Dr. Christine Browning talks to the club about heart health

Dr. Chrstine Browning informed the club at our June 14 meeting of different statistics and ways to improve your heart health, the latest technology in the cardiology world and important components of the recently passed health care legislation.
Two of the biggest innovations said Browning, a cardiologist with the Richmond Cardiology Association, are the Da Vinci robotics for minimially invasive surgery which allows patients to heal faster and th ventricular assistance device which is a progression of an artifical heart.
While cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the US, two-thirds are the deaths are preventable, she said. For example, a 12 point drop in blood pressure can lower your chance of stroke by 37 percent and of heart disease 25 percent.
While there are uncontrollable risks such as age (over 55) and family history (only direct relatives such as mother, father, brothers and sisters), there are many people can control such as obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.
Browning, a Hanover native who received all of her education at VCU, said there are five important steps to take to improve your heart health are to 1) "get moving" with 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week, 2) quit smoking, 3) know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol), 4) follow a healthy diet and 5) say no to salt.
Browning also discusses some of the pros and cons of the health care legislation and some of the reforms that were taking place prior to the bill's passage. Those items include electronic medical records, pay-for-performance with Medicare and other improved techologies. The benefits of the new health care bill includes coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans, Medicaid coverage to 133% of the poverty level, no denials for pre-existing conditions and coverage for young adults on their parents plan to age 26. The pitfalls, she said, are a lack of limits on cost containment, administrative costs, tort reform and end-of-life care. Also, there is no incentive for a healthy lifestyle.
Browning ended her talk with the main theme which is that cardiovascular disease is prventable, prevention needs to start early and that doctors should do their part for community outreach and education.