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Pacemaker Clinics
Pacemakers last from
five to ten years. If you or one of your loved ones has a
pacemaker, it’s important to know that is working properly.
Although pacemaker failure may make itself obvious by severely
impacting a person’s vital functioning, often a pacemaker’s
malfunction may be less apparent. In such cases, the decline
can be gradual, almost imperceptible, and the patient might not
even notice that he or she is having a decline in quality of
life as the pacemaker loses its ability to compensate for
changes in activity level.
For these reasons, periodic pacemaker evaluations are crucial to
maintaining a patient’s quality of life. In order to make these
check-ups as convenient as possible, the Heart Institute of the
Caribbean operates pacemaker clinics staffed by professionals
who specialize in analyzing pacemaker performance. The frequency
of your evaluations will be decided by your individual needs,
the age and type of pacemaker, and the recommendations of your
physician.
By identifying
problems in advance, these clinics are able to maximize your
pacemaker functioning. For example, patients who receive timely
evaluations may find that they can prolong pacemaker life,
anticipate and plan for their replacements when appropriate, and
even identify changes in heart rhythms which necessitate
pacemaker reprogramming. Patients are often thrilled to find
that their inability to finish a game of football or golf, work
in their garden or play with their grandchildren is not an
inevitable result of aging but instead the result of pacemaker
malfunction which can be quickly and easily corrected.
If you currently
have a pacemaker and are not receiving periodic evaluations,
come in to our clinic.
Kingston: 906-2105-8
23 Balmoral Avenue, Kingston 10
Fridays 1p.m -
4p.m.
Mandeville: 625-7122;
7124; 7126
Unit 7, 1 Brumalia Road,
Mandeville
Tuesdays 1- 4p.pm
Heart Healthy
Doctors
The Heart Institute of the
Caribbean (HIC) is pleased to introduce its "Heart Healthy Doctors"
Programme (HHD). Under HIC's Heart Healthy Doctors programme,
Physicians who are members of the MAJ may receive FREE Cardiac
Consultations (including ECG) on Fridays and Sundays in Kingston and
on Fridays in Mandeville.
To schedule appointments for HIC's
HHD programme, please contact us at:
Kingston: 906-2105-8
23 Balmoral Avenue, Kingston 10
Mandeville: 625-7122;
7124; 7126
Unit 7, 1 Brumalia Road,
Mandeville
Reduced Rates and Open Access for Cardiac
Catheterization Procedure
Since
it's opening in 2005, the Heart Institute has been dedicated to
preventing and treating heart and blood vessel diseases through
appropriate use of leading-edge technology, research and education.
It is our desire to see every patient who suffers from
cardiovascular disease receive high quality patient care, advanced
treatment options and achieve better and optimal outcomes.
We
recognize that the cost of health care has been a prohibitive factor
for many, but we are committed to providing our patients with
affordable healthcare and thus effective May 25,, 2007, the Heart
Institute will be offering the drastically reduced rate
of only US$1375.00
for
diagnostic cardiac catheterization. This price is inclusive of
Physician and Technical fees. For public patients referred through
the public health system, the price for this procedure is further
reduced to only US$825.00.
Consistent with the mission of the Heart Institute and our
commitment to social responsibility, we offer an Open Access Program
that ensures that no one is ever denied treatment because of
inability to pay. Those patients who are truly indigent and have
limited finances are encouraged to discuss their unique
circumstances with our financial counselors to ensure that the
necessary care is given.
Cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in
Jamaica today for both men and women,
refers to
problems with arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry
oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Artery problems
develop over time when plaque—a combination of blood cholesterol,
fat and cells—builds up on the inside walls of arteries. Plaque
makes arteries less flexible—a condition called atherosclerosis or
"hardening of the arteries." Also, blood clots (thrombi) can form
and stick to the plaque.
Plaque and/or
blood clots can narrow an artery's blood-flow channel. When this
happens, blood flow slows down. The part(s) of the body "fed" by
narrowed arteries may not get enough oxygen-rich blood.
Narrowed
arteries can become blocked in several ways. Plaque and/or blood
clots can build up and completely block blood flow through an
artery. Also, pieces of plaque and/or blood clots can break off the
artery wall and get lodged in narrowed sections of the artery—or in
any small-diameter artery. Blocked arteries prevent oxygen-rich
blood from flowing where it's needed. This can cause:
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Heart
attack
– When a coronary artery (to the heart) is blocked.
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Stroke
– When a carotid artery (in the neck) or an artery in the brain
is blocked.
-
Leg pain
and/or numbness
– When a leg artery is blocked.
Cardiac
catheterization procedure
allows the cardiologist to visualize the coronary vessels and
determine the optimal treatment. Treatment will vary from patient to patient.
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