Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Winter 2021

lakeregional.com 7 CARE FROM THE HEART To make an appointment with Muthu Krishnan, M.D., FACC, at Lake Regional Cardiovascular Institute, call 573-302-4960 . You can learn more about Dr. Krishnan at lakeregional.com/ physicians . questions you may have. Also, bring a list of all the medi- cines you take — including vitamins and over-the-counter drugs — to each appointment. You should see your doctor within six weeks of your heart attack to help keep your recovery on track. Make needed lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes can help you manage your risk factors. These might include: • Quitting smoking. Quitting now can lower your risk of dying from heart disease. • Losing weight. Shedding extra pounds can help lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels. • Becoming more active. Regular exercise has many benefits, including weight loss, lower stress levels and lower blood pressure. Enrolling in a cardiac rehabilitation program can help you get started. Join a cardiac rehab program. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program to help people recover after a heart event. You’ll learn how to exercise safely, how to eat a heart-healthy diet and how to manage stress. Ask your doc- tor for a referral. Know all the symptoms of a heart attack. Unfortunately, a past heart attack does put you at increased risk for a future one. “If you do have another heart attack, your symptoms may be different than they were the first time,” Dr. Krishnan says. “So it’s important to know all the possible warning signs of a heart attack.” Call 911 if you experience any of these symptoms: • Chest pain or discomfort. • Discomfort in other areas of the body. These can include one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. • Shortness of breath. • Breaking out in a cold sweat. • Nausea and vomiting. • Light-headedness or sudden dizziness. Sources: American Heart Association; American College of Cardiology; UpToDate A story with heart When local artist Bill Manion felt severe chest pain and needed heart surgery, he trusted Lake Regional Health System to provide the swift and ex- ceptional care he needed. To hear more of Manion’s story, go to lakeregional.com/patientstories .