September is PAD Awareness Month – Free Screenings!

September 3, 2017— According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 18 million people in the United States suffer from Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. Estimates suggest that anywhere from 12 to 20 percent of individuals over the age of […]

SurgicalCare First to Offer Innovative Procedure for the Treatment of Carotid Artery Disease

Minimally Invasive Technology Temporarily Reverses Blood Flow in the Brain to Prevent Devastating Strokes Surgical Care Associates working at Baptist Health Louisville is the first in state to offer an innovative new treatment for patients at risk for stroke due to blockages in the neck arteries known as carotid artery disease. The minimally invasive procedure, […]

Encourages Early Diagnosis of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm To Save Lives

(Louisville, KY) – Ninety-five percent of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be successfully treated if detected early. “There is a safe, painless, ultrasound test that can accurately measure the size of the aneurysm to determine the need for treatment,” said Dr. Bradley Thomas of Surgical Care Associates. “In most situations, people with ruptured aortic aneurysms […]

It’s March Madness Time – Be Active!

(Louisville, KY) – We live the in the cradle of college basketball and from Selection Sunday to April 6 (National Championship), March Madness consumes most of America. Arm chair hoopsters stare at their flat screens with tournament brackets in hand. “Instead of simply cheering, try some fancy footwork,” said Bradley Thomas, M.D., a member of […]

SCA States that Groundhogs are Right 39 Percent of the Time; Winter Weather Requires Extra Care for Humans with High Blood Pressure

Louisville, KY – It’s sad but true. Celebrity groundhog Punxsutawney Phil of PA and his relatives accurately predict the end or extension of winter only 39 percent of the time according to the United States National Climate Center. Still, Groundhog Day remains a beloved national pastime. In the northern states, winter often barrels past February 2 […]

(Louisville, KY) – Experts agree. It takes three weeks to break a bad habit or to start a good habit. So three weeks after proclaiming that New Year’s Resolution, there should be millions of new non-smokers!
Smok2015

“Smoking causes coronary heart disease  – the leading cause of death in the United States as well as peripheral vascular disease (PAD),” said vascular surgeon Dr. Brad Thomas. “Persons who smoke are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers.”

“As a vascular surgeons we witness first-hand the effects of cigarette smoke on health and know that smoking doubles a person’s risk for a stroke,” he said. “In addition, smoking narrows arteries resulting in greater risk of developing conditions such as peripheral vascular disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms.”

And then there’s lung cancer. An estimated 157,000 Americans died from lung cancer in 2010 according to the American Cancer Society. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Americans.

Dr. Thomas notes that the health benefits for people who stop smoking are quickly apparent:

• A feeling of being in charge; no longer dependent on cigarettes,
• An improved sense of smell;
• More disposable income;
• Healthier-looking skin;
• Energy for activities which can counteract weight gain.

The Centers for Disease Control indicates that a year or two after smoking cessation, the risk of coronary heart disease diminishes. Today, there are more adult non-smokers in the United States (80 percent) than smokers (20 percent).

Consider visting https://www.quitnowkentucky.org for more help on quitting.

 

Stop Smoking in 2015

Holiday gatherings can be stressful!

First, a Thanksgiving feast. Then, to the emergency room states Dr. Thomas Louisville, KY – Holiday gatherings are fraught with peril. • The average Thanksgiving meal is 3,000 calories (229 fat grams) according to the American Council on Exercise. • Alcohol consumption is heavier-than-usual. • Frantic travel agendas often result in forgetting to pack medications. • […]