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Progress in diagnosis, treatment for heart diseasesCardiology is a field in medicine that’s constantly being improved. As we look to the future with the innovative Heart of New Ulm project taking off at the same time as we celebrate 125 years of health care in New Ulm, we also take a look into the history of heart disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. It was around 1935 that cardiology started to become a subspecialty of internal medicine. At that time, little was available to evaluate patients in terms of laboratory tests and drug therapies. Management of the condition was mainly reactive, including regulation of activities, sometimes meaning complete rest for the patient; diet modifications; weight loss and sedation. It was only in 1940 that a clear definition of the clinical-pathologic relationships behind coronary artery diseases was presented. Later, the electrocardiogram (ECG) became essential for diagnosis of blockage or restriction of blood flow to the heart. Major breakthroughs included:
Over the past 100 years, treatment for heart diseases continued to evolve. For years, it was surgery that seemed the best for treatment. However, heart disease showed to be more complex than that. Medications are now more widely used in conjunction with surgery or on their own, to address the disease’s long-term and short-term effects. Assessment and treatment of cardiovascular diseases have advanced technologically. Assessment now looks at identifying patients at earlier stages of the disease, in order to be able to determine treatment options before fatal or devastating consequences. The field of genetics may contribute with innovative ways in identifying and treating individuals who have higher chances of suffering later from heart diseases. “These are all key components in the Heart of New Ulm project,” said the project’s Charles Stephens, MD, Heart of New Ulm project medical director and family medicine physician. “The primary objective of the heart health screenings, which are occurring all across the community right now, is to help adults identify their risk for a cardiac event. When you know your risk and what you can do about it, you’re empowered to improve your health.” Heart disease has always been in the headlines, attracting people’s attention with a variety of interesting discoveries: stress as a contributing factor to heart disease; the first heart transplant; new medications; differences among men and women; inflammation’s role; how low should LDL-cholesterol levels go; and so on. The pattern of new discoveries in heart disease diagnosis and treatment has been that of better assessment of risk, earlier delivery of interventions, and more heart attacks avoided. ”At the end of the day, that’s really what the Heart of New Ulm project is all about,” Stephens said. Sources: Selzer A. Fifty years of progress in cardiology: a personal perspective. Circulation 1988;77;955-963. Time Magazine: www.time.com  Back to Health Edition |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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