Cardiology

Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the first step in our continuum of advanced heart care. The right diagnosis sets the foundation for your treatment plan, from prescribed medications to surgery and recovery.

We offer a range of cardiac diagnostic imaging and tests at our facility, including:

• Cardiac stress tests
• Echocardiograms (echos)
• Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
• Electrophysiology studies
• Holter monitoring
• Nuclear imaging technology

Our hospital is home to a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab). Here, minimally invasive diagnostic heart exams and treatment procedures can be performed.

Some of these procedures include:

• Angioplasty and stenting
• Heart catheterization
• Pacemaker insertion

We prioritize the effectiveness, timeliness and quality of cardiac care we provide you. This includes services such as:

Heart arrhythmia care

Heart arrhythmias, commonly known as irregular heartbeats, are caused by irregularities in the electrical impulses that dictate the heart's rhythm. Many people do not experience symptoms related to a heart arrhythmia, but some people may feel a fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting.

We offer advanced treatment options for heart arrhythmias in our Electrophysiology Lab, which is why our lab is one of the most-used labs in the region. It offers treatments such as cardiac ablation, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion and the left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) implant.

Heart attack care

Our heart hospital is the first in the county to receive full accreditation by the American College of Cardiology as an Accredited Chest Pain Center. This recognition demonstrates our expertise and commitment to providing quality heart attack care.

We also offer advanced technology which allows our emergency room (ER) cardiologists to see your EKG while you are in the ambulance. This saves critical time in diagnosis and expedites treatment for faster medical intervention when every second counts.

Heart attack education

Early heart attack care (EHAC) encourages people to learn the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack. When identified early, when symptoms are mild and in the beginning phases, emergency care can be accessed sooner, leading to better outcomes for people who have heart attacks.

Heart attack symptoms

Heart attacks often have "beginning symptoms" that may occur up to two weeks prior to a major heart event. For many people experiencing these early symptoms, the heart attack itself may be prevented with quick treatment, before significant damage occurs to the heart.

People may or may not experience early signs of a heart attack. Symptoms may also come and go until they become constant or severe. For example, it is common for people to experience mild chest symptoms, like pressure, burning, aching or tightness, before more severe symptoms occur.

Signs of a heart attack include:

• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort
• Fatigue
• Feeling of fullness
• Jaw pain
• Nausea
• Pain that travels down one or both arms
• Shortness of breath

Heart failure care

Heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped working, it just means it no longer works as hard as it should. Our complete heart imaging services aid in the diagnosis of heart failure, including congestive heart failure (CHF), and our cardiovascular surgeons offer advanced options for treating this disease.

Heart failure treatment may involve lifestyle changes, management of medication, intravenous therapies and surgical treatment. Our surgeons can also insert mechanical devices, such as the left ventricular assist device (LVAD), to help the heart pump blood throughout the body.

Stroke care

Our cardiac specialists work with our vascular and neurology teams to provide lifesaving stroke care. That's one reason why we are recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. It acknowledges our compliance with stringent national standards and superior outcomes for people who experience strokes.

Our hospital's cardiovascular doctors also provide medical intervention for conditions affecting the veins and arteries. This includes care for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and related conditions and diseases.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

PVD is a progressive disease and a form of atherosclerosis in which blockages occur in the arteries of the brain, kidneys and legs. It occurs when fatty substances build up inside the artery walls over time and create a narrowed opening, which restricts proper blood flow.

Symptoms of PVD

When organs and muscles in the body receive an insufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood, they alert you to this fact by producing pain. If the blockage occurs in the arteries supplying blood to the legs, for example, you may have cramps in the hips, thighs or calf muscles that can limit even casual walking.

Other symptoms of PVD in the lower extremities include:

• Blue/red discoloration of the foot or toes
• Coldness of the leg and foot
• Dry, fragile or shiny-looking skin
• Loss or decreased growth of hair on the legs
• Numbness, tingling or pain in the leg, foot or toes
• Paleness of the leg or foot if elevated
• Sores that do not heal

Symptoms of PVD in the carotid arteries include:

• Sudden, temporary weakness or numbness of the face, arm and/or leg on one side of the body
• Temporary loss of speech or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Temporary dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls

Symptoms of PVD in the renal arteries include:

• Abnormal kidney function blood tests
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) that is consistently higher than 140/90

Diagnosing and treating PVD

To properly diagnose PVD, an arteriogram or aortogram may be performed. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment options may include a balloon angioplasty, stenting or an atherectomy.

Our hospital is proud to have one of the most extensive cardiovascular surgical programs in Florida. Our surgeons perform a range of valve replacement and repair procedures, bypass surgeries and cardiac ablations. They stay on the forefront of new heart and vascular surgery techniques so we can offer the latest treatments to you.

Structural heart procedures

We are the first hospital in Palm Beach County to perform innovative structural heart procedures such as the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). We offer these types of surgeries to ensure you can get the high-quality, advanced services you need to have the best possible outcomes.

Our cardiac rehabilitation program offers a safe, controlled environment to help your heart begin to recover and rebuild strength. Cardiac rehabilitation commonly involves lifestyle changes, such as diet modifications and regular exercise.

Any patient who is receiving or has received cardiovascular care may be referred to our cardiac rehabilitation program. For example, you may be referred to this program following a heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular surgery or heart failure diagnosis. Our rehabilitation specialists are trained to create personalized care plans for you based on your unique needs.