Restoring and maintaining healthy hearts is the goal of The Heart Hospital of Palmetto Health Richland. From prevention, diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation, this 77-bed center offers the full spectrum of healthcare for heart patients and their families.

Heart surgeons and cardiologists are available around the clock at Palmetto Health Richland to care for patients who arrive with cardiac emergencies and need such complex care as immediate bypass surgery, angioplasty (to reopen the arteries that supply blood to the heart) and catheterizations (to assess blood flow to and from the heart).

Community education programs presented throughout the year focus further attention on ways to prevent heart disease, South Carolina's major health problem for adults.

Heart patients at Palmetto Health Richland benefit from...

77 in-patient beds (21 critical care and 56 telemetry) specifically for The Heart & Vascular Hospital. Three cardiac catheterization labs that provide computer-enhanced images of heart disease and highlight problem areas An electrophysiology lab to diagnose and treat heart arrhythmias Two designated operating rooms An eight-bed cardiovascular intensive care unit A 13-bed coronary care unit A mobile coronary care unit Rehabilitative programs, support groups and exercise programs to help patients reduce symptoms and lower risks for incurring future heart problems Outpatient diet education

The Heart & Vascular Hospital of Palmetto Health Richland is dedicated to reducing cardiovascular and stroke mortality and morbidity through education, research and improved diagnosis and treatment.

There are multiple, time-critical steps involved in delivering care that will increase a stroke patient's chances of survival without disability. The steps in this chain of recovery include:

1. Rapid identification of stroke symptoms and a timely response by those who experience the onset of stroke,
2. Quick access to emergency medical assistance,
3. Rapid response, treatment and transport by EMS to appropriate treatment centers,
4. Rapid diagnosis and intervention at a stroke center,
5. Specialized treatment and evaluation for complications and precipitating factors, and
6. Appropriate rehabilitation when applicable.

Stroke services reflect a new era in the treatment of stroke using state-of-the-art assessment and treatment to the benefit of stroke patients. Services offered include:

• Stroke team available around the clock – consists of neurologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons and radiologists
• TPA protocol for acute stroke patients
• Access to clinical drug trials
• CT scan available 24-hours-a-day
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Transcranial doppler
• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy available daily
• Video swallowing evaluations available daily
• MD specializing in rehabilitation and physical medicine
• Stroke Center medical director
• Daily case management of patients
• Opportunities to participate in post-hospitalization, follow-up health-status studies

• Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
• Sudden dimness, blurriness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.
• Difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech.
• Sudden severe headache with no apparent cause.
• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls, especially with any other symptoms.
• Stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute counts.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is interrupted, usually by a blood clot or broken vessel. Brain cells in the specific area of the brain deprived of blood are killed by a stroke. Without prompt medical treatment, a larger area of brain cells surrounding the immediate area also will die.

When brain cells die, the stroke victim loses control of the abilities that area of the brain once controlled. The specific abilities lost or affected, such as speech, movement and memory, depend on the location in the brain where the stroke occurs and the size of the stroke. Some stroke victims recover completely from less serious strokes while others lose their lives.

• Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing 15,000 Americans every year.
• Of the 400,000 survivors annually in the U.S., between 10- and 18-percent will have another stroke within one year. The rate of having another stroke is about 10-percent per year thereafter.
• Stroke is the number-one cause of adult disability. Three million Americans are living with the effects of stroke.
• A stroke strikes every minute in America.
• Stroke costs the U.S. $30 billion annually in healthcare costs and lost productivity.
• Stroke is the most preventable of all catastrophic conditions

Stroke risk factors are things that make you more likely to have a stroke. There are some risk factors for stroke which are not controllable:

• Age: The chances of having a stroke go up with age.
• Gender: Males have a slightly higher stroke risk than females.
• Race: African-Americans have a higher stroke risk than most other racial groups.
• Family History: Risk is higher for people with a family history of stroke.
• Diabetes: Possibly due to circulation problems that diabetes can cause.

Controllable risk factors can be divided into medical and lifestyle-related. Through a combination of medical attention and lifestyle changes, the risk of stroke can be significantly reduced.

• High Blood Pressure: (hypertension) increases risk four to six times. It is the single most important controllable stroke-risk factor. For most people, high blood pressure can be controlled through diet, exercise, weight loss, medication, or a combination of these.
• Previous Stroke Symptoms: Known as transient ischemic attacks, they can increase the risk of stroke 10 times. If the underlying cause of the TIA is related to blood clots or blocked arteries, medication and/or surgery may reduce the risk of a full stroke.
• Heart Disease: Especially atrial fibrillation, which can cause blood clots to form and travel to the brain. Atrial fibrillation can be treated with medication.
• Carotid Artery Disease: The main supply of blood between the heart and the brain becomes blocked by the build-up of plaque and other fatty deposits. Depending on the degree of blockage, surgery to clear blocked arteries may be indicated. Medication and diet also may help reduce risk.

• Smoking: Injures blood vessel walls and speeds up hardening of the arteries. If a smoker quits today, within five years the stroke risk from smoking will be the same as someone who's never smoked.
• Alcohol Consumption: The relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke is not clearly understood. Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with an increase risk of stroke. Moderate consumption has been associated with a lower incidence of stroke. If you drink, limit your consumption to one or two drinks daily.

If you or members of your family have questions about The Heart Hospital, please click the CONTACT US tab above. Phone numbers for the various departments within The Heart Hospital can be obtained by clicking on the phone icon below.