Parma Hospital's Magazine for Healthy Living and Education

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PARMA HOSPITAL CARDIAC CARE ER doctor experiences own emergency John Lazo Jr., MD, reasoned away the winded weariness he felt after even brief sessions of yard work, chalking it up to the Joseph Lahorra, MD heat and added weight that had accumulated through the years. When scheduled for an evening shift in Parma Hospital’s Emergency Department, this physician of 33 years, who once had boundless energy, was now having to take a nap before work. Like most people, the 64-year-old assumed he was “just getting older.” “I didn’t have the energy, and I didn’t have the stamina anymore,” said Lazo. “I thought I was feeling OK for someone who was overweight and out of shape, and I thought ‘Well, I’m not as young as I used to be.’ I was denying the obvious.” A shopping trip sealed his fate. One day at a home improvement store, after pushing a cart loaded with lumber all the way to the checkout, he arrived beside the cashier looking ashen. Dizzy and lightheaded, he called his wife, Donnalynn. His next call was to his cardiologist. The aortic stenosis that Gerald Burma, MD had been monitoring had now suddenly gotten markedly worse. The frequent exhaustion Lazo had been feeling was the failure of his aortic valve to fully open when blood flows from the heart into the aorta, the main artery carrying blood to the rest of the body. Lazo definitely had been feeling more tired but had never experienced any chest pain. Nevertheless, Dr. Burma performed a cardiac catheterization that confirmed severe aortic valve disease and also discovered an 80 percent blockage of another artery. Dr. Lazo was now “patient Lazo.” After consultation with Joseph Lahorra, MD – a Cleveland Clinic Cardiothoracic surgeon who has been a member of Parma Hospital’s medical staff since the Heart Center opened – the surgery date was set, and the type of valve replacement and bypass was determined. Leading up to his scheduled surgery date, Dr. Lahorra warned Lazo to stay within 30 minutes of a hospital at all times. “Aortic stenosis is a progressive process,” Dr. Lahorra said. “Once the narrowing is in the severe range and symptoms have developed, patients do not survive very long without surgery to replace the valve. John’s aortic valve had reached a critical degree of blockage. He had arrived at the edge of a very dangerous precipice and needed aortic valve replacement not only to restore his quality of life but to preserve his life.” Lazo spent five days recovering in the Heart Center following a surgery that lasted over six hours. Specially trained nurses and doctors gave him the same personalized, attentive care that all their patients receive. His wife, who had abundant confidence in Dr. Lahorra and the staff, said she felt somewhat guilty at times that she wasn’t more worried about the outcome. They went in with a positive attitude, focusing on a future of a growing old together and enjoying their grandson. “I was amazed at how good I was feeling,” Lazo “Don’t be in denial. Symptoms need to be promptly addressed,” said John Lazo Jr., MD, an Emergency Medicine physician who explained away the warning signs of his own worsening heart condition. “A physician who treats himself – and ignores his symptoms – has a fool as a patient.” recalled. “Even on the third or fourth day after surgery I was feeling better than I had before the surgery.” Once he had returned home, he restricted his salt intake and scrutinized calories in everything he ate. He began attending Cardiac Rehabilitation, a supervised exercise program for patients who have had surgery or a cardiac event. Now six months after his surgery, Lazo has dropped more than 38 pounds. Annual CT scans will be done to check the diameter of Lazo’s aorta and ensure that there is no leakage or dissection. Lazo continues to take maintenance medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol. And now he’s looking forward to the warm weather instead of dreading it. “I’m looking forward to running and playing with my grandson, now that I feel I’ve been given a new lease on life,” Lazo said. Symptoms of aortic stenosis include: • Breathlessness with activity • Chest pain, including pressure, tightness, squeezing or crushing • Pain increases with exercise, relieved with rest • Fainting, weakness, or dizziness with activity 4 Informed www.parmahospital.org
A heart attack at 40 On June 16, I had a massive heart attack and was rushed to Parma Hospital. Thank goodness for Parma Hospital. From the time I hit the doors until I had two stents in my heart, it was 16 minutes. The doctor said had I gone another 10 minutes, I probably would not have made it. The hospital was absolutely fantastic and I can’t say enough about them and the care I was given. Two of Trish Rohman’s six Dachshunds accompany her on her Plain Dealer delivery route in Broadview Heights. After the 40-year-old Parma resident suffered a heart attack, she sent a letter to her customers detailing her positive experience at Parma Hospital. Cardiac Rehab educates, builds stamina Establishing an exercise program after a cardiac event – whether a heart attack or surgery – is a major step in returning to health. And nearly every patient could benefit. Specially trained nurses and exercise specialists assess each patient’s eligibility and monitor them through a minimum of 12 weeks of exercise and lifestyle changes. In this program that Parma Hospital has operated for more than 30 years, patients are advised on nutrition, stress management and awareness and reduction of risk factors. Mary Corrigan of Parma, 84, began attending Cardiac Rehab after heart surgery. With the assistance of an experienced staff, she doubled the distance she could walk without strain. “Research finds that cardiac rehabilitation is under-utilized by heart patients, even though potentially all patients could benefit,” said James Sechler, MD, the program’s medical director. “Patients simply need to ask their physician for a referral.” This program is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare. Qualifying conditions for Cardiac Rehab include: • Stable Angina (heart pain) • Heart Attack (MI) • Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG) • Angioplasty/Stenting (PCI) • Heart Valve Surgery • Heart Transplantation For assistance in determining eligibility for Cardiac Rehab, call 440-743-4294. “Thanks to you guys, I get to see my grandkids again…” Al Popik has lived through a few heart attacks and two open-heart surgeries, but nothing prepared him for the jolt he felt when Brooklyn EMS had to treat his unstable ventricular tachycardia. “My heart was racing 240 beats a minute, like it was going to pound out of my chest,” said Popik, 69 and at work when a co-worker called 9-1-1. At Parma Hospital, Jamie Cohen, MD, performed a diagnostic catheterization, and Bartolomeo Giannattasio, MD inserted an internal defibrillator and pacemaker in Popik’s chest. “They were all professionals,” said Popik, who lives in Parma Heights. “The crew did their job. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.” Summer 2011 Informed 5
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Page 7 and 8: Losing over 150 pounds and gaining
Page 9 and 10: 1 session $15 Sat., July 9 10-11:30
Page 11 and 12: Summertime Yoga (Ages 9-14) Improve

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