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EAST COUNTY

Health Matters Observer

FEBRUARY 2018

Back to basics EXERCISE Get fit outside the gym.

PAGE 2 FOOD Prepping goes a long way.

PAGE 4 SLEEP Go screen-free for better rest.

PAGE 6

BETTER LIVING

PICTURE OF HEALTH

CALENDAR

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PAGE 9

It’s possible to go without medication.

She finds weights her best strategy.

Get in the game with Gulf Coast Games for Life.

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FEBRUARY 2018

+ BACK TO BASICS | EXERCISE

No gym, no problem Explore ways to stay healthy without spending money.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS REPORTER

T

Photos by Ryan Kohn

You can follow the guides along the workout trail at Urfer Family Park on Honore Avenue.

here are plenty of reasons people dislike going to the gym.

It can be an intimidating place for newcomers. It’s crowded, it’s repetitive, and worst of all, it’s indoors.

Luckily, there’s more than one way to get in shape. Instead of spending money on a gym membership, our area offers plenty of activities and places to exercise in peace.

One possible exercise spot is world famous for a different reason. Siesta Key Beach makes headlines for its beauty, but the beach is also an excellent place for a workout, according to Stephen Kelley. He runs 360 Degree Fitness with his wife, Claire Kelley.

Doing things on sand makes every move that much tougher and adds to your strength and cardio. Kelley has even put together a special routine for Health Matters

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readers to try — jumping jacks, squats, jumps, pushups and burpees, a strength training and aerobic exercise routine that involves squatting, kicking and arm extensions that’s been around since the 1930s. (See box, right.)

“This workout only requires your body,” Stephen Kelley said.

“The exercises are simple to understand and extremely effective.”

If you’re burning up more than just calories at the end of the workout, feel free to hop in the Gulf of Mexico for a cooldown and added cardio.

Not a fan of sand? Don’t worry, routines just as invigorating can be found at Urfer Family Park on Honore Avenue.

The park features two workouts trails, one of which is ADAapproved. Both trails feature routines for beginning and advanced participants, and they are detailed, telling you not only what steps to do, but how to do them by using the available equipment.

The ADA trail features exercises such as calf stretches and seated curls, while the non-ADA trail features moves like inclined body curls and arm walks across parallel bars — in other words, exercises with a higher level of difficulty.

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“Your cardio gets increased dramatically (using the hills), as opposed to using a treadmill.”

— Chuck Jeffries

Above: The Celery Fields is a prime location — and one of the only ones in town — for running on an incline. Below: Stephen Kelley says the beach provides a great venue for a workout challenge.

DO THIS n 20 jumping jacks n 20 high knees n 10 squats n 10 squat jumps n 10 burpees n 10 pushups.

Repeat these steps up to five times or “until your body feels ready to fall apart.”

Stephen Kelley

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The park’s trails are nestled between a haven of trees and wild animals. If you like exercising while getting in touch with nature, this is the spot for you.

Participants walk to each exercise spot on those trails, but what if someone is looking for an open space to run, one that also offered different levels of difficulty? That person might be at home running around Sarasota’s Celery Fields.

Yes, the Celery Fields is prime location for bird watching, but it also features a towering hill that has become popular with runners in the area. For a less intense but still challenging experience, trails wind their way up and around the incline.

Some people, like Chuck and Pauline Jeffries, who have been in Sarasota since 1978, have been walking the Celery Fields since it opened seven years ago.

They come about four times a week, they said, and would come more often if work didn’t get in the way. They do approximately 4 miles each time, staying about an hour.

“We just enjoy the hill and having a little incline instead of flat ground,” Pauline Jeffries said.

“It’s also very peaceful.”

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“Your cardio gets increased dramatically (using the hill), as opposed to using a treadmill,” Chuck Jeffries added.

If none of those options is calling your name, there’s always the exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise: sports!

Siesta Key Beach offers free volleyball and tennis courts for you and your friends to enjoy together. Play Frisbee golf on the public course at Payne Park. Cycle down the Legacy Trail. Shoot some hoops at Arlington Park.

Or, you can join one of the myriad sports leagues for adults in our area. Discover what’s available with a simple Google search.

And for those in Lakewood Ranch, on the second Saturday of each month — October through April — you can join Lakewood Ranch ambassador Greg Spring for a 10-mile, one-hour casual bike right through the area. The ride begins at 8 a.m. Participants meet at the fountains on Main Street.

If bicycling isn’t your thing, Spring also hosts a 2-mile, onehour nature walk on some of the hiking trails in Lakewood Ranch.

The guided walks are held the third Saturday of each month — again, October through April. Walkers meet at 8 a.m. at the Pavillion at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.

Whatever fits your fancy, the most important thing is to keep your body moving. Who needs gyms when you’ve got the whole region?

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FEBRUARY 2018

+ BACK TO BASICS | FOOD

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Plan and prep for a good diet

Proudly serving Manatee & Sarasota Counties for over 20 years and a Lakewood Ranch resident, Dr. Calderon provides state-of-the-art cardiology care with a minimally invasive approach.

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BRET HAUFF STAFF WRITER

What’s in a good meal?

The United States Department Board Certified in Internal of Agriculture says it’s half a Medicine, Cardiovascular plate of vegetables, half a plate of Disease, Interventional grains and a variety of proteins.

Cardiology & Nuclear Jason Okuhara, D.O. Eric E. Calderon M.D., FACC, Add some fruitFSCAI and dairy and Cardiology A checklist to a healthy heart you’ve got a healthy diet.

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“Most people have an idea of what good food is, they just don’t take the time to look for it,” Seidensticker said.

Justin Flagg, in line with that advice, decided four years ago to do exactly that: Take more time to think about what he’s eating.

And instead of just planning what he’s going to eat, Flagg, owner of Synergy Fitness Clubs, said he goes an extra mile and prepares it all in advance, making it easy and fast to eat healthy.

It’s called food prepping, a trend in healthy living that keeps people eating good food and saves them time throughout the week.

“It really is just being prepared so you’re not out searching for

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TIPS FROM A DIETICIAN

food,” Flagg said. “People are in such a rush, going from one place to another. People are so used to stopping and getting fast food.”

Flagg said he starts his meal prepping with a lean protein. That could be chicken breast, a lean steak or ground beef.

Next for Flagg comes vegetables, whether that’s a stir-fry or steamed vegetables, like carrots or broccoli, and some sort of complex carbohydrate, like rice or sweet potatoes.

Cooking vegetables, even just for a minute or two, can make them easier to digest — particularly more crunchy, fibrous vegetables such as kale or broccoli, Seidensticker said.

It’s also important when prepping food to look for ingredients that will make you feel full, Seidensticker said. That means foods high in unsaturated fats and/or fiber, like avocados, beans or nuts.

And adding spices like turmeric or cumin to foods can make often bland dishes more flavorful and even help with the digestive process, Seidensticker said.

“Play with your food,” she said.

Flagg said he packs all the food he cooks in bulk into sepa-

FEBRUARY 2018

Dedicated to a lifetime of

WOMEN’S

It all starts in the morning, said Emily Harren, outpatient dietitian at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. n A meal and glass of water within a couple hours of waking kick starts your metabolism and can help you feel energized for the day. n Three meals a day with one or two snacks in between — eating every three to four hours — is best for a healthy diet. n Each of those meals and snacks should include some sort of carbohydrate — sugars, fibers and starches that fuel the brain and nervous system — and protein, which offer lasting energy. n Sugar and fat are both necessary for your body to function, but it’s important to get the right kinds in the right amounts. Natural sugars and unsaturated fats are beneficial to heart and brain health. Saturated fats and added sugars can cause weight gain and heart disease.

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rate containers and puts them in the refrigerator. In the morning before work, he and his wife pack their own meals and put them in coolers, allowing both of them to decide their portion sizes.

An hour of downtime on the weekend can be used to prepare a plan for the food in the coming week. Think of dishes that use similar ingredients. That will shorten the time needed for shopping and food preparation.

“We’re always thinking about our next meal,” Seidensticker said. “Let’s do it when we feel comfortable about what we’re eating and eating what’s good for us.”

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FEBRUARY 2018

+ BACK TO BASICS | SLEEP

Back to bed the right way Local doctors share best practices for a good night’s sleep.

KATIE JOHNS COMMUNITY EDITOR

T

he average adult needs to seven to nine hours of sleep a night.

But, not all get that.

We spoke to local sleep experts who shared tips, tricks and basic principles for the best way to get a good night’s sleep.

