June 11, 2012
Do you have a Weak Heart?
Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Nathan Ho
Dr. Nathan Ho, Interventional Cardiologist at Carson Tahoe Cardiology took a minute to answer some popular questions regarding Congestive Heart Failure.
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a condition in which your heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. This may occur when the heart muscle itself is weaker than normal or when there is a defect in the heart that prevents the blood from getting out into the circulation. As a result of a weakened pump, extra fluid in the circulation system builds up in the lungs, the liver, around the eyes, and sometimes in the legs. This is called fluid “congestion” hence “congestive heart failure”. Unfortunately, CHF is fairly common. Around 5.8 million people in the United States have CHF. About 670,000 people are diagnosed each year. Sadly, about one in five people who have CHF die within one year of diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?
- Chest pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
- Swelling in your abdomen, legs, ankles and feet
- Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
What are the risk factors of Congestive Heart Failure?
- High blood pressure
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Heart attack
- Irregular heartbeat
- Diabetes
- Sleep Apnea
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Viruses
- Kidney conditions
How is Congestive Heart Failure Treated?
Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve and the heart can become stronger.
The key to treatment of heart failure is to treat the underlying cause. For example, repairing a heart valve or controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse heart failure. However, for most people, the treatment of heart failure involves a balance of the right medications, and in some cases, devices that help the heart beat and contract properly. Medications can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and help you live longer.
Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, reducing the salt in your diet, managing stress, treating depression, and especially losing weight, can improve your quality of life.
The best way to prevent heart failure is to control risk factors and conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity.
Treatment can help you live longer and reduce your chance of complications
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Congestive Heart Failure, please contact your doctor. When in doubt, check it out.
Dr. Ho is a Board Certified Interventional Cardiologist at Carson Tahoe Cardiology.
May 31, 2012
A Dietitian’s Take on the Paleo Diet
Renee Bauer, CTRH Registered Dietitian
With the recent popularity of the Paleo Diet, many people have questions about what it is and its potential benefits. Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Dietitian, Renee Bauer has the answers.
What is the Paleo Diet?
The Paleo Diet is what cavemen are presumed to have eaten – prior to 10,000 years ago with the beginnings of agriculture. The means the following foods are allowed: wild game meat, plants, fish, shellfish, eggs, treenuts, roots, fruits and berries. The foods such as milk, grans and legumes are not allowed. Of course, there are variations of this diet that allow foods that may have been grown past 10,000 years. The idea behind this diet is that the hunter gatherers were free of such diseases that plague the westernized world, such as heart disease and diabetes. They have looked at cultures that follow similiar habits as the Paleo, such at the population in Papua New Guinea and found them to be free of obesity and high blood pressure.
Is the Paleo Diet useful for long term weight loss?
The diet seems to focus more on decreasing westernized diseases such as heart disease and obesity. In some of the clinical trials done using the diet, it did show weight loss short term. This may be in part due to the the low energy density and increased satiety the diet provides. However, no long term studies have shown this diet successful in keeping the weight off. If you’re looking for long term life change this diet might be difficult to follow.
What are the advantages of the Paleo Diet?
The advantages of this diet are that advocates more fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats. Of course since you are following the caveman diet, you will be allowed to eat the organ meats. More fish means more omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the heart. Your intake of such organ meats as the bone marrow and thyroid will increase your zinc, copper, and selenium intake. The increase fruits and veggies will be giving you more fiber, but be careful of the sudden increase in fiber. Warn people in your cave of the possible side effects.
What are the disadvantages of the Paleo Diet?
Can you live your whole life without your Mom’s favorite lasagne dish? This diet is very restrictive. By narrowing and limiting our diets, it would seem to set people up for failure. If it is to good to be true, then it probably is another fad. Cavemen probably did not live long enough to get the disease we now acquire.
Renee Bauer is a Registered Dietitian at Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare. For more information on the nutritional services offered by CTRH, click here or call 775.445.8035. Visit our Facebook page to ask your own nutrition questions
February 29, 2012
Recognizing Our Employee Family
On February 25, 2012, we celebrated our wonderful employees by recognizing their accomplishments in 2011. The event shined a spotlight on employees reaching 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of continuous service. Additionally, Shining Star recipients; Circle of Excellence awardees; the Ambassadors, Leader and Physician of the Year were announced. We want to extend a BIG thank you to our employees, for without their enthusiasm and dedication, Carson Tahoe wouldn’t be what it is today.
