The Parkridge North Emergency Room (ER) has gone red for American Heart Month. Throughout February, the facility’s exterior lights will shine red to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease, a group of illnesses that includes heart attack, stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, and heart rhythm and valve problems. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 800,000 deaths in the United States each year.
“While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in the United States, it is also preventable in most cases” said Alison L. Bailey, MD, FACC, medical director, cardiovascular disease at Parkridge Health System. “We want to stress that a heart-healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for one in three deaths in our country.”
Proactive measures to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease can include maintaining a healthy weight; staying physically active; eating healthier by changing your diet to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains and reduce sodium and processed foods; quitting smoking; managing stress; partnering with your care team to optimize your A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
If medical treatment is necessary, Parkridge Health provides cardiac services across the care continuum. Primary care providers partner with patients for preventive care; cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and electrophysiologists provide cardiac disease management and treatment; and ER providers at four ER facilities in Chattanooga and Jasper offer treatment options for medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest and stroke.
The Parkridge North ER, which adjoins Parkridge Valley Adult, is located at 7402 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37421. The newest facility in Parkridge Health, Parkridge North ER is a full-service emergency department staffed 24/7 by board-certified physicians who are able to treat a broad scope of medical emergencies, ranging from illness and injury to life-threatening concerns. Outpatient diagnostic imaging and laboratory services are also available.