First things first, though, is to establish a sleep schedule.

“If you can go to bed and fall asleep at roughly the same time every day, even the weekends, which is hard, that would be really helpful,” Dr. Kathleen Boyle of Lakewood Ranch Primary Care said.

Bodies like to work on cycles. If they gets accustomed to a sleep cycle and that cycle is off balance, bodies need to adjust.

Dr. Fred Harvey, of The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine, finds that getting 50 hours of sleep a week works for most of his patients.

He recommends keeping all electronics out of bedrooms and

Coastal Orthopedics Get out and play.

covering all light sources that feed into the room. So cover windows with blackout curtains.

Harvey recommends all video and electronics should be turned off an hour before bed.

“It’s actually so that you can stop overstimulating the visual cortex because whenever we look at video screens, it’s not like looking at reality,” he said. “It’s like looking at a thousand dots of information.”

Boyle recommends keeping the bedroom temperature cool, around 60 to 67 degrees and establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, whether it be meditation, yoga, deep-breathing exercises or reading, but not on a Kindle or other device.

Both doctors recommend keeping pets out of the bedroom as well.

Eating and drinking, especially alcohol, caffeine and large, fatty and fried meals, before bed can have a negative effect, too.

“If you can drink your caffeine for the

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“Alcohol actually disrupts sleep, so if you’re drinking alcohol in the evening, you may want to stop that.”

HEALTH OBSERVED

— Dr. Fred Harvey The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine

“If you can go to bed and fall asleep at roughly the same time every day, even the weekends, which is hard, that would be really helpful.”

Four Ways to Trim Your Health Care Budget

— Dr. Kathleen Boyle Lakewood Ranch Primary Care

By Kirsten Baker, RN, Florida Blue Registered Nurse

BEST SLEEP n Go to bed at the same time each night. n Make your bedroom a dark, cool sanctuary free of electronic devices. n Ditch the caffeine after 2 p.m. n Avoid late-night cocktails.

day before 2 p.m. that can be really helpful,” Boyle said. “Some people can have caffeine stay in their system for up to eight hours.”

Other simple fixes can go a long way.

“Alcohol actually disrupts sleep, so if you’re drinking alcohol in the evening, you may want to stop that,” Harvey said. “If you get up to pee a lot, you may want to stop drinking after dinner. And if you have pets, you may want to keep them out of the room. If your partner snores, you may want to get your partner fixed.”

And sweet treats don’t help either.

“Chocolate has caffeine in it,” Harvey said. “[People] maybe don’t want to do chocolate in the evening. That’s a daytime treat.”

Over-the-counter sleep aids, such as melatonin or magne-

sium, can help. However, sometimes, following these guidelines doesn’t work.

“Almost everybody is going to experience some period when they’re going to have trouble sleeping,” Boyle said. “One in three people will complain about trouble sleeping and insomnia. If it’s affecting your life, if you’re not able to do things personally or professionally, then you may need to see a doctor.”

Warning signs that you have a sleep disorder include difficulty waking up, falling asleep during the day, falling asleep while driving and falling asleep while watching television, Harvey said. Harvey also said studies have shown there is correlation between diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and sleep apnea.

“If they are doing all those things and aren’t having success at that point, they should be contacting us and start talking about other things that are available, such as therapy, or over-thecounter medicines,” Boyle said.

“Or it is a situation where this person may have an underlying [sleep disorder].”

But before that, Boyle said, try behavioral changes first.

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We all like to save a little money.

From Black Friday deals to BOGO specials at the grocery store, trimming excess expenses always feels good.

But many don’t realize there are lots of opportunities to stay healthy while cutting medical expenses.

Here are four ways you can trim your health care budget this year: • Avoid the ER – The emergency room is the most expensive place to receive treatment and should only be used when you truly have an emergency such as excessive bleeding, a head injury or difficulty breathing. Urgent care and walk-in clinics cost a fraction of a trip to the ER. They’re ideal for treating conditions such as sprains, coughs, colds and flu-like symptoms, rashes, animal bites and minor broken bones like fingers and toes.

• Ask about Lower – Cost Medications – For some conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, there may be several medications that do the same thing but have drastically different prices. Ask your doctor if there is a generic or lower-cost alternative to expensive brand name medications prescribed for you. Some pharmacies may offer certain generic medications at no cost. You also can save money with most insurers by ordering a 90-day supply of medications through the mail.

