Weekly Health Beat
When Blood Vessels Bulge | Sports Physicals at HCMH Clinics | Come Home to HCMH for Skilled Nursing | Specialty Physician Schedule
When Blood Vessels Bulge
An aneurysm—a balloon-like bulge in an artery—can develop and grow for years without causing any symptoms. The following information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, explains that an aneurysm is a silent threat to your health.
If an aneurysm grows too large, it can burst open, or rupture, and lead to dangerous bleeding inside the body. Aneurysms can also cause a split within the layers of an artery wall. This split, called a dissection, can lead to bleeding within the artery’s layers. Aneurysms that rupture or dissect can cause sudden death.
Many aneurysms occur deep inside the chest, abdomen or brain. Most appear in the aorta—the main artery that carries blood from the heart down through the center of the body. The NIH says about 14,000 Americans die each year from aortic aneurysms. Three-fourths of these aneurysms arise in the lower part of the aorta. These are called abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Aneurysms that occur in the chest are called thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA).
NIH estimates that about 1 in 50 people has some type of aneurysm in the brain. Many of these are small and cause no real problems. But each year about 27,000 people in the U.S. have a ruptured brain aneurysm, which is a type of stroke.
The NIH says that about 20% of aortic aneurysms have a genetic component. Other factors that can weaken the walls of arteries and lead to aneurysms include smoking, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries), infections and trauma, such as a car crash.
Age and gender also contribute to risk. Aortic aneurysms are most common in men after age 65. Brain aneurysms appear more often in women between 30 and 60 years of age.
The symptoms of an aneurysm can vary widely and depend on its location and size. Large AAAs might cause a throbbing in the abdomen. Large TAAs may lead to pain in the back, jaw, neck or chest. Brain aneurysms can cause pain around the eye or numbness on one side of the face.
If an aneurysm ruptures or dissects, get immediate medical attention. Sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen and back can indicate a ruptured AAA. Dissected or ruptured TAAs may cause sharp pain that travels from the upper back to the abdomen. Ruptured brain aneurysms can cause a sudden, intense headache.
However, because most aneurysms have no symptoms, they’re often found by chance during a doctor visit. Many aneurysms are found when a patient is getting images—like MRI or CT scans—done for another reason.
If you have an aneurysm, medications can help lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of rupture. If the aneurysm is small, your doctor may recommend regular checkups to monitor its size. Large or quickly growing aneurysms may be treated with surgery, although surgery for brain aneurysms carries many risks. Options for aortic aneurysms include open surgery, which removes the aneurysm, or endovascular repair, which strengthens the aorta by inserting a tube, or stent.
Talk with your health care provider if you have a family history of aneurysms or other risk factors. People at high risk may need routine screening to find and monitor an aneurysm.
Come Home to HCMH for Skilled Nursing
After an illness, stroke, injury or surgery, a patient may be getting better but still needs some additional skilled care before returning to a home environment. Skilled nursing services (Swing Beds) are extremely beneficial when a patient is ready to leave the acute care level of a hospital stay, but is not yet well enough to return home.
At HCMH, skilled nursing patients are cared for on the Acute Care floor of the hospital by our staff of health care professionals. A Discharge Planner from another facility will assist in transferring a patient to HCMH for skilled nursing services or, in some cases, a patient may stay in the same hospital bed moving from one level of care to another.
Our patients often choose skilled nursing/swing bed services at HCMH because they can be closer to home. Skilled nursing patients at HCMH receive our high quality of care, with in house medical staff and RNs, and patients can recover while they are closer to families, friends and loved ones.
Sports Physicals at HCMH Clinics
Call any of the HCMH clinics listed below to make an appointment for sports physicals this summer:
Britt Medical Clinic, 641-843-5050
August 2, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.Garner Medical Clinic, 641-923-3651
August 4, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Or call for an appointment at Kanawha Medical Clinic, 641-762-3696; Wesley Medical Clinic, 515-679-4285. Exams are $30, no insurance is filed. Download forms.
Next Week’s Specialty Physician Schedule:
For the convenience of area residents, the following Specialty Clinics are available in the coming week at HCMH in Britt. Call HCMH at 641-843-5000 or 1-800-255-9389 for more information
Thursday, July 22
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Ahari
Tuesday, July 27
Orthopedic Clinic: Dr. Crane
Cardiology Clinic: Dr. Zadeii, Mercy Heart Center
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Condoleon
Wednesday, July 28
Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic: Dr. Jalukar
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Unger
Thursday, July 29
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Ahari
Tuesday, August 3
Orthopedic Clinic: Dr. Crane
Cardiology Clinic: Mercy Heart Center Cardiologists
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Condoleon
Wednesday, August 4
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Unger
Thursday, August 5
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Ahari
HCMH Providers Available at the Britt Medical Clinic:
Julie Larson, ARNP
Angela McGregor, ARNP
Ashlea McLeod, PA-C
Jerry Nelson, M.D.
Saturday Clinic: 8:00 a.m. – noon.
HCMH Providers Available at the Garner Family Practice Clinic:
John Boedeker, D.O.
Jerry Nelson, M.D.
Kathryn Pottratz, ARNP
Monday and Wednesday Clinics to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday Clinic: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Kanawha Medical Clinic:
Ashlea McLeod, PA-C
Wesley Medical Clinic:
Angela McGregor, ARNP