Community learns about heart health

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A couple discusses heart health with their doctor.
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DELAND, Fla., October 17, 2017 On Oct. 12, the community joined Florida Hospital DeLand for a physician-led seminar.

Over a heart healthy lunch, Florida Hospital DeLand interventional cardiologist Dr. Janak Bhavsar discussed cardiovascular diseases and the various minimally invasive procedures that can treat them.

At Florida Hospital DeLand, more than 80 percent of our cardiac catheterizations are performed transradially, meaning we access the heart via the radial artery, a blood vessel in the arm, instead of the femoral artery in the groin, said Bhavsar. This is much higher than the national average, which is closer to only 20 to 30 percent. The benefits of the transradial approach are vast, as patients experience more comfort with this less invasive approach and faster recovery times. In addition, these procedures are less costly and have a lower risk of complications.

He also addressed peripheral artery disease (PAD), the diseases of blood vessels outside of the heart and brain.

PAD is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis. This can occur in any blood vessel, but it is more common in the legs than the arms.

Up to 18 million Americans suffer from peripheral artery disease. One in 20 Americans over the age of 50 has PAD and one in three diabetics over the age of 50 is likely to have PAD. But many people don't even recognize they have the disease! Bhavsar said. If left untreated, PAD can lead to amputation. In fact, more than 160,000 amputations are performed in the USA each year as a result of untreated PAD.

About Florida Hospital DeLand

Florida Hospital DeLand is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 45 hospital campuses and 8,200 licensed beds in nine states, serving more than 5 million patients annually. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, Florida Hospital DeLand has 164-beds and is one of the seven Florida Hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region has 1,226 beds and more than 7,800 employees.

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