• Use Free Preventive Care Benefits – Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans pay the full cost of several preventive care services including a yearly checkup with your primary care doctor, flu shots and other routine vaccinations, and blood pressure, diabetes

and cholesterol tests. Depending on your age, cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies are also covered at no cost to you. Getting regular checkups is a good way to identify and address any possible medical issues before they become more severe (and more costly.)

• Shop Around – You shop around for other pricy items, so why not health care services?

Your costs for a medical service may vary greatly depending on where it’s performed, which is why it’s important to shop around beforehand. For starters, make sure you always go to a doctor or facility that is in your insurance plan’s network. Next, investigate how much you will be responsible for at different locations. Florida Blue members can log into the member website or app to view a list of nearby facilities with quality and pricing information for services such as MRIs, common surgeries and office visits.

Health care can be expensive, but you may save hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars this year if you just follow these four suggestions.

Kirsten Baker is a registered nurse at the Florida Blue Center in Sarasota at UTC where she teaches free health and wellness classes that are open to the public in addition to providing health coaching and assessments.

(941) 308-2042 www.FloridaBlue.com

(941) 727-7771 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

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Health Observed allows brands and businesses to connect directly with the Observer’s readership — and participate in the conversation — by creating engaging content on the Observer’s digital publishing platform. For more on Health Observed, email us at kohara@yourobserver.com.

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FEBRUARY 2018

Get healthy without the drugs ORNISH PROGRAM Sarasota Memorial is hosting an “Experience Ornish” event to learn more about the program.

When: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24 Where: Sarasota Memorial’s Health Care Center, 5880 Rand Blvd., Sarasota RSVP: 917-6139

How two people with different health issues used diet and exercise to get well again.

CASSIDY ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

W

e’re all guilty of having a headache and reaching for over-the-counter pain relievers, or catching a cold

and going to the doctor for a prescription. We’re guilty of expecting medication to heal us.

But in some cases, it may not be the best treatment option.

Take Susan Veshosky. She’s a Longboat Key resident with a background as a nurse who, 35 years ago, was diagnosed with allergies and asthma, and was prescribed inhaled steroids.

It was good, she said, because it allowed her to get out, go to work and do the things she wanted. The downside was the side effects.

Long term steroid use made her susceptible to infections. She got bronchitis twice a year, every year. Additionally, she experienced decreases in lung capacity and bone density.

She decided to meet with Loren Batsell at Healing Well Acupunc-

ture and Integrative Therapies on Longboat Key. “For the first time in 30 years I didn’t get sick twice a year,” Veshosky said. “I got well and stayed well.”

First, she started eating healthier, with fewer carbohydrates and more vegetables on her plate. She took probiotics to supplement her digestion, and took calcium, vitamin D and magnesium supplements. Her health began to return, and she was more active.

Veshosky called these steps “life-changing.”

“For me, coming from a medical background, that was a tough choice,” she said. “That was a bit of a risk. But you get to the point where you can’t do it anymore.”

After five heart attacks and a diagnosis of heart failure, Larry Bierman was at that point. He was able to join the Ornish Reversal Program at Sarasota Memorial Hospital — a group of people who met twice a week for nine weeks to learn how four lifestyle changes could improve their lives and heart conditions.

Through diet, exercise, stress management and peer support, Bierman is now only taking “minimal” medication. The 74-yearold gets up each morning at 6 a.m. for an hour of yoga, goes to the gym three times a week and continues a healthy diet.

“You have these heart attacks and medical events, and you rely on your doctor and medications

Courtesy photo

Larry Bierman speaks at Sarasota Memorial about his experience in the Ornish Program.

to get you out of it, and you think that’s the answer,” he said. “[You think] your doctor will provide you with the pills to keep you alive — and that’s not true.”

Diet and exercise helped Bierman and Veshosky solve their health problems, and similar steps could help others. Eating healthier food with less sodium can help people with high blood pressure, and diabetes can be better managed with a healthy diet and weight loss, medical experts say.

Other solutions, like acupuncture for pain relief or hypnosis for anxiety, could help ease health

issues without the use of medication, the experts contend.

