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Article Category: Highlights

Wellstar Autonomic Center Expands Care for Autonomic Disorders

Published on January 31, 2022

Last updated 03:21 PM January 31, 2022

Illustration of person with waves above their head and coming from heart, experiencing sudden heart rate increase

For people with autonomic disorders, finding treatment can be difficult. With only a few specialized programs in the country, getting care can require traveling a long distance. 

However, patients in Georgia can access this crucial care close to home. Wellstar Cardiovascular Disease Specialist Dr. Howard Snapper, who sees patients in Woodstock, is one of fewer than 50 physicians in North America certified to diagnose and treat autonomic disorders.

Autonomic disorders, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), involve the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary body functions like heart rate, temperature, sweating and digestion. 

When people with POTS move from sitting down to standing up, their heart rate increases by about 30 beats per minute, but their blood pressure doesn’t change. This sudden increase can lead to dizziness or fainting. Most patients with POTS are younger women about 13 to 50 years old.

“Autonomic disorders are not that rare — about 2 to 3 million people in the country are affected — but they are often underdiagnosed because the symptoms can indicate other conditions,” Dr. Snapper said. “It can also be difficult to get the proper diagnosis and treatment to start improving these conditions.”

Dr. Snapper sees patients from as far as California, and Wellstar has one of only two autonomic disorder programs in the Southeast. With the addition of two new advanced practice providers, Wellstar’s program now has increased capacity and can help more patients live healthier and more comfortably.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Snapper, call (678) 324-4400. 

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Howard James Snapper Cardiovascular Medicine - 120 Stonebridge Parkway Suite 110 Heart Care
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Top Marks for Heart Care at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center recently received two major commendations highlighting the high level of heart care continuously provided to patients—putting Wellstar Kennstone among the top hospitals in the nation. The Marietta-based heart care program received:

  • A distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This is the highest category of quality, placing Wellstar Kennestone among the best programs for heart bypass surgery in the U.S. and Canada. 
  • The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark for Comprehensive Cardiac Center Certification, which means Wellstar Kennestone is the only hospital in Georgia to raise its total cardiac program to the elite level. 

“This community is where we live, and when we care for our patients, we’re caring for our neighbors and friends—that’s why pursuing excellence is such a high priority,” said Steve Cermak, executive director of Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care & Hospital Operations at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. “We feel it’s our duty to provide the highest level of care possible.”

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Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center Completes 250 Procedures Treating Venous Thromboembolism

The peripheral vascular care team at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a leading facility in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), has completed its 250th venous thromboembolism (VTE) procedure.

According to the American Heart Association, VTE is the third most common vascular diagnosis after heart attacks and strokes, and affects between 300,000 and 600,000 Americans each year. There are two types of VTE: 

  • Deep vein thrombosis is a clot in a deep vein. It usually occurs in the leg, but it can also appear in the arms.
  • A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot breaks off the vein and travels to the lungs, blocking the blood supply.

VTE can be fatal and can cause lifelong disability. Early intervention is crucial. At Wellstar North Fulton, the heart care team was an early adopter of a groundbreaking treatment for VTE, which uses a catheter to remove the clot. The healthcare provider inserts the catheter through the groin and navigates it to the clot for treatment. 

“This has been a game changer in the treatment of this disease,” said Wellstar Cardiologist Dr. Ahsan Achtchi. “We’re seeing a lot less long-term disability and a lot less deaths in patients who come to the hospital with a blood clot.”

Wellstar North Fulton continues to receive referrals from around the region for this procedure and is one of the highest volume hospitals for VTE care in metro Atlanta. 

Previous treatment options included open chest surgery, blood thinners and clot-busting medications. These methods posed a higher risk of complications, especially for patients who have recently undergone another surgical procedure. Because a recent surgery can put a patient at higher risk for VTE, using a catheter to remove the clot is safer for many patients. This new treatment method has reduced patients’ hospital stays for VTE from an average of five to seven days to only one or two days, according to Dr. Achtchi.

“Typically with this procedure, patients feel better almost immediately, and their recovery outside the hospital is a lot more complete and brisk,” he said.

Recognizing and preventing VTE

If you or someone else is showing signs of VTE, seek emergency care as soon as possible.

Symptoms of VTE include:

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Risk factors for VTE include not moving for a longer period of time—such as when someone is on bed rest following surgery—as well as some medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders or kidney disease. