Heart fact: Do you know one of the most common reasons that older people end up in the hospital?

It’s heart failure, a condition in which the person’s heart loses some of its ability to pump blood throughout the body. As a result, not enough oxygen is able to reach the body’s cells.

Though the name may sound alarming – like it’s happening immediately – heart failure is typically something that the person has been managing for a while.

In fact, it’s sometimes called “the silent epidemic” because it develops slowly and a person may go along for years without having any symptoms.

However, heart failure tends to get progressively worse as a person ages. That’s because typically, the person’s heart has to work hard over time to deal with the problem. The heart tries to make up for its own weakening by getting larger and forcing itself to pump faster to move more blood through the body.

Rapid response for heart attack.

It’s what makes McLaren Macomb a fully accredited Chest Pain Center.

It means the most advanced procedures are in place for cardiac emergencies – and a skilled cardiology team is available immediately to open up arteries and stop a heart attack in progress.

Can stress cause a heart attack?

Health experts aren’t completely certain, but research shows that uncontrolled stress can have long-term effects on your health – and your heart.

Chronic stress forces the body to remain in “high gear” for too long. That takes a toll on your energy level and your immune system, which needs rest and relaxation to recharge and keep your body healthy.

Facebook page likes = $$

For every new like on its Facebook page,

McLaren Macomb will donate $1 to a local food pantry

McLaren Macomb is pleased to support a local charity during the month of December. For every new like McLaren Macomb’s Facebook page (http://www.Facebook.com/McLarenMacomb) receives during December, the hospital will donate $1 to the Hope Center in Macomb County.

The Hope Center is a non-profit organization that helps those in need through its no-cost, client-choice food pantry. The pantry is available to all residents of Macomb County. The charity’s services also include helping individuals and families in crisis connect to community resources.

For more information about the Hope Center, visit: http://www.hopecentermacomb.org.

Test detects heart muscle damage

If you’re a high-risk cardiac patient,
is it safe to have surgery, and will it help?

McLaren Macomb offers a special PET/CT scan that can give doctors the answers they need before recommending certain cardiac procedures.

In fact, McLaren Macomb is the only hospital in Macomb County to offer the procedure, called myocardial viability testing. This state-of-the-art procedure determines heart muscle health.