a heart attack this year. 

Often referred to as a “silent killer” because symptoms generally do not appear before it’s too late, heart disease does not have to be a death sentence.  Education, awareness, lifestyle choices and knowing what to do if you suspect someone is having a heart attack can make a significant difference in preventing heart disease or surviving a cardiac event.

As a month already dedicated to matters of the heart, February is the ideal time to focus attention on and build awareness about heart disease.  Endorsed by Congress and the President of the United States, each year February is proclaimed American Heart Month, dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the leading cause of death in America. 

According to Sandy Childress, System Director for Cardiac Rehabilitation with Lee Memorial Health System, most people know what they need to do to help reduce their risk of heart disease, but getting people to actually do it is the challenge.

“The most important step individuals can take to help reduce the risk of heart disease is to quit smoking,” says Childress.  “Everyone knows this, but getting people to quit, or to not start smoking in the first place, is difficult.”

In addition to smoking, Childress says the top five risk factors for heart disease are:

•  High blood pressure

•  High cholesterol

•  Diabetes

•  Lack of exercise

•  Diet

“Ironically, all of these risk factors can be managed,” says Childress.  “When it comes to heart disease we know how to reduce the risks, but getting people to change their behavior in our society is nearly impossible until they experience a cardiac event themselves.”

In addition to building awareness about the risk factors for heart disease, American Heart Month provides the opportunity to stress the message that in the event of a heart attack, seconds count and calling 911 for help is the single most critical factor.  One-half of all deaths due to heart attacks occur within 1 hour of the onset of symptoms and before the person reaches medical help.  Receiving early treatment has been proven to prevent, or at least limit, damage to the heart.

Throughout February, Lee Memorial Health System will be supporting American Heart Month through various community programs, events and classes, including:

28 Days, 28 Ways to a Heart Healthier You!  Daily tips on how to help reduce the risk of heart disease on Lee Memorial Health Systems’ Twitter account:  www.Twitter.com/Lee_Memorial.

GoRed for Women!  Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. GoRed for Women is a national campaign to increase awareness about the risk for women and heart disease.  Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women in the United States.

Simple Tips to Prevent Heart Disease in Adults.  Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, 5 – 6:30 p.m.  Part of the Well Informed Lecture Series and presented by Dr. Jesus Mendiolaza.  For more information and to register, call 239-433-8505 or visit www.HealthyBonitaEstero.org

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,000 employees, Lee Memorial Health System is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, Lee Memorial Health System provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.

Know the common warning signs of a heart attack

•  Chest discomfort including a sense of pressure, squeezing, tightening or pain

•  Pain or discomfort in the upper body including the jaw, neck, back, one or both arms and   sometimes in the stomach

•  Shortness of breath

•  Nausea, breaking out in a cold sweat, fainting

If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate help by calling 911.  Remember – time is muscle – the more quickly you recognize heart attack symptoms and seek treatment, the more likely you are to minimize damage to the heart muscle.

Source:  Lee Memorial Health System