Physician of the Year
The Physician of the Year Award is Presented to Andrea Weed
ANDREA WEED, MD
Support Staff Ambassador
Employee Awards - Support Staff Ambassador Susan Merrifield
SUSAN MERRIFIELD, SURGERY
Clinical Staff Ambassador
Employee Awards - Clinical Staff Ambassador Catherine Evans
CATHERINE EVANS, OUTPATIENT LAB
Leader Ambassador
Employee Awards - Leader Ambassador Cheri Glockner
CHERI GLOCKNER, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Manager Ambassador
Employee Award - Manager Ambassador Carol Wesolowski
CAROL WESOLOWSKI, NURSING ADMINISTRATION
Circle of Excellence 2011
Employee Awards - Circle of Excellence
CATHERINE EVANS, MINDEN LABORATORY
JENNIFER GALIMBA, AMBULATORY INFUSION CTR
SUSAN MERRIFIELD, SURGICAL SERVICES
CHERYL WEBSTER, WOMEN’S SERVICES
Shining Stars 2011
DR. MERITT DUNLAP, MEDICAL STAFF
JENNIFER GALIMBA, AMBULATORY INFUSION CTR
MARY HASSAN, CANCER SERVICES
MARIA ORTEGA, MEDICAL / ONCOLOGY
BARBARA PHILLIPS, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
VIRGINIA SMITH, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
Service Awards 2011
30 Years
SUSAN BAUMRUCK, INT. CASE MANAGEMENT
25 Years
Employee Awards - Twenty Five Years
JUDITH ALDERSON, WOMEN’S SERVICES
ROBERT GILLINGS, MEDICAL IMAGING
LEANNE GULLOTTO, SURGICAL SERVICES
STEPHANIE HOYLE, QUALITY & OUTCOMES
EDWARD MATHER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
TERRI STOLLE, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
20 Years
Employee Awards - Twenty Years
ELEANOR BERNSTEN, PEDIATRICS
LORAINE FLEMMING, LABORATORY
BONNIE HOUSE, CENTRAL PROCESSING
SHELLY KOONTZ, WOMEN’S SERVICES
KATHLEEN KOPP, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
PAUL KOWALLEK, RESPIRATORY CARE
MARY SCOTT, WOMEN’S SERVICES
VANESSA SYKES, REHAB SERVICES UNIT
ELLEN WAICUL, PATIENT REGISTRATION
TED WILKENS, CARDIAC CATH LAB
15 Years
Employee Awards - Fifteen Years
HENRY CALDERON, MEDICAL IMAGING
JEANNETTE COOPER, PATIENT REGISTRATION
RENATE DE MARTINI, MEDICAL IMAGING
DORIS DIMMITT, INFECTION CONTROL
STEVEN FLETCHER, FACILITIES
HUGH FONZO, SECURITY
JANICE HEWITT, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION
DARLINDA JENNINGS, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
VICKI KING, LABORATORY
CYNTHIA MARTIN, WOMEN’S SERVICES
GAYLE MCHENRY, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
RICHARD MCLAREN, MEDICAL IMAGING
TINA OBERSON, PATHOLOGY
PATRICIA POTTER, WOUND CARE
NORRIS SCHULTZ, FACILITIES
JANNA SMITH, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
ARLENE THURSTON, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
MICHELE TING, OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES
ELIZABETH WILSEY-VICKERS, RESPIRATORY CARE
JEANNIE YORK, OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES
10 Years
Employee Awards - Ten Years
THOMAS ALTMAN, MEDICAL IMAGING
DIANE ALVAREZ, MEDICAL IMAGING
NANCY BALTES, REHAB SERVICES UNIT
ALONA BAUGH, WOMEN’S SERVICES
BETH BOSCHEE, MEDICAL / ONCOLOGY
MYLEA BROUGHTON, EMERGENCY ROOM
KELLY CALIBRO, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
CARRIE CORMANY, PEDIATRICS
LAURETTA DAVIS, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
PAMELA DEMPSEY, MEDICAL / ONCOLOGY
RICHARD ELMQUIST, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
JENNIFER GALIMBA, AMBULATORY INFUSION CTR
LESLY GARCIA, CENTRAL PROCESSING
MARY GARDARIAN, ELECTROCARDIOLOGY
JEAN GEBHARD, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
RONDA GORE, WOMEN’S SERVICES
EMILIA GUZMAN, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
KAIREE HARGETT, MEDICAL IMAGING
NICOLE HENINGTON, LOGISTICS DEPARTMENT
TERESA KALDOR, GREAT BASIN IMAGING
VILMA LAKE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
MARY ANN LAWSON, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
JANET LEMIEUX, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
MELVA LOWDER, FOOD SERVICE
JOSEPH MCKOY, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
SUSAN MERRIFIELD, SURGICAL SERVICES
CHERYL MILKS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
JODI MILLER, TELEMETRY
ROSA MONTES, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
BRYNNE MORGAN, PEDIATRICS
LISA MYERS, TELEMETRY
JEANANN NAGY, WOUND CARE
