HJAR Jul/Aug 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2023 57 Jason Pelton, MD Interventional Cardiologist CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute recognize that losing weight isn’t always easy for our patients. They often need help to reach those goals and to stay on that path. For pa- tients undergoing cardiovascular treatment inArkansas, we’re fortunate to have a wealth of resources available, including specialized cardiac rehab programs to help patients lose weight while strengthening their heart. For overweight patients experiencing other conditions or whomay not yet be experienc- ing an acute condition that requires medical intervention, we need to help them under- stand that it’s never too late tomake a change. From dietary changes to gym programs or outdoor activities that embrace all the Natural State has to offer, they have options to help address their weight today, so they don’t have to experience a critical health event tomor- row. The important thing is that we continue to treat the whole person with the goal of building healthier communities. n Jason Pelton, MD, interventional cardiologist with the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute, focuses on com- prehensive diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and other related heart conditions. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with fellowships in cardiovascular disease and inter- ventional cardiology fromBaylor College of Medicine in Houston. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Control and Prevention, roughly 71% of Ar- kansans are overweight or obese. That’s the third highest rate in the nation, trailing only Mississippi andWest Virginia. Should there be any doubt why our state also rates so high in terms of heart disease and diabetes as well? What that means for me andmy colleagues is that anymedical treatment for an emerging or already acute heart condition in a patient who is overweight must include an associated plan for weight loss. Healthy weight loss leads to less stress on the heart muscle itself. That then leads to a reduction of blood pressure and decreased likelihood of vascular disease. Remember that everything is connected, though. That alsomeans weight loss benefits more than simply cardiovascular health. It also leads to an improvement in blood sugar and control of diabetes, which impacts more than one in nineArkansans. Weight loss also lowers cholesterol, reduces a patient’s risk of having a stroke and even lowers their chance of needing an amputation. That’s a single fac- tor that impacts a range of health conditions and something we all need to consider when designing a customized treatment plan for any one of those conditions on their own. As healthcare providers, we also need to EVEN thoughmost healthcare providers to- day specialize in one field or another, must consistently work to remind ourselves and our colleagues that our care for patients must intrinsically expand beyond our narrow spe- cialties.As a cardiologist, I cannot simply treat the symptoms of a heart condition in isolation from everything else a patient may be expe- riencing. I also cannot ignore other factors that will prevent my patient from achieving the outcome and overall quality of life we all want for them. As a whole person, everything is interconnected, and one area where that is clearly apparent is the relationship between a patient’s weight and their heart health. Being overweight has a negative and very direct effect on someone’s heart health. We can see that impact in howmuch extra work the heart muscle has to do in order to main- tain blood flow, but there are other more eas- ily recognized symptoms as well. Shortness of breath, chest pain, profuse sweating, fatigue, or any dizziness or lightheadedness associ- ated with activity are all signs of extra strain on the heart. Part of the unique challenge we face in Arkansas is the prevalence of obesity in the state. According to the Centers for Disease “Healthy weight loss leads to less stress on the heart muscle itself. That then leads to a reduction of blood pressure and decreased likelihood of vascular disease.”