<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>Cardiac Care News and Events - Baptist Health System</title>
    <description>News and events about Cardiac Care</description>
    <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news.aspx</link>
    <docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss</docs>
    <item>
      <title>Heart of the Matter</title>
      <description>&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img padding-left="10px" style="float: right;" src="/Files/Images/Headshots/KalifeKuri.jpg" /&gt;
When someone has a heart attack in the movies or on TV, it's often quite dramatic, with no signs or symptoms that something is about to happen. But in the real world, paying attention to our bodies and being aware of common risk factors can help prevent the complications of heart disease.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, and according to Dr. Kalife Kuri, M.D., women and men often experience different symptoms.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
While men typically complain of chest pain, Dr. Kuri notes that women often experience shortness of breath, fatigue and discomfort in other parts of their body like in the jaw or arm. "Sometimes you have to be looking for other things," he says. "A woman's symptoms may not typically speak to heart disease." 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;Heart disease also does not discriminate because of age. While heart disease usually manifests itself in women over 60, younger women can experience abnormalities as well, particularly if they are at risk for the disease. 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Understanding the Risk Factors
&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Understanding if you are at risk for heart disease is essential for early detection and preventing more serious complications. Patients most at risk for heart disease often have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, past or present tobacco use, or a family history of heart disease.
&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Whether at risk or not, Dr. Kuri advises all women to pay attention to their bodies and the changes that happen gradually, over time. It can be easy to overlook common symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue or even indigestion. "Not all serious illnesses show in a serious or dramatic way. A slower pattern of symptoms can be just as important a reason to seek medical attention," he says.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Kuri, a staff cardiologist at the Heart &amp;amp; Vascular Institute of Texas, notes that half of his patients are women. He recommends seeing a primary care physician (PCP) for a first screening, unless there is an extremely high risk for concern or a sudden change in symptoms. PCPs are trained to recognize symptoms of heart disease in women, and can make recommendations for further treatment based on each individual's needs. If a PCP or cardiologist suspects heart disease, a noninvasive test may be performed. Common tests include an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram that looks at the heart's muscle and valves, or a treadmill test to assess the effect of stress on the heart during exercise. 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Tips for Good Heart Health
&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
Exercise and Diet - For heart and every form of physical health, Dr. Kuri stresses the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet. As a general rule, individuals should exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and limit foods with saturated or trans fats, sodium and cholesterol. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat proteins are staples of a heart-healthy diet - yet it's ok to enjoy a treat now and again!
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
Don't Smoke - Smoking has been proven to affect the incidents of heart disease in the United States. The prevalence of smoking has declined 50 percent over the past 20 years, which has dramatically reduced the risk of heart disease. 
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
Take Control of Other Health Conditions - For patients with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, it's important to keep these chronic diseases under control with medication or other health regimens to prevent further complications. 
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Because heart disease can affect everyone differently, it's important for women especially to pay attention to the gradual changes occurring in their bodies. If you have any concerns, Dr. Kuri advises that you speak with your doctor to determine the appropriate course of action. 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/10/10/2011/heart_of_the_matter.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/10/10/2011/heart_of_the_matter.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">02f604a0-2ff0-467e-979a-a0f3e5831b93</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Women with Heart</title>
      <description>&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div align="center"&gt;
&lt;div style="float: right; width: 30%; padding-top: 0px; height: 230px; text-align: center;"&gt;
&lt;p align="center"&gt;
&lt;img src="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/Files/Images/Headshots/DianeGreinerCardiologist.jpg" /&gt;
&lt;sup&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Diane Greiner, M.D
&lt;br /&gt;
Cardiologists
&lt;/sup&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
Meet Two Cardiologists who share a passion for prevention and treatment of heart disease. Diane Greiner, M.D. and Laura Jacobs M.D. are cardiologists with the 
&lt;a href="http://www.heartclinicofsanantonio.com/home" title="Learn more about the Heart Clinic of San Antonio"&gt;
Heart Clinic of San Antonio
&lt;/a&gt;
.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dr. Greiner traces her love of cardiology back to her first clinical rotation at Duke University School of Medicine, a leading institution for cutting-edge cardiac research and care. "I saw patients' lives being changed, often overnight, by the compassion and dedication of the cardiologists in the cardiac care unit," she says.  "Care for the patient, not just the disease, was their passion. From then on, I knew I wanted to specialize in cardiology."
