It weights about a pound. And it beats 100,000
times a day. Everyday. It’s your heart and your life’s blood.
Mostly you don’t ever think about how remarkable it is until something goes wrong. But when there is something wrong you need to turn to experts. Those experts, cardiologists, are right here at Benedictine Hospital ready to advise you. Diagnostic tests, including catheterization, can also be done right here, close to home. And if surgery is required we have expert, Board Certified cardiac thoracic surgeons ready to consult with you.
In addition and in association with St. Peter’s Cardiac Center, a top 100 cardiac hospital, Benedictine Hospital cardiologists have real time access to the best in heart care.
Fatty deposits called plaque can block coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. If a blood clot forms in an obstructed artery, cutting off all blood flow, a heart attack can result.
More than 2,500 people die every day in the United States from heart disease. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease found in the United States.
Some people have symptoms such as chest pain, uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing in the center of the chest (which may spread to your shoulders, neck and arms), dizziness, severe indigestion, sweating, nausea, and shortness of breath.
There are certain conditions called risk factors, which can increase your chances of having heart disease and possibly a heart attack. Some of these risk factors you can control, while others you cannot.
Risk factors which you can control include:
Risk factors you cannot control include:
Weighing less than a pound, about the size of your fist, your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body. It is divided into two sections separated by a solid muscle wall called the septum. Valves open and close allowing the two chambers to fill and empty as the heart contracts and then relaxes. The opening and closing are coordinated so that the blood keeps moving in one direction. There are two upper chambers and two lower chambers. Simply, the right side of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs where carbon dioxide is released and fresh oxygen is picked up. This refreshed blood is returned to the left side of the heart and pumped out to the rest of the body through the aorta.
To better treat our community, Benedictine has formed a partnership with St. Peter’s Cardiac Center in Albany. St. Peter’s Hospital continues to set the pace for health care innovations with its ranking as a Top 100 Hospital in overall clinical care and services. It is also a Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital and Top 100 Stroke Hospital. St. Peter’s Cardiac Center ranks among the premier cardiac centers nationally. It has one of the highest volumes among New York State’s 33 designated cardiac centers and has also earned a top national ranking for its excellence in heart bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, interventional cardiology, and treatment of heart attacks. It is in the top 15 per cent of such hospitals nationally, with a 5 Star Healthgrades® rating.
Benedictine Hospital, a top-rated hospital in the treatment of heart attack and heart failure, is highly proactive in cardiac research. Our affiliation with St. Peter’s means that our community has access to the very best, most advanced cardiac care available anywhere.
The decision on how to treat your heart condition is one that requires careful consideration. There are many options; surgery is but one of them. In addition to our diagnostic services, Benedictine Hospital also provides expert consultation with cardiac thoracic surgeons right here at the hospital. This allows you to have all your medical records reviewed by your personal physician as well as a board certified cardiac surgeon, providing you with the best cardiac information without the inconvenience of traveling to another hospital.
If surgery is required the surgical team at St. Peter’s Cardiac Center, our affiliate for cardiac care, will perform it. St. Peter’s is a top 100 hospital and has earned a top national ranking for its excellence in heart bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, interventional cardiology and treatment of heart attacks. It is in the top 15 per cent of such hospitals nationally, with a 5 Star Healthgrades® rating.