Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill is Now Open

Penn Medicine has opened a new cardiology practice in Chestnut Hill. The new practice offers access to advanced care for heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and cardiac surgical services at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn cardiovascular specialists offer the Chestnut Hill community the highest level of heart and vascular care with access to the expertise, research and resources available only from Penn. The full range of cardiovascular services available at the practice include:

• Echocardiography (ECHO)
• Electrocardiograms (ECG/EKG)
• Exercise stress testing
• Exercise stress echocardiography
• Holter and cardiac event monitoring
• Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator services
• Preventive cardiology and lipid disorders diagnosis and treatment (irregular cholesterol levels)
• Treatment of heart rhythm disorders
• Women's heart health programs
• Office consultations

Cardiologists seeing patients at Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill:

• Theodhor Diamanti, MD
• Brandy Patterson, MD
• Carl R. Reynolds, MD
• Raymond Rodriguez, MD, FACC, FACP

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN.

• Learn more about Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill
• Learn about the care providers at Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill

First Bilateral Hand Transplant in Region Performed at Penn Medicine

The first bilateral hand transplant in the Greater Philadelphia region was recently performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, the extensive 11 1/2-hour procedure was performed by Penn’s Hand Transplant Program in close partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Penn’s Hand Transplant Program is a joint venture of the Penn Transplant Institute, Penn Orthopaedics and Penn Plastic Surgery. The multidisciplinary team is dedicated to working together to restore independence to amputees who have lost their arms and legs

• Read more about the region's first bilateral hand transplant
• Learn more about Penn’s Hand Transplant Program
• Learn about the Gift of Life Donor Program

Summertime Injuries – Penn is Here to Help

Summer is finally here and with it comes trips to the pool, going to the beach, outdoor runs, tending to our gardens, and firing up the grill. Kids are out of school and begging you to play basketball, soccer or other outdoor activities.

For some, these extra activities are a kind of seasonal re-commitment to fitness, weight loss and relaxation. But for a few, some of these activities can lead to unexpected injuries and accidents, some even needing serious medical attention. And, as the motto goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Which means, knowing where to go if anything does happen is a good idea to have in mind.

In case of injury, whether a sprained ankle, broken foot or any other musculoskeletal injury, the orthopaedic team at Penn Medicine is ready to help. In most cases, you can even see a physician on the same day.
Highly skilled and highly specialized, Penn Orthopaedic physicians treat each joint condition, spinal disorder or sports injury with a personalized approach. With ten orthopaedic subspecialties, physicians at Penn Orthopaedics not only treat more complex conditions — they are uniquely qualified to treat each condition individually.

Penn Orthopaedics offer same-day appointments for:

• Foot and ankle
• General orthopaedics
• Hand and wrist
• Joint replacement
• Neuro orthopaedics
• Orthopaedic oncology
• Shoulder and elbow
• Spine
• Sports medicine
• Trauma and fracture care

“You call with any musculoskeletal need and we’ll see you that day,” says L. Scott Levin, MD, chair of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Please be safe and enjoy this summer. If you need us, we’re a call or a click away.

Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention Methods

Does your heart ever feel like it’s racing or doing somersaults in your chest?

Approximately 2.5 million Americans experience atrial fibrillation (AFib) each year. This common heart disorder occurs when electrical signals in the heart become irregular, causing the heart to beat out of rhythm. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute while the heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.

Causes and Symptoms
Causes of atrial fibrillation vary and range from existing heart problems to infections to chronic conditions like obesity and sleep apnea.  Common risk factors and conditions that may cause AFib are:

• Congenital heart defects (defects you are born with)
• Heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a past heart attack
• Heart valve diseases
• Heart failure or coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Substances or drugs, including alcohol, caffeine, or stimulants 

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary and many people are unaware they have AFib until it’s diagnosed during a regular physical exam. While the most common symptom is a fast or irregular heartbeat, others who have AFib may also experience lightheadedness, shortness of breath, lack of energy and chest pain. The biggest danger of atrial fibrillation is to leave it untreated.  If you experience symptoms, call your physician immediately.

How You Can Defend Against AFib
Since atrial fibrillation is often caused by conditions that cause damage or place extra strain on the heart, making simple lifestyle changes to improve your heart health may help protect against AFib.

• Don't smoke. Avoid alcohol and stimulants.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and olive oil. 
• Stay active. Get regular exercise on most days of the week. Your physician can suggest a safe level of exercise for you. 
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. 
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar in your target range.
• Find ways to cope with stress.

For additional information on atrial fibrillation and treatment options, download Penn’s Guide to AFib.

