Know, listen to your body; If it changes, tell physician
Just in time for February’s Heart Health Awareness Month, the Norman Regional Health System provided a panel of healthcare professionals to share their insight to Newcastle residents.
The moderator for the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Kayla Davis of Norman Regional, said every 34 seconds someone dies from a cardiovascular event.
Panel participants agreed that the key to keep from having one is care, lifestyle changes, and prevention.
Panel participant and registered nurse Donna Avila, who is the administrative director for cardiology at Norman Regional, said 80% of heart events can be prevented. She said know and listen to your body, and if it changes, let your physician know. She said it is important to have a relationship with your care provider.
Dr. Brian Whitson, MD FCCP, who is a pulmonologist and disease specialist, said a common patient they see is one that is short of breath. He said the number one health problem they are seeing is someone who is vaping, while the second most prevalent is a patient who is smoking marijuana.
Whitson said he would suggest if someone is smoking medical marijuana, it would be wiser to ingest edibles.
Another prevalent problem among pulmonology patients is those who are having problems with Sleep Apnea. He said they are seeing many of these patients who are having heart arrhythmia problems.
Whitson said pay attention to shortness of breath, especially older patients who are experiencing less mobility and exercise — those who have become more sendentary.
Davis said Norman Regional has an Adult Wellness Center that can help.
Whitson said Oklahoma is number one in the nation in lung disease. He said early detection and lung cancer screens can help.
If a patient has lung disease, he said Norman Regional can start interventional pulmonology such as a biopsy of nodules, radiation, and vaporisation of tumors.
Panel member Dr. Megan Hammer, DO, is the main physician in the Norman Regional Primary Care Newcastle clinic. She is there to help area residents in addressing immediate concerns with health and to help improve long-term health and lifestyle.
Again, all panelists agreed that prevention is the key to staying healthy.
