Concord Township - — Lake Health continues to be at the forefront of advanced cardiovascular care with the opening of Northeast Ohio’s first center dedicated to the holistic treatment of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) and other heart rhythm disorders. This unique, personalized approach to disease management combines the latest technologies and procedures with integrative wellness programs to improve patient health and quality of life.
“We treat the whole patient, not just their heart rhythm disorder,” said Robert Goldstein, MD, center director and Lake Health cardiac electrophysiologist. “By focusing on all facets of health and wellness, from nutrition and exercise to sleep and stress management, we can help patients better control, or even reverse, their conditions and achieve more favorable outcomes.”
Research shows that aggressive risk factor modification can have a profound affect on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, which occur when the electrical impulses in the heart are out of sync, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. A-Fib, which results from erratic electrical activity in the heart’s upper chambers, is the most common of these disorders. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 2.7 million Americans are living with A-Fib, and that number is expected to double by 2050. For some patients, exercise, weight loss, treatment of sleep apnea and more effective management of hypertension and diabetes, can prevent A-Fib or make it easier to manage. Left untreated, the condition can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
Stroke prevention is the number one priority for A-Fib patients, Dr. Goldstein said. Adding that heart rhythm disorders affect each patient differently so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment.
“The goal is to streamline patient access to the most innovative treatment options, including clinical trials, and provide customized support to help them navigate the challenges of heart rhythm disorders, from routine cases to the most complex.Our approach to care helps patients beyond their physical needs by incorporating evidence-based integrative healing therapies, such as yoga, meditation and massage, together with cutting edge procedures and medical therapy,” Dr. Goldstein explained.
Close collaboration among a multidisciplinary team of specialists ensures patients receive unsurpassed expertise and comprehensive care—from diagnosis to individualized treatment plans focused on the underlying cause of the heart rhythm disorder. The Lake Health A-Fib and Heart Rhythm Center offers state-of-the-art diagnostics, innovative therapies and minimally invasive treatments including:
- Electrophysiology (EP) Studies: Tests that monitor the heart’s electrical function or stimulate the heart with electrical impulses in order to produce and observe the effects of a rhythm disorder and pinpoint its origin.
- Cardioversion:A brief procedure in which a synchronized electric shock is delivered to the heart to convert an abnormal rhythm back to normal.
- Ablation: Both cryoablation and traditional radiofrequency ablation to correct rhythm abnormalities.
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs): For treating heartbeats that are too fast.
- Pacemakers: For treating heartbeats that are too slow.
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Therapy that utilizes powerful devices to restore the normal coordinated pumping action of the heart’s ventricles.
- Innovative Implantable Devices: The WATCHMAN provides an alternative to long-term drug therapy for the prevention of stroke.
Cardiac nurse Stephanie Hoffmann, RN, guides patients through the entire care continuum, including educating patients and their families, coordinating tests and procedures, identifying appropriate lifestyle changes and providing support every step of the way.
“Returning patients to active, happy lifestyles is very achievable with this patient-centered model of care. Our holistic approach ensures patients receive the most innovative and progressive treatment options available to get well and stay well,” Hoffmann said.
For more information about the Lake Health Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Rhythm Center, call 440-602-6735.
Hear news updates at the top and bottom of the hour: wtam.com/listen