What’s the best way to find out if an alternate method is right for you? Consult your doctor.

Veshosky and Bierman sought new treatment options under their doctor’s supervision, and they took things slow. It was a lengthy process before Veshosky came off pharmaceuticals completely, and Bierman still takes some medication.

When The Unexpected Happens…

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TRY IT

HEALTH MATTERS

YourObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21

DON’T MISS THURSDAY, FEB. 15 TO SATURDAY FEB. 17

GAMES FOR LIFE The 2018 Gulf Coast Games for Life, formerly the Gulf Coast Senior Games, takes place at various venues throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. The games include archery, basketball shooting, bowling, cribbage, cycling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track and field. Age divisions are 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80-84; 85-89 and 90 and over. Register online at scgov.net/parks, or call 861-5000.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

EXERCISE CLUB Meets at 9 a.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.

The Lakewood Ranch exercise club meets at 9 a.m. Fridays and exercises using low-impact aerobics videos. To view the schedule, visit lakewoodranchgov.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

HYPERTENSION GUIDELINES WORKSHOP Runs from 9-9:30 a.m. at The

FOOD SAFETY Runs from 11 a.m. to noon at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota. Safe steps in food handling, cooking and storage are essential to prevent food-borne illness. Event is free.

For information call 861-5000.

YOUR CALENDAR

Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive.

Join Dr. S. Jay Matthews of Interventional Cardiology Bradenton Cardiology Center, in Lakewood Ranch, for a discussion about recent changes to hypertension guidelines and the importance of understanding health risks associated with high blood pressure.

Register by calling 708-8100.

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FEBRUARY 2018

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING US #1 IN SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTIES #TeamSOA doesn’t settle for Bronze or even Silver.

As Champions of Orthopedic Care, We go for the GOLD

SATURDAY, FEB 24

HEALTH EXPO Runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The interactive Embrace a Life of Health and Wellness Expo includes more than 50 exhibitors in the health field who will share samples, perform screenings and offer market services and information. There will be blood pressure checks, eye exams, posture and spinal checks and more. Admission is free. For information, visit lwrcac.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

WALK MS Starts at 9 a.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation will host this event to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis. Registration starts at 8 a.m. For information, visit bit. ly/2EsXwnz

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HEALTH MATTERS

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YourObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2018

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reenbrook resident Brooke Niecestro has a daily date with her home gym, a set of weights sharing a room with her daughter’s playroom.

The setup works well for the working mom, who has kept off more than 25 pounds through weightlifting and careful meal planning.

Niecestro, 26, says her weight took an upward tick after college, especially after she started dating her now-husband, Ray. Not only was Niecestro sitting at a desk all day for work, but the couple dined out four times per week.

In 2014, her weight had climbed from 125 pounds in college to 154 pounds on her 5-foot-5 frame.

“I would start something but never follow through,” she said of trying to lose weight through exercise. “I was not consistent.

I had a misconception, too, with the whole diet thing. I assumed if I ate a salad, it was the best thing I could eat. But I topped it with Ranch dressing and fried chicken.”

Her weight held for a year.

ABOUT BROOKE Residence: Lakewood Ranch Family: Husband, Ray, and 1-year-old daughter, Stella Exercise routine: 30 minutes per day of weightlifting or yoga Meal plan: Protein shake for breakfast; salad or Bento box-style lunch of eggs, vegetables, cheese and an apple; and dinner of chicken and vegetables.

Tip for success: Plan ahead

When she became pregnant, she gained 35 pounds.

“I would tell (Ray) all I want for dinner is cinnamon rolls,” Brooke said.

In March 2016, her daughter, Stella, was born.

This time, Niecestro became determined to get her body back and to be as healthy as possible for breastfeeding. She started by walking around the neighborhood, but within six weeks began running and performing other cardio exercises, such as working out on an elliptical machine. It no longer had the same effect.

Plus, she continued to overeat.

“The food was the thing I couldn’t kick,” Niecestro said.

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Brooke Niecestro likes to vary her weightlifting routine by focusing on different muscle groups each day.

“I’m a big foodie.”

When Stella was about 4 months old, Niecestro tried weightlifting and began controlling her food intake, carefully planning out her lunches so she’d have no excuse to dine out. Dinner became a simple protein, like chicken, with vegetables.

