Sunnyside Community Hospital | Valley Health | Spring 2016

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• SPRING 2016 3
Trust your heart to SCH
John Adan, MD
Michael Becker, MD
John Ribic, DO
YOU PROBABLY KNOW by now that
heart disease is not only a man’s problem. Just
look at the facts:
Each year, 1 in 4 deaths among U.S. women
is from heart disease.
Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovas-
cular diseases kill more American women each
year than the next three leading causes of
death combined.
Women are less likely than men to survive a
heart attack.
Several factors can increase your risk of
heart disease. Among them are smoking,
having high blood pressure or abnormal cho-
lesterol levels, being overweight, or having
diabetes.
If early heart disease runs in your family or
you’re older than 55, your risk increases too.
The age-related rise in risk is later for women
than it is for men. That’s partly because estro-
gen gives premenopausal women some heart
disease protection.
To understand your risk—and how to lower
it—have a heart-to-heart with your doctor. You
can also discuss other factors that may affect
your heart, such as using birth control pills if
you’re older than 35 and a smoker.
Know the signs
Indications of heart disease and heart attack can
be different for men and women. A common
symptom of heart disease in everyone is chest
discomfort (angina). In women, however, angina
is often a sharp, burning pain that may be felt
in other areas, such as the back, neck or jaw.
Pain in any of these areas can also be a
heart attack—a medical emergency. Women
may have other heart attack warnings as well,
such as shortness of breath or nausea.
Don’t ignore any of these signs of a possible
heart attack. Call 911 right away if you have
any of these symptoms. Even if symptoms dis-
appear after a few minutes, get medical help.
To learn more about heart disease, visit the
American Heart Association website. Go to
.
Women
Safeguard your heart
At Sunnyside Community Hospital (SCH)
the staff and physicians have been working
diligently to evolve our current cardiology ser-
vices. With services offered 24/7, we are able
to accurately diagnose and provide lifesaving
treatment more quickly. In addition, we have
the ability to provide emergency catheteriza-
tions for acute heart attacks.
Offering immediate access to cardiac treat-
ment has a direct impact in minimizing heart
disease in the Valley and prevents the need to
travel a long distance for care.
Our team includes dedicated interventional
cardiologists John Adan, MD; Michael Becker,
MD; and John Ribic, DO.
SCH outpatient cardiology has two clinic
locations:
Sunnyside Cardiology Clinic
812 Miller Ave., Sunnyside
• Scheduling: 509-836-4825.
Medical Plaza in Prosser
355 Chardonnay Ave., Prosser
• Scheduling: 509-781-6366.
WOMEN
Safeguard
your heart
Each year, 1
in 4 deaths
among U.S.
women is
from heart
disease.