As a retired U.S. Navy Seabee, Alan Arendt is accustomed to keeping a regimen of exercise, regular check-ups with his primary doctor and making healthy food choices. He thought he was maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Since he had a family history of heart disease, Arendt decided to take advantage of a free cardiovascular assessment by St. Catherine Hospital healthcare providers at the Hammond Family YMCA. The results he received told a very different story.
“My dad was 45 when he died of a heart attack, so when I turned 61, I thought I should address my risk,” Arendt explains. “Within 20 minutes, I found out I was obese–at 220 pounds–and I needed to see a cardiologist.”
Assessments, offered through community events in Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting, as well as St. Catherine Hospital’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Center, check A1C if you have a history of diabetes; random blood sugar; cholesterol; ABI (leg circulation), blood pressure, body mass and waist circumference.
The assessments are performed by a cardiac technician, cardiac nurse and an advanced practice nurse (APN) who specializes in cardiology and diabetes. The APN goes over family history, review assessment results and calculate risk for heart disease or related medical conditions.
Arendt was so rattled after hearing his score, he enlisted a healthcare concierge to help set up his appointments and coach him back through his journey to wellness. Today, Arendt is eating more low-sugar fruits and vegetables. He’s down to his military weight. He’s counting a few lucky stars.
Do you have family history of heart disease or diabetes? Are your eating habits or lack of exercise putting you at risk? To learn more about quality heart care close to home or to find a cardiologist on staff at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, visit COMHS.org/heart.