JANET O’GRADY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
JODI PADILLA, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
KATRINA PENMAN, HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
BLANCA PEREZ, CENTRAL PROCESSING
BLANCA PIERROTT, FOOD SERVICE
VICKI PURSEL, SURGICAL SERVICES
MARIA RAMIREZ-LUGO, AMBULATORY INFUSION CTR
EMILY RAMTHUN, HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
MICHAEL SCHMIDT, MEDICAL IMAGING
CARLA SELLS, WOMEN’S SERVICES
LISA SHADDEN, EMERGENCY ROOM
SATNAM SINGH, MEDICAL IMAGING
CATHERINE SMITH, EMERGENCY ROOM
JOE STRANDE, SECURITY
SUZANNE WALKER, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
TAMARA WARKENTIN, CARDIAC CATH LAB
LOIS WILCOX, MEDICAL / ONCOLOGY
CARIE WILKENS, HUMAN RESOURCES
5 Years
Employee Awards - Five Years
MARIA AGUAYO DE MORENO, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
JILL ANDREWS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
JULIE AUSTIN, PHARMACY
THERESA BALON, EMERGENCY ROOM
SARAH BARTLETT, PHARMACY
KELLY BOISSEAU, TELEMETRY
THEODORE BUJAK, PHARMACY
TRAVIS BURT, FACILITIES
DAVID CARLSEN, FACILITIES
LAWRENCE CARR, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CHARLES CHINEVERE, FACILITIES
STEVEN CLAUS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
AMY COLE, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
MARLO CONROY, EMERGENCY ROOM
JOSEPH CONTI, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ROSA CORREA, SURGICAL SERVICES
BRENDA DARDEN, CARDIAC CATH LAB
CECILIA DE LEON, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
EVA DE LIMON, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
NICOLE DILLARD, PATIENT REGISTRATION
COURTNEY DUKEK, PEDIATRICS
OFELIA DULCERO, LABORATORY
JULIE ELDRIDGE, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
JASON ENSMINGER, RESPIRATORY CARE
DEENA FOWLER, PEDIATRICS
JOSHUA FOWLER, FACILITIES
WENDY FRANCO, INFORMATION SERVICES
AGATHA GENTILE, SURGICAL SERVICES
CONNIE GLASS, LABORATORY
GERARDO GONZALEZ, LAUNDRY & LINEN
RICHARD HARPER, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
TERIE HINTON, EMERGENCY ROOM
TRACY HOOD, EMERGENCY ROOM
KAROLYN HUGHES-GANNON, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
CATHY JAUREGUIBEHERE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
MELISSA JEZEK, PHYSICAL THERAPY
ANTHONY KLEINFIELDT, FACILITIES
TENNILLE LAGIER, SURGICAL SERVICES
SUSAN LAWSON, PATIENT REGISTRATION
JULIE LINNELL, TELEMETRY
JONI MAESTRETTI, EMERGENCY ROOM
PHILIP MANCINI, FACILITIES
SELVIN MARROQUIN, LAUNDRY & LINEN
MARION MARTIN, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
ROSE MARY MARTIN, LABORATORY
MARIA MARTINEZ, FOOD SERVICE
TIFFANY MARTINEZ, PHYSICAL THERAPY
EVAN MCCOY, LOGISTICS DEPARTMENT
PATRICIA MCGRAW, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SHANNON MCKIMMY, PATHOLOGY
RHONDA MILLER, WOMEN’S SERVICES
WAYNE MITCHELL, PHARMACY
DELLA MORRON, PHYSICAL THERAPY
BRANDI O’KERT, TELEMETRY
DAWNA OLSON, AMBULATORY INFUSION CTR
KERIANN ORTIZ, WOMEN’S SERVICES
BRADLEY ORVIK, EMERGENCY ROOM
GIA PARKHURST, WOMEN’S SERVICES
NINA PATYNOWSKI, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
VIRGINIA PEPPERDENE, EMERGENCY ROOM
ADRIENNE PRIEWE, PHARMACY
PAMELA REILLY, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
DANIELLE RICHARD, WOMEN’S SERVICES
GREGORY ROALDSON, RESPIRATORY CARE
ALISE ROBERTSON, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
LUIS RODRIGUEZ, MEDICAL IMAGING
TONYA RUSSELL, SURGICAL SERVICES
NICHOLAS RYAN, TELEMETRY
SOL SHECK, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
JANET SIMPSON, EMERGENCY ROOM
EMILEE SLIGER, SURGICAL SERVICES
LORI SMITH, PHARMACY
VIRGINIA STANSBURY, LABORATORY
STEPHEN STULTS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
BECKY TOUPS, SURGICAL / ORTHOPEDICS
JON TYLER, DEVELOPMENT
CHRISTINA URTEAGA, PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
KATHERINE VAUGHAN, EMERGENCY ROOM
CAROL VICKREY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DONNA VOELTZ, TELEMETRY
MARCIE WARD, PHARMACY
DEIRDRE WERTH, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
SUSAN WILLIAMS, PHARMACY
SARA WILSON-LOWRY, SURGICAL SERVICES
MARTHA WISE, MINDEN EMERGENT CARE
JEANNETTE WRIGHT, PHARMACY
THOR ZOELLNER, PHARMACY
Here's to Your Health 