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After completing her medical degree at Duke, Dr. Greiner moved to San Antonio to train in cardiology at Wilford Hall Medical Center. She proudly served in the United States Air Force for 10 years, and has been been in private practice in San Antonio since leaving the military in 2003.  She is an invasive cardiologist, and is as comfortable doing procedures as she is seeing patients in the office. 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
"One of my greatest joys as a physician is working as a team with patients and their families to manage their risk factors for heart disease and lead a healthier life," she says.  Dr. Greiner has a special interest in the care of women with heart disease, as well as in the prevention of heart disease.  "I joined Heart Clinic of San Antonio because this is a dedicated group of cardiologists that truly work as a team to provide their patients with world-class care, both in the office and in the hospital.  I look forward to coming to work every day!"
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dr. Jacobs discovered her love for cardiology while attending Baylor College of Medicine. She considers it a privilege to be involved with her patients' health care and says, "The actions we take at each follow-up visit in both the treatment and the prevention of heart disease have the potential to make a dramatic impact on the patient's entire life. Our goal is to help patients live without limitations from their heart disease to the greatest extent possible."
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div align="center"&gt;
&lt;div style="float: left; width: 30%; padding-top: 0px; height: 230px; text-align: center;"&gt;
&lt;p align="center"&gt;
&lt;img src="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/Files/Images/Headshots/LauraJacobsCardiologist.jpg" /&gt;
&lt;sup&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laura Jacobs M.D. 
&lt;br /&gt;
Cardiologists
&lt;/sup&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
While Dr. Jacobs employs all the latest high-tech cardiovascular tools at her disposal for the treatment of coronary disease, valvular disease, heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions, she knows that the active involvement of the patient in prevention is essential in order for them to enjoy the highest quality of life.  She explains, "I try to approach every patient individually as a partnership.he or she is not coming to me for pills, they are coming to me for advice."
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dr. Jacobs is optimistic about advances in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary disease (blocked arteries) and promotes the importance of risk reduction in her practice. In addition to the well-publicized impact of treating high cholesterol, smoking cessation, controlling hypertension and diabetes, routine exercise programs and weight control, she also emphasizes the importance of nutritional supplements and aspirin.  "In the early stages of coronary disease and before any obvious symptoms," she says, "the risk for heart attack can be just as high as in the later stages that do produce symptoms such as chest pain."  Dr. Jacobs believes that early detection and a regimen of lifestyle modification, medication and nutritional supplements can greatly reduce heart attack and stroke.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/07/07/2011/women_with_heart.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/07/07/2011/women_with_heart.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">31025bf4-2c48-4be5-a086-12ee8e1ba421</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>We're Passionate About Your Heart, and Your Brain</title>
      <description>&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/Files/Images/Articles/heartbrain130.jpg" style="padding: 0px 3px 3px 8px; float: right;" /&gt;
Who loves your heart and brain as much as you do? The clinical teams at the five Baptist hospitals. That is why our cardiac and stroke teams have worked so hard to achieve the highest standards in treating heart attack and stroke quickly. These nurses, doctors and supporting staff understand that time is muscle and brain. Their focused attention to constantly improving accuracy and time have earned Baptist a number of prestigious honors and awards, but the real winners are the patients whose lives and health are saved.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Target Stroke Honor Roll
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by the American Heart Association in December when Baptist demonstrated that they had achieved the target stroke treatment times for emergency patients nearly 74 percent of the time. The AHA goal is 50 percent, and the national average is 27 percent.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Bronze Award for Stroke
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by the American Heart Association in November when Baptist demonstrated exemplary compliance in stroke treatment through the AHA Get with the Guidelines program.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Bronze Award for Heart Failure
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by the American Heart Association in July when Baptist demonstrated exemplary compliance in heart failure treatment through the AHA Get with the Guidelines program.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Primary Stroke Center designation
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by The Joint Commission in May. All five Baptist hospitals earned this distinction, the first in San Antonio to receive it.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
Chest Pain Center Accreditation
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by the Society for Chest Pain Centers, first in 2005 and re-certified in 2008.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Medicare Value-Based Cardiac Care Center designation
&lt;/strong&gt;
 - given by Medicare to the Baptist hospitals, which are the only hospitals in Texas to have received it.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/12/01/2010/we_re_passionate_about_your_heart_and_your_brain.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/12/01/2010/we_re_passionate_about_your_heart_and_your_brain.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">4cae137e-2835-4c0b-9634-a33b245baebf</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Heart Alert at Baptist Health System</title>
