Cardiology

Our Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory offers state-of-the-art equipment for the diagnosis and interventional treatment of heart conditions.

Some of these services include:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Carotid stenting
• Coronary angiography
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
• Echocardiography
• Electrocardiogram (known as an EKG or ECG)
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion
• Loop recorder implantation
• Nuclear cardiology
• Pacemaker insertion
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) heart attacks
• Peripheral angiography
• Peripheral vascular diagnostics and interventions
• Stress testing
• Tilt table testing
• Transesophageal echocardiography

Living a heart healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart disease and the health conditions associated with it. Some tips to avoid heart disease include:

• Don’t smoke or use tobacco
• Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week
• Eat a heart-healthy diet

If you would like a free heart healthy cookbook, call us at (813) 634-0172.

Our catheterization services are offered next to our emergency room (ER) to streamline treatment for patients coming to the hospital with heart attack symptoms. We also promote the importance of early heart attack care. In fact, our emergency department personnel are prepared 24/7. They are highly trained to treat patients experiencing heart attacks and other cardiac emergencies.

If you believe someone is having a heart attack, immediately call 911.

When it comes to heart attacks, the more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage to the heart can be. However, when someone is having a heart attack, they may have an unwillingness to accept it or attribute the symptoms to another cause. They may not want to ask for help or “cause a scene.” This delay and denial can be extremely dangerous.

This contributes to the statistic that heart attacks are the number one killer of Americans. It’s important to know the symptoms of a heart attack, recognize them and seek emergency medical treatment quickly.

A heart attack can present itself in several ways. It can cause sudden pain, gradual pain or discomfort that increases for several hours or even days. Heart attack symptoms also differ in men and women.

Male heart attack symptoms

The most common heart attack symptoms for men include aching, burning, discomfort, fullness, pressure and tightness in the chest.

Female heart attack symptoms

For women, the most common signs of heart attack include:

• Pressure or tightness in the lower chest, which may even feel like a stomachache
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained fatigue
• Weakness

Other heart attack symptoms

Additional symptoms of heart attack for men and women include:

• Clamminess or sweating
• Nausea or indigestion
• Dizziness or nervousness
• Neck, back or jaw pain
• Feeling of “impending doom” or dread

One or more of these symptoms are present in nearly half of all heart attacks. They usually appear within 24 hours before the acute attack but can begin two to three weeks before the coronary event.

The symptoms may last from a few minutes to several hours and can suddenly increase before the attack. Knowing the signs of heart attack may help you save a life — even your own or the life of someone you love.

There are several factors that put you at higher risk of having a heart attack, including:

• Aging
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Stress

The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have a heart attack. Our cardiology team offers heart screening services and helps patients better understand their heart attack risk and options for leading a healthier life.

Heart problems and strokes can often be related, as strokes tend to have many of the same risk factors as heart attacks. That’s why we are proud to be an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, as designated by The Joint Commission. This designation shows that we offer advanced, skilled stroke care when you need it most.