Lake Health | Press Releases

Every woman over the age of 40 should take time out of their busy schedule and schedule their annual mammogram.  Your best defense against breast cancer is early detection.

The American Cancer Society recommends the following breast cancer screening guidelines to promote early detection:

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over
• Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.

"Mammography remains the most effective screening test for the early detection of breast cancer available to women today," said Rosalinn Santacruz, MD, radiologist and breast specialist in the Women's Diagnostic Center at TriPoint Medical Center. "If we want to make progress in eliminating breast cancer as a major health threat, we need to support women and urge them to continue making screening a priority."

Read more: Lake Health Urges Women to Schedule Their Yearly Mammogram

WHAT: Lake Health is recruiting companies to participate in the upcoming B Fit 4 Life Corporate Challenge and is hosting an Information Meeting. The Corporate Challenge is a team fitness challenge involving Lake Health and other businesses within Lake County. The teams face off in a variety of monthly activities such as Corn Hole, Dodge Ball, Air Mattress Relay, Boot Camp, Cycling, and more! The B Fit 4 Life Corporate Challenge runs from January – May 2012.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 5 at 4 pm

WHERE: TriPoint Medical Center, 7590 Auburn Rd., Concord Twp.

The B Fit 4 Life Corporate Challenge is a partnership between Lake Health, the Lake County YMCA, Lake Metroparks, and the Lake County General Health District

3-D echocardiography enables Lake Health cardiac surgeons to see the heart like never before.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio, September 28, 2011-The heart experts at Lake Health are now able to peer inside a beating human heart and see real-time, moving images of the valves, chambers, and vessels that comprise the complex organ. For the past year, the health system has been using a breakthrough technology-called three-dimensional echocardiography-to diagnose heart problems and guide cardiothoracic surgeons during open-heart surgery.
 
"Using 3-D echocardiography, we can quickly and easily visualize complex cardiac anatomy, giving us more accurate diagnostic information than ever before possible," explained Kathleen Rizer, director of Cardiovascular Services for Lake Health. "Additionally, 3-D echo has reduced, and in many cases eliminated, the need for more expensive, higher risk tests and procedures."
 
Over the past 20 years, echocardiography-a high-definition ultrasound-has become one of the most widely used procedures for diagnosing heart disease and disorders because it is noninvasive, relatively low cost, and provides clear and precise images. Now, next generation 3-D echocardiography allows for an even more detailed assessment of valve defects and other problems with the heart muscle, such as congenital abnormalities. Doctors use 3-D echo as both a diagnostic tool to determine if a patient needs surgery, and as a guide in locating the problem site during surgery.
 
For patients, being able to actually see the nature of their heart problem first-hand enables them to be more involved in their own care.
 
"The technology gives patients a better understanding of their heart condition and treatment plans, and therefore enhanced confidence in the quality of the care they receive," Rizer added.

Read more: A New Perspective on Heart Care

High blood pressure (hypertension) is sometimes called the "silent killer" for good reason. Many people have it, but are unaware because it doesn’t have any symptoms or warning signs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three U.S. adults-about 74 million people-has hypertension, a condition in which the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. If left untreated, hypertension can damage and weaken the arteries and lead to heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems. 

Getting your blood pressure checked regularly will help you be proactive about your health and minimize your chances of a heart attack. If your blood pressure is normal, you can work with your physician to keep it that way. If your blood pressure is too high, treatment may help prevent damage to your body’s organs.

Lake Health offers free blood pressure screenings at all five of its urgent care centers and walk-in care clinics during normal business hours. Free screenings will also be offered on October 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at TriPoint Medical Center, 7590 Auburn Rd., Concord Twp.; and on October 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at West Medical Center, 36000 Euclid Avenue, Willoughby.

In addition to blood pressure screenings, Lake Health will provide cholesterol and body mass index measurements-all indicators of heart disease risk-at its heart health event on October 8. The event will also feature educational sessions and exhibits to help you improve your heart healthy lifestyle.

Read more: High Blood Pressure: Controlling the "Silent Killer"