Doctors and patients alike are coping with the many problems that heart disease poses

YUMA, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

For those in Yuma who suffer from heart disease, the effects of the disease extend closer to home.

February is American Heart Month, and heart disease remains a major problem in hospitals and hospice care in Arizona and here in Yuma.

said Dr. Preeti Chandra, Director of Preventive Cardiology, Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC).

Heart disease complications kill an average of 130 people per 100,000 in Yuma County, according to the 2022 YRMC Health Needs Assessment.

Dr. Chandra attributes this to age-related issues. “I think age is the main determinant of that.

“Despite lower mortality rates in Yuma and Arizona as a whole compared to neighboring states such as California, the risks associated with the disease are high, such as those requiring heart transplants, stints, or bypass surgery. , impacts the lives of everyone they come into contact with,” said Chandra.

Heart disease is an umbrella term, with many complexities in its causes and consequences, such as diabetes and heart attack.

For those nearing the end, Yuma Hospice Care has played an important role for those with advanced stages of heart disease.

“If we’re talking about cardiovascular disease, we have an average of 60 to 65 patients per year,” said John Williams, executive director of Uma Hospice.

Yuma Hospice Care identifies additional consequences of heart disease in patients described as comorbidities, including diseases such as cancer and stroke that may be a byproduct of heart disease.

Local cardiologists know the hardships that heart disease can bring. Barbie Parks remembers her first signs and symptoms like it was yesterday.

After visiting the hospital for the first time, Parks said:

Years into recovery, Barbie is living a happy, functioning life and is still offering advice to those in pain as she once was. Please take care of yourself.”

There are many different causes of heart disease, but three in particular are the most common.

According to Dr. Preeti Chandra, the number one risk factor is high blood pressure, the second is high cholesterol, and the third is smoking.

Dr. Chandra alludes to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise as the two most important preventive measures in the fight against heart disease.

It is no exaggeration to say that diagnosis, treatment, and life begin with the beating of the heart.

There are many resources here in Yuma for those who have or are currently exhibiting symptoms.