Why Choose Penn Medicine for AFib Care
Penn Medicine’s Cardiac Arrhythmia Program is one of the largest in the country and performs more than six times the national standard of AFib ablations procedures. So patients like Dominic, a retired Philadelphia police officer, receive the most advanced care from an experienced team of physicians, nurses and support staff.

Free Skin Cancer Prevention and Melanoma Conferences

CANPrevent Skin Cancer

Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center invites you and your loved ones to attend CANPrevent Skin Cancer, a free educational conference for anyone interested in learning about preventing skin cancer.
CANPrevent Skin Cancer is designed to address the personal and medical issues facing those at risk for skin cancer. The conference provides patient-focused information about the latest advances in skin cancer risk, screening and prevention.

Who Should Attend
Anyone interested in learning about skin cancer and its prevention - especially those with:

• Natural blond or red hair color
• Presence of atypical or numerous moles
• Sun sensitivity (easily burns, difficulty tanning)
• History of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns
• History of using tanning booths
• History of diseases that suppress the immune system
• Personal or family history of melanoma, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers

Join Us
Time: 8 to 11:30 am
Date: Friday, May 17, 2013
Location: Hilton Hotel located at 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Registration: Register here call 800-789-PENN (7366)
Cost: FREE

Get the facts on skin cancer and melanoma risk, prevention and screening – they could save your life or the life of someone you know.

Focus On Melanoma

Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center invites patients, family members and anyone interested in learning about melanoma risk, prevention, diagnosis and treatment to attend Focus On Melanoma.

Focus On Melanoma is a free educational conference featuring a keynote address by Paul B. Chapman, MD, and Marisa Weiss, MD.

Penn’s Focus On Melanoma Conference addresses the personal and medical issues facing people with melanoma including those in treatment, survivors, their loved ones, relatives and caregivers.

The conference provides patient-focused information on the latest advances in melanoma risk, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, symptom management and psychosocial issues. It is also an opportunity to network and gain support from other melanoma patients and survivors.

Who Should Attend

• People newly diagnosed with melanoma
• Those at risk for melanoma
• Melanoma survivors
• Family members, caregivers or healthcare providers of melanoma patients/survivors
• Those diagnosed with a pigmented lesion and their family members/caregivers

Join Us
Time: 7:30 am to 3 pm
Date: Friday May 18, 2012
Location: Hilton Hotel located at 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Registration: Register here or call 800-789-PENN (7366)
Cost: FREE

Unable to Attend These Events?

Follow Penn Medicine on Twitter for event information before the conference date, and live tweeting throughout the conference with the hashtag #SkinCancerACC and #MelanomaACC.
Please “re-tweet” and share Penn Medicine's messages about skin cancer prevention and awareness with your followers.

Women & Heart Disease: Know Your Risk, Protect Your Heart

Heart disease is often thought of as a health problem for men, but more women die of heart disease each year, killing approximately one woman every three minutes. An estimated 42 million American women live with heart disease, but many are unaware of the danger they face.

Heart or cardiovascular disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally. Types of heart disease are coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and valvular disease.

It is important for women to know the warning signs of heart disease because these symptoms are likely to be different from those experienced by men. Women may experience common symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath, but also have less obvious symptoms including:

• Discomfort in the back, shoulders, arms, stomach, jaw, neck or throat 
• Generalized pressure in the chest 
• Indigestion 
• Lightheaded
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Palpitations 
• Unexplained fatigue 

Once heart disease develops, it’s a lifelong condition that will gradually worsen unless lifestyle changes are made. Fortunately, women may be able to lower heart disease risk by more than 80 percent by making healthy lifestyle choices. These include:

• Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Following a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 
• Finding ways to cope with stress.
• Managing high blood pressure.
• Knowing your family history and getting tested for diabetes.
• Lowering total cholesterol to less than 200 mg/dL.
• Not smoking and limiting alcohol.

Penn's Preventive Cardiovascular Program was designed specifically prevent the onset, recurrence and progression of heart and vascular disease. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 800.789.PENN (7366).

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

According to the American Stroke Association, about 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.

F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. If you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away.

F: Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T: Time to call 9-1-1 - If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

You can do plenty to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy, even if you've had a stroke. A healthy lifestyle plays a big part in decreasing your risk for disability and death from stroke and heart attack.  Here are some common steps from the American Stroke Association to take to be healthier and reduce your risk of stroke:

• Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
• Improve your eating habits. Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
• Be physically active.
• Take your medicine as directed.
• Get your blood pressure checked regularly and work with your healthcare provider to manage it if it’s high.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Decrease your stress level.
• Seek emotional support when it’s needed.
• Have regular medical checkups.

The Penn Stroke Center is Philadelphia’s only “Comprehensive Stroke Center” as certified by the Joint Commission and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.  This relatively new level of certification recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that comprehensive stroke centers must have to treat complex stroke.