Ask the Physician
Raffaele Corbisiero, M.D., FACC
Chair, Electrophysiology & Pacing
Director, Electromechanical Therapy
Institute, answers your question:
My physician just told me I might need a device like a pacemaker or defibrillator. Two questions, please: What is the difference,
and does this mean my heart isn’t functioning very well?
~ JOAN K., ROEBLING
These are good questions, Joan. Let’s start with the difference
between these two devices: Pacemakers are smaller than defibrillators (ICDs), and designed to keep a heart from beating out of
rhythm, too slowly or too rapidly. ICDs are a bit larger and are used
to prevent cardiac arrest by providing an electrical shock if needed.
Although all procedures have risks, device implanting is well tolerated and if you need one, you’ll be surprised at how much better you
feel afterwards.
At DEBORAH, we work hard to bring cutting-edge technologies
to those who need device therapy. Just recently, we were the first
hospital in the region to implant a new defibrillator used for treating
patients for risk of sudden cardiac arrest; it sits just below the skin
without the need for insulated lead wires to be placed into the heart
itself. Patients will no longer need to have leads replaced,
eliminating the potential for vascular infection and reducing com-
plications associated with lead extraction or implantation.
Regarding pacemakers: The electrical patterns of the heart are
very complex. At DEBORAH, we have a myriad of techniques for
addressing irregular heart rhythms, including slowing rapidly
beating hearts, and stimulating those with a slow beat. We also have
discovered many times that the heart rhythm is off in part because
the heart itself is damaged or weakened.
There are many medical things we can do to help get the heart
back on the right track, including making lifestyle recommendations
to help strengthen the heart. This is one of the best benefits of seeing
a specialist at a comprehensive heart center like DEBORAH. d
IF YOU TAKE STATINS FROM PAGE 76
as whole-wheat bread, brown rice or oatmeal, could add years to
your life.
The findings come from two long-term health studies involving
more than 118,000 nurses and health professionals. In the studies,
participants answered diet questionnaires every two-to-four years,
which included questions about their intake of whole grains, which
help slow digestion, prevent blood sugar spikes and contain more
vitamins and minerals than processed grains. The researchers found
that one-third fewer people died among the group that ate the most
whole grains daily when compared with those who ate the least
amount of whole grains. In fact, a person’s risk of early death
declined with each serving of whole grains added daily.
To add more whole grains to your diet, try a few simple swaps:
• Use whole-wheat bread instead of white bread.
• Substitute brown rice for white rice.
• Add barley to vegetable soups.
• When baking, experiment with replacing some of the white
flour with whole-wheat or oat flour. d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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