      <description>&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;img src="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/Files/Images/whybaptist-acpc-thumb.jpg" style="float: right;" /&gt;
A groundbreaking program, in place at each of the Baptist Health System hospitals, is saving precious time in diagnosing and treating patients suffering a heart attack. Baptist Health System is the first and only system in San Antonio to implement "Heart Alert," a program that in most cases gets heart attack patients into the cath lab for life-saving treatment in under an hour. well under the national standard of 90-minutes. 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
"The process can best be compared to a "NASCAR" style response to treating heart attacks," said Bill Waechter, who helped implement Heart Alert at Baptist Health System. "Like a well-trained pit crew, the Heart Alert process is a focused collaboration which creates a safe, fast and efficient, but not rushed, method of getting a patient to the hospital and receiving interventional treatment. It's the integration of care between EMS and hospital emergency and cath lab departments that makes this work." 
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Heart Alert program is part of Baptist Health System's Chest Pain Center Accreditation. Baptist was the first health system in San Antonio to offer accredited chest pain centers. Each of the 5 Baptist Hospital is an Accredited Chest Pain Center.
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/14/2010/heart_alert_at_baptist_health_system.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/14/2010/heart_alert_at_baptist_health_system.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">288ae043-f34d-479e-9014-3b7e2859150a</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Aging Heart: What's Happening?</title>
      <description>
&lt;table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"&gt;
&lt;tbody&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 6pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 6pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 6pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;by &lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=14072#KrishaM"&gt;Krisha McCoy, MS &lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div id="ep_documentBody"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img width="143" height="139" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; FLOAT: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" alt="HCA image for aging hearts" src="http://services.epnet.com/getimage.aspx?imageiid=3414" /&gt; Have you ever wondered why some older people can run marathons, while others have a hard time getting up out of a chair? Much of this inconsistency has to do with the way the heart ages. Researchers are currently studying age-related changes in the heart, trying to find out how to slow down-or even reverse-some of these changes. What they are finding is that many of the changes that commonly occur within the heart have as much to do with lifestyle as with age. This means that by eating more healthfully and exercising more, you can help keep your heart healthy as you age. &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Changes in the Heart &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As we age, certain changes in the heart are inevitable. Even in the absence of disease, the walls of the heart thicken, heart rate slows, maximum heart rate declines, and the heart doesn't pump as efficiently as it once did. Some scientists speculate that some of these changes occur because the heart is adjusting-not necessarily declining-as the years go by. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With each passing decade, our hearts relax more slowly than when we were young, causing the heart to fill with blood more slowly, pump more slowly at rest, and not keep pace as well with demand when we exercise. These adjustments make it difficult for the heart to pump as efficiently as it once did. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Changes in the Arteries &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As people grow older, their arteries-which carry blood away from the heart-grow stiffer, the walls thicker, and the diameters larger. This process, part of &lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=12031"&gt;atherosclerosis &lt;/a&gt;(the build-up of fatty deposits on the inside of the arteries) significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The major causes of atherosclerosis include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and cigarette smoking. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lifestyle Changes: Exercise and Diet &lt;/strong&gt;     &lt;br /&gt;Research has shown that physical fitness declines 5%-10% per decade-but it doesn't have to. Studies on people who are middle-aged and older show that serious athletes have twice the physical fitness of their sedentary peers. Older athletes' hearts function much like the hearts of their younger counterparts. Regular exercise causes the heart to pump more efficiently, even when exercise begins later in life. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Regular aerobic exercise can reduce age-related stiffening of the arteries. People who are more physically fit have less stiff, more compliant arteries. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Diets high in saturated fats and trans fats have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol levels. High LDL cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis, which increases the risk for stroke and heart disease. By replacing saturated and trans fats like red meat and margarine with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats like fish and olive oil (which raise healthy HDL cholesterol), you can significantly decrease the chance of having fatty deposits in your arteries. