Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are indicators for an increased chance of heart disease later in life. Preeclampsia occurs in about 5% to 8% of pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth. High blood pressure is accompanied by protein in the urine or other physical symptoms, such as a severe persistent…
Young patients with serious heart conditions — and their families — have moved into the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Norton Children’s Hospital. What does a patient room look like? What does it mean for pediatric heart care for patients from Louisville and the region, including Southern Indiana? Take a look inside the…
By Kim Huston From working in a genetics lab to teaching yoga, Melissa Lee Perrotta, M.D., has found a way to blend all of her passions into one career. Her drive to understand and solve complex medical issues and her interest in integrative healing have led her to caring for patients with adult congenital heart…
For Mostafa El-Refai, M.D., interventional cardiology is the best of both worlds. He gets to develop long-term relationships with patients and their families. He also gets to perform emergency stenting procedures to open blocked coronary arteries after heart attacks. “Interventional cardiology gets my blood rushing a little bit because we get to treat patients with…
Sofya Kuznetsov, M.D., who is board certified and fellowship trained in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular disease, has joined Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Kuznetsov completed her clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio, where she was chief fellow. She completed her cardiovascular fellowship at University Hospitals Case Medical…
By Lynne Choate Living with advanced heart failure can be every bit as scary as it sounds. For patients, it means following a strict regimen that includes medication and regularly monitoring for the slightest signs that the condition is getting worse. Heart failure patients need to check their weight daily and report even slight changes…
The new Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center is accepting referrals for newly diagnosed patients, those with paroxysmal or persistent symptomatic atrial fibrillation (A-fib) and patients who are having difficulty with their current treatment. The clinic is designed for evaluation, diagnosis and advanced treatment for A-fib. Kent E. Morris,…
Norton Healthcare hospitals were recognized today during a presentation by the American Heart Association with Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus and Gold awards for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. The American Heart Association also presented Norton Healthcare with the Mission Lifeline: Regional Trailblazer Award. The award recognized Norton Healthcare for serving as…
Heart disease kills more Americans than any other disease, and according to the American Heart Association, African Americans may face a higher risk for heart disease compared with other groups. Kelly C. McCants, M.D., cardiologist and medical director of Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure Program, said uncontrolled high blood pressure is the…
Audrey Sims’ first clue that her twins’ birth would be complicated came at 14 weeks of pregnancy, when a routine ultrasound found that one of her sons, Aiden, had a cystic hygroma, a fluid collection on the neck. Audrey’s OB/GYN at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana, referred Audrey and her husband, Andrew, to Norton…
Follow these advanced heart failure signs that indicate your patient may benefit from VAD/heart transplant evaluation LVEF <40% Inability to walk one block without shortness of breath Intolerance of beta blockers Intolerance of ACEi/ARBs Inotrope dependence Progressive renal insufficiency Cardiac index <2.2 l/min BNP or NT-proBNP > 5x normal (BNP > 1000) One heart-failure-related hospitalization…
After 10 years of trying for a second child, Amanda Slayton and her husband, Scott, were jubilant when they conceived their son Seth. Born in February 2018, he is every parent’s prayer — happy, healthy and undemanding. In ways they couldn’t have predicted, their baby’s good nature has been a godsend to the Slaytons. Less…