5 / 12
Heart health
is a major concern
in Kentucky, and Dr. Scott Reader
wants Muhlenberg County
residents to know what they can
do to improve the quality and
length of their life and the health
of their hearts.
While patients in Muhlenberg County have
similar medical problems to those in other areas,
the severity of their problems may be worse
due to higher rates of smoking and obesity and
numbers of diabetes cases prevalent here.
Lifestyle factors
The biggest problem to tackle is the use of
tobacco products. In 2015, 26 percent of adults
in Muhlenberg County were tobacco users,
according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Smoking causes damage to the
heart and blood vessels of the body, contributing
to cardiovascular disease and several different
respiratory illnesses.
Other lifestyle factors play a role as well.
Dr. Reader said his goal is always to help patients
help themselves.
“We try working on risk factors with people as
best we can,” he said. “Weight loss is a chronic
issue people need to deal with. I think people
need to realize that it’s a lifelong process of
changing their health habits. It’s something you
have to work at. There’s not a pill you can give
that will make everything better.”
“We’re trying to offer as much as we can right
here,” Dr. Reader said. “Patients in Muhlenberg
County have benefited from a lot of dedicated
people who go out there every day to try and
improve their health.”
See the sidebar at top right to find out how
we can help you improve your health.
Take action today
Patients who want help to stop smoking, improve their diet and increase their
physical activity can find a wide variety of resources at Owensboro Health
Muhlenberg Community Hospital, such as:
»
»
Primary care (turn the page for primary care providers in Muhlenberg County)
»
»
Specialty cardiology care three days a week
»
»
Heart and lung rehabilitation
»
»
Heart monitoring take-home tests (24- and 72-hour)
»
»
Heart diagnostics, including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram imaging,
cardiac nuclear stress imaging, transesophageal echocardiogram, Holter monitor,
implantable cardiac recording device and electrical cardioversion
We can
help
Heart care close to home.
G. Scott Reader, MD, FACC, is a cardiologist with One Health
Cardiology. He sees patients at Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital three days
per week. To make an appointment with Dr. Reader, call
844-44-MY-ONE
(
844-446-9663
). For
information about heart and lung rehabilitation at Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community
Hospital, call
270-338-8361
.
G. Scott
Reader,
MD, FACC
Heart disease death rate per 100,000; all genders, all races; 35
and older—2012 to 2014
Muhlenberg County
445.5
Kentucky
394.7
National
328.3
Heart disease hospitalization per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries;
all genders, all races; 65 and older—2011 to 2013
Muhlenberg County
69.8%
Kentucky
63.3%
National
48.8%
Percentage of adults diagnosed with diabetes—2013
Muhlenberg County
12.4%
Kentucky
9.7%
National
9.0%
Percentage of adults with obesity—2013
Muhlenberg County
37.8%
Kentucky
33.2%
National
28.3%
Percentage of adults who smoke—2015
Muhlenberg County
28%
Kentucky
25.9%
National
16.8%
Community health, by the numbers
All information courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Muhlenberg
heart
The
of
County
Momentum
A MUHLENBERG COUNTY SPECIAL SECTION
www.owensborohealth.org