Cardiology

Hudson Valley Hospital Center's cardiac programs, which focus on managing, educating, and preventing heart disease, have been ranked by a national registry as a best practice hospital in several of the performance standards as defined by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association standards.

From stress testing to pinpointing heart problems with our new state-of-the-art CT scanner, Hudson Valley Hospital Center is providing quality care for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. In addition, echocardiograms, EKG, Holter monitoring, and cardiac marker lab testing help our board certified cardiologists to quickly and accurately make life-saving diagnoses.

Our cardiac rehabilitation program begins in the hospital. The outpatient program will last approximately 12 weeks. Exercise sessions include using state-of-the-art equipment including: treadmills, airdyne stationary bikes, rowing machines, upper body cycle, and strength training equipment. During each session heart rhythm, blood pressure and heart rate are closely monitored.

Call (914) 734-3388 for more information about our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Progressive Care Unit/ICU/CCU

In June of 2002, Hudson Valley Hospital Center opened a 5,500 square foot $3 million progressive care unit on the second floor. With the construction of this unit, patients who require extra care after leaving the intensive care unit can receive a special level of care unique to a trauma patient or a person who has experienced a serious illness or cardiac episode. Hudson Valley Hospital Center is the only hospital in the region with a dedicated progressive care unit.

Features of the new Progressive Care Unit: advanced technology, unique space design, 8-bed unit, dedicated nursing station, 24-hour cardiac monitoring, bedside dialysis, point-of-care computer technology.

Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs

Heart disease is the top killer of men and women. Heart attack warning signs:

Chest discomfort
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
(arms, back, neck, jaw, stomach)
Shortness of breath
Other - cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness

Minutes Matter

Treatment can stop a heart attack in its tracks. Clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments work best to stop a heart attack if given within one hour of the start of symptoms. If you or someone else is having heart attack warning signs: Call 9-1-1. Don't wait more than a few minutes - five minutes at most - to call 9-1-1. If symptoms stop completely in less than five minutes, you should still call your health care provider.

Building a Heart Safe Community

Heart disease is this nation's #1 killer and will be far into the future. The chance of surviving a heart attack or cardiac arrest, though, shouldn't depend on where it happens.

What's the easiest way to save more of the 1,000 Americans who suffer a serious cardiac event each day? Bring the care to the patient, not the other way around. And the best care comes from new, easy-to-use automated external defibrillators (AED's) that can travel anywhere and be used effectively by trained citizens. The devices are revolutionizing how quickly people get treated for, and survive, life-threatening heart problems.

Hudson Valley Hospital Center has placed AED's in key locations in the community and provided training for staff in those locations.

Nutrition

Good nutrition is important for preventing heart disease and stroke. Healthy food habits help maintain normal blood pressure, desirable blood cholesterol levels and a healthy body weight. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and excess body weight are the results of poor food choices.

The American Heart Association recommends a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Heart-healthy foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and dietary fiber.