Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1444905
2 | Health Matters: Providence Saint John's Health Center Letter to the Community F ebruary is American Heart Month—a time when it benefits us all to think about heart health. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for about one in three deaths in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. More than 125 million Americans live with some form of heart disease, and the disease has higher prevalence among people of color. About 59% of non-Hispanic Black women and 60% of non- Hispanic Black men have some form of cardiovascular disease. However, regular health checkups and screenings can go a long way toward preventing death and disability from cardiovascular disease. Stopping smoking and making improvements to diet and exercise habits also can dramatically lower the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. At Providence Saint John's Health Center, heart health has been our focus for many decades. Over the years, Providence Saint John's physicians have pioneered many advances that have transformed the lives of our patients—including becoming the first hospital in North America to perform a laser balloon ablation to treat blocked arteries and the first to use the Watchman procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, led by our own Shephal Doshi, MD. You can read more about these advances and our storied cardiovascular program on page 10 of this issue of Health Matters. The heart, of course, also symbolizes love and compassion. We think about that a lot at Providence Saint John's. Our philosophy of care is based on meeting each patient's needs, from physical and nutritional to emotional and spiritual, as we work to elevate both our men's and women's health programs. On page 4 we share some of our advances in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders, and on page 6 we describe our wonderful prostate care program. We also put our heart and soul into finding new treatments and exploring technological advances that bring a new standard of care to our community. We are mindful of how they can help prevent illnesses among our patients. On page 8, we share one of these important developments that can assess cancer risk through genetic testing. This is a program that could save your life. This month we encourage you to follow your heart when it comes to your health care. We hope that decision leads you to Providence Saint John's. Take care and stay well, Michael Ricks, Chief Executive Providence Saint John's Health Center