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  &lt;strong&gt;What Lies Ahead     &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As researchers are discovering that it may not be age, but age-associated changes, that make older people at higher risk for heart failure, more research is on the way. New studies are trying to determine what we should eat and how much exercise we should get to prevent some of these age-associated changes. Further research is looking into how drugs and gene therapies can prevent the decline of heart health with age. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While this research is taking place, it is important to remember that making certain lifestyle changes is one of the safest, most effective ways to promote heart health. To help keep your heart healthy as you grow older, adopt the following lifestyle changes: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=21341"&gt;Stop smoking. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=21333"&gt;Exercise &lt;/a&gt;moderately for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=10985"&gt;Eat a diet low in saturated fats and trans fats. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=10981"&gt;Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=10987"&gt;Limit your salt intake. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=10067"&gt;Maintain a healthy weight. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;As you get older, it is important to visit your physician regularly. By keeping tabs on cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you can make lifestyle changes and get access to medications &lt;i&gt;before &lt;/i&gt;you get heart disease or have a stroke. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div id="ep_documentTrail"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESOURCES: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;p&gt;American Heart Association &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="javascript:exLinkRedirector('http://www.americanheart.org');"&gt;http://www.americanheart.org &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="javascript:exLinkRedirector('http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/');"&gt;http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CANADIAN RESOURCES: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;p&gt;Canadian Cardiovascular Society &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="javascript:exLinkRedirector('http://www.ccs.ca/home/index_e.aspx');"&gt;http://www.ccs.ca/home/index_e.aspx &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="javascript:exLinkRedirector('http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=24');"&gt;http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=24 &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;References: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;p&gt;American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=9203. Accessed July 7, 2003. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Harvard School of Public Health website. Available at: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fats.html. Accessed July 7, 2003. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;National Institute on Aging website. Available at: &lt;a href="javascript:exLinkLongURLDisplayer('http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/pubs/hearts-arteries/p2.htm.Accessed')"&gt;http://www.nia.nih... &lt;/a&gt;Accessed June 26, 2003. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Last reviewed April 2008 by &lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=29311#Fucci"&gt;Michael &lt;strong&gt;J. Fucci, DO &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 6pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 6pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 6pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"&gt;&lt;img alt="" style="FLOAT: left" src="http://services.epnet.com/getimage.aspx?imageiid=6437" /&gt;   &lt;p&gt;All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is &lt;a href="javascript:exLinkRedirector('http://www.urac.org/')"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;accredited by URAC &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at &lt;a href="mailto:HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=255878" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;nobr&gt;Copyright &amp;#169; 2009  &lt;/nobr&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;a href="http://www.ebscohost.com/" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;EBSCO Publishing &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;All rights reserved. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/02/06/2009/your_aging_heart_what_s_happening_.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/02/06/2009/your_aging_heart_what_s_happening_.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">85893f54-7bbe-4a2f-acbd-79c8b78f74b5</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Heart Alert Teams Celebrate Success With Their Patients </title>
      <description>&lt;a href="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/%e2%80%9d/%e2%80%9d"&gt;&lt;!-- Link Spacer --&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/%e2%80%9d/%e2%80%9d"&gt;&lt;!-- Link Spacer --&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;p style="BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"&gt;A groundbreaking program, in place since 2005 at each of the Baptist Health System hospitals, is saving precious time in diagnosing and treating patients suffering a heart attack. Baptist Health System was the first system in San Antonio to implement "Heart Alert," a program that in most cases gets heart attack patients into the cath lab for life-saving treatment in under an hour. well under the national standard of 90-minutes. On February 18, the doctors, hospital staff, EMS crews and patients who achieved a "Door to Balloon" (D2B) time of 60 minutes or less in a Baptist Health System hospital will celebrate this success. