Health e-News 
February 2011

Try This!
Workplace Wellness Tip
HeartAware

 Heartaware

Ten minutes can save your life! That's all the time it takes to complete Affinity's free online heart health assessment, HeartAware.  Learn your risk factors today at:

affinityhealth.org/heartaware.  

Calcium Scoring
Your Heart Is Worth It

Heart scan

Heart health is central to your overall health. Do you really know how healthy your heart is?


Introducing calcium scoring, a comprehensive screening that gives you an accurate, thorough picture of your heart health AND recommendations on how to address any risk factors or detected conditions.  For only $100, you will receive the following evaluations.

 

· Ultrafast CT scan of the heart and vascular system

· Heart risk assessment including family and personal history and diet

· Blood pressure check

· Body mass index (BMI)

· Lipid panel

· Blood sugar level

· Review of current medications

· Weight/height

· Best of all - you will get your results the SAME DAY, before you leave the appointment.  This includes a one-on-one consultation with a specially trained health care professional to discuss follow-up recommendations.


It's National Heart Month - what better time to consider investing in your heart health?  And while you're at it, purchase a calcium scoring appointment for your valentine, too.  It's a great way to say, "I love you."


For more information, call the Affinity Heart and Lung specialists at (920) 730-6700 in Appleton or (920) 236-1750 in Oshkosh. 

  

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Greetings!
We care about your heart.  February is American Heart Month, and Affinity Occupational Health has a wealth of valuable resources to help keep you heart-healthy.  In this edition of Health e-News, learn about calcium scoring, the Affinity Women's Heart Program, and HeartAware, a free online risk assessment that could save you from a heart attack. 

As always, we welcome your feedback and want to thank you for inviting us to partner with you in workplace wellness!

In good health,
Lisa Kogan-Praska
Director, Employer Solutions and Urgent Care
Woman
Heart Attack Signs in Women 
Is it indigestion, or something worse?  Many women don't recognize the signs of a heart attack, because they're often different from the classic signs shown in men.  A study of women's early heart attack signs published in Circulation found 43 percent of the 515 women studied did not experience chest pain - a tell-tale symptom in men.  Instead, common signs in women included:
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Upper abdominal pressure (like indigestion)
  • Back pain
If you're experiencing a combination of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Women's Heart Program

Knowledge can help prevent a heart attack.  That's why Affinity offers a free Women's Heart Program assessment.  In just one hour, women can learn whether they are at risk for heart disease and what to do about it.  This thorough visit includes:
  • heart risk assessment, including family and personal history and diet
  • blood pressure check
  • body mass index (BMI)
  • cholesterol check
  • blood sugar level test
  • review of current medications
  • weight and height
  • waist-to-hip ratio
  • cardiovascular exam
  • determine 10-year risk for heart disease
  • discuss results of the risk assessment and cardiovascular exam
  • provide necessary recommendations for a follow-up care plan.

For more information or to register for the FREE Women's Heart Program, call Affinity NurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900.

Click here to see Affinity lipidologist, Ann Liebeskind, MD, discuss women's heart health on Affinity's YouTube channel.


NumbersKnow Your Numbers 
Good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides, blood pressure, body mass index... these terms are household words with a direct impact on your health. Trouble with these factors can lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke, so it's important to know where your numbers fall on the spectrum. Here's what the average person should aim for:

Total cholesterol = Less than 200 mg/dL (150 mg/dL is optimal)
LDL (bad) cholesterol = Less than 160 mg/dL (less  than 100 mg/dL for people with heart disease)
HDL (good) cholesterol = Women, 50 mg/dL or higher; Men, 40 mg/dL or higher
Triglycerides = Less than 150 mg/dL
Fasting glucose (blood sugar) = Less than 100 mg/dL
Blood pressure = Less than 120/80 mmHg

Did you know?
Compared to a total cholesterol level (TCL) of 200 mg/dL...
  • TCL of 250 mg/dL doubles your risk of having a heart attack in middle life.
  • TCL of 300 mg/dL quadruples the risk.
See your primary care doctor to keep track of your numbers annually. 
da Vinci
What's Happening at Affinity? 
da Vinci robotic-assisted hysterectomy 

 
Affinity now offers a new minimally invasive surgery option for women - da Vinci robotic-assisted hysterectomy at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. The da Vinci Surgical System is a laparoscopic surgical robot that integrates the latest advancements in robotics and computer-enhanced technology with a surgeon's skills, using 3D visualization.

The robot allows surgeons to be more precise and have an increased range of motion, while enhancing the surgeon's capabilities to perform surgical procedures.  With da Vinci, small incisions are used to introduce small instruments and a high-definition 3D camera.  Seated at the console, the surgeon views a magnified, high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site.  The da Vinci Surgical System imitates the movement of a surgeon in real time to maneuver through surgery.  The surgical robot cannot be programmed to perform surgery.  Instead, the da Vinci is controlled by the surgeon throughout the entire surgical procedure.

Benefits patients have experienced with da Vinci surgery include:
  • shorter hospital stay
  • less pain
  • less blood loss
  • less risk of infection
  • less scarring
  • faster return to normal daily activities. 

Talk with your gynecologist about whether da Vinci surgery is right for you.

 Hero
Have the COURAGE to Fight Heart Disease 
Are you at risk for heart disease? Affinity's COURAGE clinic can help. This innovative program, led by Affinity's cardiology team and doctor of pharmacy, Dr. SaraLynn Peterson, is designed to help prevent heart and other vascular diseases by aggressively addressing risk factors. COURAGE unites a team of health care experts in one place at one time to focus on you, giving you the best proven care for preventing heart attacks.

Who is eligible? Anyone with a history of:
  • coronary heart disease
  • heart attack
  • bypass surgery
  • abdominal aneurysms
  • peripheral arterial disease
  • carotid artery disease
  • stroke
  • diabetes.

Click here to view a COURAGE clinic success story on Affinity's YouTube channel.

For more information about the COURAGE clinic, click here, call (920) 730-6700, or ask your primary care doctor to refer you.

 
Your Affinity Occupational Health Sales Team 
 
Holly Tomlin, coordinator of account management for Affinity Occupational Health, enjoys building relationships with clients while finding creative solutions for their needs.  Holly's background includes 15 years of experience in the health care field, with a strong background in employee assistance programs and occupational health. 

Riley McDermid, employer health and wellness consultant, is passionate about identifying opportunities for local businesses to enhance their occupational health programs.  In addition to her role in new business development for Affinity Occupational Health, Riley is a certified tobacco cessation specialist.

Tammy Davis, customer account liaison for Affinity Occupational Health, provides immediate response to customer service requests.  She works closely with Holly and Riley to coordinate educational programs and provide clients with valuable services information.  Tammy has 14 years of experience in marketing, sales and customer service.

To contact Holly, Riley or Tammy, call the Affinity Occupational Health office located in Menasha, at 1-800-541-0351, or e-mail htomlin@affinityhealth.org, rmcdermi@affinityhealth.org or tadavis@affinityhealth.org.