Jackson Hospital | Partners | Fall 2019

COMMUNITY CARE FROM HEAD TO TOE Heart care starts with regular visits to a primary care provider. Need a doctor? Find one today at jacksonclinic.org . LUNGS AND KIDNEYS Heart disease affects the heart’s ability to pump blood to other parts of the body. When blood pumps out of the heart, it goes to other organs and tissues in the body before returning to the heart and then traveling to your lungs to collect oxygen. If the heart is weak and cannot properly pump blood, fluid can be- gin building up in your lungs or kid- neys. A lack of oxygen-rich blood in the kidneys disrupts the normal cycle of water and waste through the kidneys. This can cause swelling, or edema, in your ankles, feet and legs. How HEART DISEASE HEART VALVES Heart disease can also affect your heart valves. Your valves may become too narrow to allow blood to flow forward, which can cause blood to flow backward into the heart. Heart valve problems can make you feel light-headed and fatigued. They can also cause chest pain and shortness of breath. BRAIN A stroke can occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked. If the heart isn’t working correctly, you become more susceptible to blood clots, which may cause an ischemic stroke. A stroke could kill brain cells in areas of the brain that control speech, strength and memory. ARMS AND LEGS PAD, or peripheral artery disease, is similar to heart disease in that arteries to the arms and legs can become nar- row and restrict blood supply to your extremities. This restriction of blood flow can cause pain, numbness or a tingling feeling. Those with heart disease are at high risk for PAD and vice versa. affects the body HEART CARE Heart disease is a serious issue affecting millions of Americans. While heart disease does serious damage to the heart, it can also have lasting and harmful effects on the entire body. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, make sure you visit your doctor on a regular basis to ensure you stay happy and healthy. 12 Jackson Hospital