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"&gt;"The process can best be compared to a "NASCAR" style response to treating heart attacks," said Bill Waechter, who helped implement Heart Alert at Baptist Health System. "Like a well-trained pit crew, the Heart Alert process is a focused collaboration which creates a safe, fast and efficient, but not rushed, method of getting a patient to the hospital and receiving interventional treatment. It's the integration of care between EMS, hospital emergency and cath lab departments that makes this work." &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"&gt;The Heart Alert program is part of Baptist Health System's Chest Pain Center Accreditation. Baptist was the first health system in San Antonio to receive Chest Pain Center Accreditation for its commitment to protocols which improve patient outcomes in the treatment of heart attacks. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"&gt;To recognize the amazing achievements of the Heart Alert program, this month physicians and nurses from emergency departments and cath labs at each of the Baptist hospitals, EMS and AirLife personnel, and the patients who have benefited from the Heart Alert program will gather for &lt;i&gt;"Heart Alert Celebration - Saving Seconds, Saving Lives". &lt;/i&gt;The event will shine the spotlight on the medical experts who have made Heart Alert a success and will honor the patients who have experienced the difference Heart Alert makes. In 2008, each Baptist hospital earned re-accreditation as a Certified Chest Pain Center, and the number of patients who were treated within the 60-minute target that Baptist has set doubled in 2008 over 2007. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="/classesEvents_EnewsArchive_detail/01/27/2009/february_2009_e-news.aspx"&gt;Click Here To Go Back To The E-Newsletter &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/02/02/2009/heart_alert_teams_celebrate_success_with_their_patients.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/02/02/2009/heart_alert_teams_celebrate_success_with_their_patients.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">1b5d6c9c-cd26-4965-81ad-84db5b09868e</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cardiac Arrest in Healthy, Young Athletes</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Cardiac Arrest in Healthy, Young Athletes&lt;br /&gt;by Karen Asp &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A young, college basketball player was rumored to be a potential top pick in the professional basketball draft. Yet during a game midseason, he experienced arrhythmias (irregular rhythms of the heart's beating). He was removed immediately from the game and was treated. Three months later, during a tournament game, he collapsed and died. The cause of death? Sudden cardiac arrest. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A 17-year-old freshman who swam for his college was playing a pick-up game of basketball when he collapsed and later died. Doctors ruled the cause of death as sudden cardiac arrest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Other athletes, professionals and amateurs, have taken to the field only to meet a fatal defeat. Statistics show that this condition is rare, but what is sudden cardiac arrest? And why has it taken the lives of such strong, healthy athletes? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;What Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sudden cardiac arrest in its simplest terms means an abrupt cessation of the blood flow."It's the abrupt loss of the heart's ability to pump blood," says Robert J. Myerburg, MD, director of the division of cardiology and a professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Miami in Florida. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Although there is usually no forewarning of a problem, symptoms can be missed or ignored, says John C. McMahon, PhD, a cardiovascular physiologist at the University of Texas in Houston. Symptoms might include fainting spells, chest pain, or shortness of breath.Sudden cardiac arrest is not synonymous with a heart attack, Myerburg says. In a heart attack, the loss of blood supply causes heart muscle tissue to die. With sudden cardiac arrest, however, the body's electrical system becomes defective and the heart is not able to form an organized beat and is plunged into rapid or chaotic activity. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest?&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sudden cardiac arrest has often been blamed on cardiovascular disorders that are inherited or acquired. Moss says the most common cause is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is an inherited condition which causes the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, to be abnormally thick. Other data supports his statement. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In 1996, one of the largest studies of sudden cardiac arrest appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the study, researchers examined 158 sudden deaths that had occurred in trained athletes throughout the United States between 1985 and 1995. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;More than half of the athletes competed at the high school level, 22% competed at the collegiate level, and seven percent were professional athletes. Basketball and football accounted for the largest percentage of sports. Other sports included track, soccer, baseball, swimming, volleyball, ice hockey, boxing, crew, ice skating, tennis, and wrestling. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of those 158 athletes, 134 suffered from cardiovascular causes of sudden death. The most common cause was HCM. Other causes of sudden cardiac death in this study included coronary artery abnormalities and myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Researchers reported that about 90 percent of the athletes collapsed during or immediately after a training session, indicating that physical exertion appeared to trigger sudden death. In a 1993 commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine, Barry J. Maron, MD, of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and one of the study's authors, writes, "[Y]oung athletes with cardiovascular disease...may die suddenly during or immediately after vigorous exercise." &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Medications and drugs may also cause abnormal heart rhythms which can trigger sudden cardiac arrest, says Arthur Moss, MD, professor of medicine (cardiology) at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Younger Athletes at Higher Risk&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fortunately, sudden cardiac arrest in young, fit athletes is rare."Only a small percentage of sudden death cases occurs in what appears to be overly healthy people who don't have any evidence of heart problems," says Moss. People under 20, he says, have a one in 100,000 chance of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest each year. