February is American Heart Month! We’re going to help shine a light on heart health, encourage our patients and community to make healthy lifestyle choices, and fill them in on how we can help folks with their cardiac care. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 Americans will die from heart disease, and it’s the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. But while it can be deadly, heart disease is actually preventable for most people.

What Steps Can I Take to Prevent Heart Disease?

Knowing the biggest risk factors is the first step — they include smoking, diabetes, poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity and excessive alcohol abuse. 

While these are some of the most common factors, Dr. Suresh Patel — the Dopson Family Medical Center’s resident cardiologist — says that family history plays a big factor, too. He says that a heart scan can help figure out if a patient should be on cholesterol-lowering medications or needs to change their lifestyle. 

The preventative and follow-up care you need to keep your heart healthy can be found right here in Macclenny.

What Cardiac Care Does Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital Provide?

The comprehensive cardiac diagnostic facility, right here in Northeast Florida, is equipped with the latest technologies for the early detection of heart disease. The cutting-edge CT equipment has the capabilities to diagnose heart issues for coronary CTA and calcium scoring. These tests are used to show whether the heart arteries are clogged. Other cardiology services we offer include cardiac stress testing, ultrasounds, echocardiograms, preventative lipid management and many more.

“This technology has gone a long way in identifying premature disease, and treating the patient before the disease sets in,” Dr. Patel says, and at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital, “everybody is treated like a family member.” 

All of these tools are designed to detect coronary disease in various stages of development, and can help prevent conditions from worsening in the future.

Along with the cutting-edge technology, the nurses and doctors on Dr. Patel’s team at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital are leaders in their community for promoting education, awareness, and motivation for heart health. “Knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life, or someone’s family’s life, has motivated me to work aggressively toward heart health and consciousness of heart health. And here, at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital, I have everything I need to do that.”

You won’t need to deal with the hassle of larger health systems, negotiate with city healthcare providers, or drive a long way to get the care you need. All this is available right here in Macclenny, with some of the latest and most advanced technologies available and a full team of dedicated nurses and doctors.

By taking the necessary steps to prevent heart disease, keeping an eye on common risk factors, and taking preventative healthcare measures at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital, you can potentially live longer with a healthier heart! 

Schedule your next heart health screening with Dr. Patel at (904) 259-7815.