“I wanted to be as healthy as possible,” Niecestro said. “I cut

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out the candy and the complex carbs — no white bread, pasta.”

By the time Stella turned 1, Niecestro had slimmed to 127 pounds — a weight she’s maintained over the past year by following her diet and exercise routine.

“I feel like I’m stronger now than when I was college,” she said.

Niecestro said the secret to her success has been finding what exercises work for her own body.

Although her friends see results with running and other cardiovascular exercises, she found success with weightlifting. She tries to focus on different muscle groups each day and plans her workouts in advance so she’s not wasting time figuring out what exercises to complete.

“Find what works for you and use different variations to keep it interesting,” she said.

She continues to spend extra time planning out her lunches and allowing herself one day per week to eat out. She doesn’t want to feel like healthy eating is a chore.

“I keep a balance,” she said.

Niecestro also tries to keep hydrated, curbing any initial feelings of hunger with a half glass of water to make sure she’s actually hungry. In total, she tries to drink at least five 32-ounce glasses of water per day.

Mallory Lost 50 Pounds! Reach Your Goals with Sarasota’s Proven Weight Loss Program!

Before I began my Medi-Weightloss® journey, I was the heaviest I had ever been, and I was in denial about what it was going to take to stop gaining weight and get healthy. I took every chance to eat, and I never picked the healthier option because I knew a miracle weight loss pill was just around the corner. I never thought about nutrition. I avoided scales, mirrors, and cameras. Still, there was no denying the size 14 tag on all of my pants.

After battling fertility issues, I finally woke up. I realized that I was doing this to myself, and I was the only one who could do something about it. After much research, I decided on the Medi-Weightloss® Program. What I love about the program is that they taught me how to eat better, cook healthy meals for me and my family, portion control, and accountability.

Starting this process was scary, but the fear passed the moment I left my first consultation. I couldn’t wait to get home to clean out the junk and fill it will healthy foods. As promised, I saw results after the first week. I continued to follow the program as directed and lost weight week after week. After five months, I went from 185 pounds to 135 pounds, a total weight loss of 50 pounds†. I can say that I am happier with myself today than I have ever been.

I know that I couldn’t have done it without the Medi-Weightloss® Program and the truly amazing support I received from my Medi-Weightloss® team.

Medi-Weightloss® Sarasota can help you improve your health and increase your energy! Call 941.954.3800 today to schedule a FREE Clinical Assessment with Dr. Varkey and his team of medical professionals.

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Lose up to 10 pounds the first week† with Medi-Weightloss® Medi-Weightloss® is a physician-supervised weight loss program that works. Our Experts give you the support, education, and tools you need to help you lose weight and keep it off.† Our program will: Provide weekly support, encouragement, and motivation Educate you on how to lose weight in the real world using real food Provide you with recipes and shopping lists as well as guidance for dining out Teach you how to overcome temptations and win the weight loss battle

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BEFORE

• • • •

HEALTH MATTERS

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YourObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2018

During a Heart Attack,

Every Second Counts If you experience the symptoms of a possible heart attack, call 911 immediately and ask to go to your nearest emergency room.

At Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, cardiologists are on call 24/7.

We are an accredited chest pain center with primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) certification.

This means that our teams and systems have passed rigorous evaluation, demonstrating advanced capability to streamline patient cardiac care. Your treatment begins in the ambulance, and a specialized clinical team is ready for you when you arrive at the hospital.

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Services Our goal is to put you on the road to recovery.

Cardiologists work closely with the other members of your healthcare team to provide assessment, diagnosis, planning and intervention as well as evaluation and post-discharge prevention.

We’re dedicated to the health of your heart.

Learn More: lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com/yourheart.

Catheterization Laboratory Services: STEMI Program for rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients who may be experiencing heart attack.

Diagnostic Testing •

Right and left heart catheterization

•

Peripheral angiography

•

Nuclear medicine lab

•

Stress testing

•

Echocardiography

•

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

Device Implants •

Pacemakers

•

Automatic internal cardiac defibrillator

•

Loop recorders

Interventional Care •

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

•

Percutaneous peripheral intervention (PPI)

•

Interventional radiological procedures

•

Treatment of deep vein thrombosis

•

SIR-Spheres

•

Pulmonary embolism treatment

lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

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Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 180029 263420

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