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Younger athletes have a greater chance of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest because the diseases that cause the condition are expressed earlier in life, Myerburg says. High school athletes, for instance, are at greater risk than collegiate athletes who are at greater risk than professional athletes. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Can Anything Be Done to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest? &lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;In fact, new results of a study of cardiovascular death in Italy suggestes screening may help. A law in Italy in 1982 required athletes to be routinely screened to determine their risk for sudden cardiac arrest. A study reviewed the number of deaths before and after screenings of athletes with exam and ECG were required. They found a reduced rate of cardiovascular death when screening when initiated. * And in Japan, all children get an electrocardiogram (EKG), a graphic record of the heart's electrical impulses, when they enter grade school and then are retested before high school. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The European Society of Cardiology released a 2005 recommendation that all young athletes receive an EKG as part of their pre-participation clearance. In contrast, the 1996 recommendations of the American Heart Association, emphasize a series of screening questions and the physical examination. There are no currently-recommended electrophysiological measures in the United States to detect individuals at risk. Many experts remain dissatisfied.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Myerburg, for example, is currently working to convince the state of Florida to follow the European example and include EKGs as part of a high school athlete's physical examination. Myerburg believes that EKGs could locate between 50%-70% of athletes at risk. Moss adds that people could also be screened more effectively with a more complex and expensive test known as an echocardiogram.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet not everybody agrees. McMahon says an EKG isn't a cost-effective or an appropriate procedure. Even researchers in the JAMA article conclude that "pre-participation screening appeared to be of limited value in identification of underlying cardiovascular abnormalities." &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instead, McMahon recommends, at the very least, teaching athletes good conditioning techniques, including educating them about the importance of cooling down after working out. Anybody who is active generates more wastes that need to be removed from the tissues. "Without a cool-down, the toxic wastes accumulate and may create such irritation and electrical instability that the heart will develop a fatal arrhythmia," he says.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the very least, Moss says, schools, colleges, and professional teams should have personnel trained in CPR and a portable defibrillator nearby in case an arrest strikes. In addition, all athletes should at least receive pre-participation exams based on current best recommendations such as those of the American Heart Association.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESOURCES:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;American Heart Association&lt;br /&gt;http://www.americanheart.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association&lt;br /&gt;http://www.suddencardiacarrest.org/&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Texas Heart Institute&lt;br /&gt;http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/index.html&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CANADIAN RESOURCES:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Canadian Cardiovascular Society&lt;br /&gt;http://www.ccs.ca/home/index_e.aspx&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology &lt;br /&gt;www.csep.ca&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;References:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. Pre-participation Physical Evaluation. ed 2. Minneapolis, New York City, McGraw-Hill, Inc.; 1996. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maron BJ, Thompson PD, Puffer JC, et al. Cardiovascular pre-participation screening of competitive athletes. A statement for health professionals from the Sudden Death Committee (clinical cardiology) and Congenital Cardiac Defects Committee (cardiovascular disease in the young), American Heart Association. Circulation. 1996;15;94(4):850-6. Also available at: http://circ.ahajou.... Accessed February 11, 2005. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*Updated section on "Can Anything Be Done to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest?" on 10/12/06 according to the following study, as cited by http://www.dynamicmedical.com/what.php: Corrado D, Basso C, Pavei A, Michieli P, Schiavon M, Thiene G. Trends in sudden cardiovascular death in young competitive athletes after implementation of a preparticipation screening program. JAMA. 2006;296(13):1593-601. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Last reviewed March 2008 by Marcin Chwistek, MD &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at &lt;a href="mailto:HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com"&gt;HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Copyright &amp;#169; 2009 EBSCO Publishing&lt;br /&gt;All rights reserved. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/19/2009/cardiac_arrest_in_healthy_young_athletes.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/19/2009/cardiac_arrest_in_healthy_young_athletes.