Services

Cardiology

415 East 4^th Avenue
Cordele, GA 31015
478-224-1976

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. One in every four deaths – more than 600,000 Americans – die of heart disease each year. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which can cause a heart attack. Other heart conditions may involve the valves in the heart, or perhaps the heart may not pump well, which can cause heart failure.

People of all ages and backgrounds, even children, can develop heart disease. Some people are born with it. Heart disease occurs when plaque builds up in your arteries, narrowing them over time and reducing blood flow to the heart.

The risk of developing heart disease increases with smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, or not getting enough exercise. High cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), or diabetes can

Symptoms

Symptoms vary for the different types of heart disease. Often, chest discomfort or a heart attack is the first sign. Every year, more than 700,000 Americans have a heart attack.

Heart attack symptoms include:

Chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t subside after a few minutes
Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
Weakness, light-headedness, nausea, or a cold sweat
Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder
Shortness of breath

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Critical intervention can often begin upon arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), so it’s always best to call 911 rather than drive yourself or someone else to seek care.

For more information about heart disease and prevention, visit www.heart.org.

Treatment and Services

Cardiologists at Crisp Regional offer comprehensive cardiovascular care for patients in Cordele and surrounding areas. Inpatient or outpatient services include:

Chest pain evaluation and stabilization in the emergency room
Diagnostic and evaluation of all heart and vascular conditions
Coronary artery disease monitoring
Diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular disease
Management of hypertension
Management of cholesterol disorders
Management of congestive heart failure

Services include care for and managing chest pain, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, cholesterol disorders, syncope evaluation, and valvular heart disease.

Tests and procedures available at Crisp Regional include electrocardiography (EKG), stress tests, and echocardiograms. Interventional and invasive procedures are available at nearby medical centers in Perry and Macon.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG is a test that checks for issues with the heart’s electrical activity and performance. It shows your heart’s electrical activity as line tracings on paper in “waves” that reflect spikes and dips. Electrical activity causes the heart muscle to contract, pumping blood through the heart to the lungs and the rest of your body. An EKG will record abnormalities in your heart’s electrical activity.

Stress Test

Stress tests are performed by a doctor and/or a trained technician to determine the amount of stress that your heart can manage before developing an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia (not enough blood flow to the heart muscle). The most common stress test is the exercise stress test.

Exercise Stress Test

The exercise stress test is used to provide information about how your heart responds to exertion. It usually involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling on a stationary bike at increasing levels of difficulty. Your heart rate, electrical activity, and blood pressure are monitored and recorded throughout the test.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture is more detailed than a standard X-ray image. An echocardiogram does not expose you to radiation.