Regional Heart Program Home Speaking from experience In the United States, the number of people with cardiovascular disease is on the rise. But so are the numbers of those who are being successfully treated and returning to active, productive lives. While heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S., California and Monterey County for both men and women, sophisticated cardiac care programs, like the Regional Heart Program of Salinas Valley Memorial, are helping to turn the tide in the patients’ favor. State-of-the-art technology for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, a skilled team of cardiovascular specialists, and participation in national clinical trials, put Salinas Valley Memorial’s Regional Heart Program on par with leading university medical centers. And the real beauty of it is that care is available locally so that patients can stay close to home, family and friends. Fritz Snyder, June Davis and Dane Askins, speak about their experience with the Regional Heart Program. Fred “Fritz” Snyder An avid surfer, mountain biker and weight lifter, Fred “Fritz” Snyder was in terrific shape at age 58. Just eight months earlier, he’d trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, up to 13,700 feet, and had no trouble keeping up over the four day trek. “My father had bypass surgery and my mother died of heart related problems,” says Fritz. “I was aware of the family history of heart disease, but was determined to do everything in my power to stay healthy.” After a week-long motorcycle trip, cleaning his bike in his garage, Fritz had chest pains and broke into a cold sweat. “I took a couple of aspirin and laid down thinking that I’d caught the flu,” he says. But when his wife Nancy came home, she insisted that they go to the emergency department at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. That was May 22, 2004. He was admitted to the hospital for tests and scheduled for quadruple bypass surgery with cardiac surgeons Gregory Spowart, MD and Hector Dox, MD. “My wife was impressed with everyone from the emergency room staff to the nurses and doctors to the people with housekeeping,” he says. “She kept an eye on things while I was out of it.” “I was in great shape to begin with so I didn’t have to make dramatic changes,” recalls Fritz. “During my rehab at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, it was comforting to be monitored just to make sure. They taught me how to check my pulse and to recognize pains and what they meant. Now I know what’s okay and what isn’t.” After a few short weeks, Fritz was riding the waves, cycling, weight training and working out as he had before. “My friends at the beach look at me as a benchmark since I’m the oldest guy there,” says Fritz. “After my experience, some of them got physicals to see how they were doing.” June Davis With a family history of cardiovascular disease and having suffered a heart attack more than nine years ago, now 78-year-old June Davis was acutely aware of her risks. However, it had been nearly a decade with no recurring problems. She and her husband Arthur had retired several years earlier and returned to Salinas in 2003 to be near family and friends. Except for occasional shortness of breath, June felt healthy and strong, until earlier this year. “I was crossing the street to chat with a neighbor and by the time I got there, I couldn’t talk,” recalls June. Her husband drove her to the Emergency Department of Salinas Valley Memorial where she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Her cardiologist, Richard Gerber, MD, recommended that she make some important lifestyle changes and participate in cardiac rehabilitation, which she completed in May. “All of the people at the Cardiac Fitness Center are knowledgeable and kind and the dietitian was a tremendous help,” says June of Salinas Valley Memorial’s Cardiac Fitness Center. “My whole life has turned around. I have an entirely different way of eating now and work out on my treadmill almost every day. The classes they offer as part of the rehab really helped me learn how to eat and live a more healthy life.” Dane Askins At 61, Dane Askins ate a healthy diet and exercised several times a week. In February 2005, after his workout, he experienced what he thought was an acid reflux problem and paid a visit to his doctor, Jim Dacus, MD. “Knowing my family, and the fact that my brother had bypass surgery at age 47, Dr. Dacus ordered an EKG,” says Dane. “After that, things moved pretty quickly from a stress test to angiogram to bypass surgery. I was familiar with the reputation of the Heart Center, so I was very confident that I would receive great care.” After four weeks of recovery, Christopher Oh, MD, Dane’s cardiologist, prescribed a cardiac rehabilitation program. “I worried that I would push myself too hard,” recalls Dane. “It was nice to know that I was being monitored. I love to work out and the ladies there are very encouraging. With their nutrition classes, I went from eating a healthy diet to eating an extremely healthy diet.” Progressing gradually over the course of 32 sessions from walking to running 8 miles, Dane made plans to run in a local 10K race. “I graduated, got the t-shirt and the next day went to my cardiologist,” says Dane. Dr. Oh ordered a follow-up angiogram, found another blockage and recommended that Dane ease off the vigorous exercise for a while. “I was so disappointed,” says Dane. “But, several of the ladies from the Cardiac Fitness Center came to see me when I was at the hospital for the angiogram and helped me understand that there was still light at the end of the tunnel. With medication and regular contact with my doctor, I feel like I’m on the road to real recovery. I just need to take it a little more slowly than I would like.”   << Back | Menu | Next >>