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">8433ea7c-5453-44fb-8499-bbc4a5793294</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Baptist Hospitals Receive Renewed Chest Pain Center Accreditation</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Each of the five Baptist Health System hospitals has received full Cycle II Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. In order to earn renewed accreditation, Baptist Medical Center, North Central Baptist Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital, Southeast Baptist Hospital and St. Luke's Baptist Hospitals demonstrated &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Key areas in which a Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include:&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly &lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Ensuring Chest Pain Center&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt; personnel competency and training&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Maintaining organizational structure and commitment&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a &lt;span style="COLOR: black"&gt;possible heart attack&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;In its reaccreditation report, the Chest Pain Center review team praised Baptist Health System for modeling "best practice" in the country in several areas. Physicians and staff from Baptist Health System emergency departments, cath labs and supporting departments worked hard to gain and retain this achievement, which places the five Baptist hospitals' emergent cardiac care among the best in the nation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"&gt;In November of 2005, Baptist Health System was the first health system in San Antonio to seek and achieve Chest Pain Center accreditation. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/19/2009/baptist_hospitals_receive_renewed_chest_pain_center_accreditation.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/01/19/2009/baptist_hospitals_receive_renewed_chest_pain_center_accreditation.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">cf11bca0-f355-4639-a90c-d2a7d2589a77</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The San Antonio Start! Heart Walk, A Big Success</title>
      <description>The American Heart Association's San Antonio Start! Heart Walk was a big success! The Baptist Health System was the signature sponsor at this year's event and had over 600 people registered as volunteers and walkers.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Almost $0.85 cents of every dollar donated stays in San Antonio for research, advocacy and education, making our fund raising efforts ever so meaningful to our community and the patients for whom we care.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Fund Raising drive isn't over. You can continue to collect funds, face to face or even easier, through &lt;a href="http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=256814" target="_blank"&gt;online donation requests&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each day. Baptist was the first health system in San Antonio to offer 5 Accredited Chest Pain Centers. Learn more about &lt;a href="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_whyBaptist.aspx"&gt;Cardiac Care &lt;/a&gt;at Baptist Health System.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/NorthCentralBaptistHospital/StartHeartWalk#slideshow" target="_blank"&gt;See photos&lt;/a&gt; from the event.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/11/26/2008/the_san_antonio_start_heart_walk_a_big_success.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/11/26/2008/the_san_antonio_start_heart_walk_a_big_success.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">e2422b19-8f8d-4d72-bd49-de9a7ee66480</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Baptist Health System Sponsors the San Antonio Start! Heart Walk </title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each day. The San Antonio Start! Heart Walk, put on by the American Heart Association, is a fun way to get involved in the fight against cardiovascular disease. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Baptist Health System is pleased to support the American Heart Association as the Signature Sponsor of this year's San Antonio Start! Heart Walk," said Michael Zucker, Chief Development Officer for Baptist Health System. "The Heart Walk is a wonderful way to get the community involved in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Together we can make a difference in the lives of so many people - young and old alike - who are affected by heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases." Baptist Health System offers five accredited chest pain centers throughout San Antonio.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The event takes place Saturday, November 8 at Brackenridge Park. The 2.32 mile walk along a scenic park trail gets started at 9:00 a.m. at Joske Pavilion. Organizers hope to raise $500,000 in the fight against heart disease.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Find out more by calling (210) 617-2602 or via email at &lt;a href="mailto:ashley.andres@heart.org"&gt;ashley.andres@heart.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio.aspx" target="_blank"&gt;Learn about Cardiac Care at Baptist Health System&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=a4c1f00b-d245-44f2-a90e-20b047f84a6a&amp;amp;chunkiid=287841" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;Learn About Heart Disease Risk Factors - SEE VIDEO&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a style="FONT-SIZE: 16px! important" href="http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/classesEvents_EnewsArchive_detail/10/01/2008/october_2008_e-news.aspx"&gt;Click Here To Go Back To The E-Newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;</description>
      <link>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/09/30/2008/baptist_health_system_sponsors_the_san_antonio_start_heart_walk.aspx</link>
      <comments>http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/services_cardio_news_detail/09/30/2008/baptist_health_system_sponsors_the_san_antonio_start_heart_walk.aspx</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">198b76d9-bf43-4e92-8461-e6b52b76006b</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>
