Carson Valley Health brings cardiac care closer to home

Your heart beats an average of 4,800 times per hour, up to 100,000 times a day. Carson Valley Health Cardiology provides the best of care, so you don’t miss a beat.

Your Heart’s Health is Our Priority

Carson Valley Health welcomed three new cardiologists and an advanced practice registered nurse, or APRN, to our Cardiology and Heart Health Services. Offering appointments at Carson Valley Health Senior Care and Minden Family Medicine Carson Valley Health Clinic, these professionals will advance our cardiovascular care and bring accessible, quality care to the heart of Carson Valley. These providers join CVH in addition to their practice at Renown Institute of Heart and Vascular Health - connecting high-level cardiology care throughout the region.

Heart Disease is Known As a Silent Killer

Heart disease is often called a silent killer, as it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Increasing your knowledge of heart disease can decrease your chances of living with undiagnosed heart problems and potentially prevent a medical emergency.

Individuals who regularly visit their primary health care provider twice a year could be living with undiagnosed blood pressure. At your next appointment, ask your provider what your blood pressure numbers mean if they are too high, and what a healthy blood pressure looks like. You may also want to ask your doctor if you are at risk for heart disease and the factors associated with it.

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Carson Valley Health received a $3.6 million grant last year to build and equip a hybrid cardiac catheterization lab/interventional radiology lab and purchase a new fixed x-ray device for our cardiac care center in Gardnerville from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. This new lab is part of the hospital’s multi-million-dollar expansion project.

Cardiac catheterization labs are also sometimes referred to as cardiac cath labs. If you have never heard of this form of care, a cardiac cath lab allows physicians to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease through minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures including:

• Ablation
• Angiograms
• Angioplasty
• Implantation of pacemakers
• Peripheral artery and vein repair
• Stent placement

Echocardiography

In some situations, your doctor might recommend echocardiography to get a better look at your heart. An echocardiogram is a painless test that uses sound waves to create images of your heart.

This test will give your doctor information on the size of your heart, weakened heart muscles, problems with heart valves, structure abnormalities, your heart's aorta, and blood clots or tumors.

Your doctor may recommend echocardiography if you’re suffering from signs and symptoms of heart problems such as shortness of breath and swelling in the legs. These symptoms can be a result of weakness of the heart (heart failure), which can be seen on an echocardiogram.

The CVH Medical Imaging Department is open Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our radiologists and technicians are available 24-hours-a-day to serve our hospital and emergency patients.

What to do in an Emergency

Unfortunately, many people do not know they have a heart problem until they suffer a heart attack or stroke.

In the event of an emergency for yourself or a loved one, do not panic. Paramedics can provide lifesaving care en route to the hospital. Never drive yourself or a loved one to the emergency department.

Become familiar with the signs and symptoms of a cardiac event:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Heart palpitations
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats
• Unexplained wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting or near fainting
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Carson Valley Health has Carson Valley’s only 24-hour emergency room. Our ER is staffed with board-certified emergency medicine physicians.

Learn more about our Emergency Room here.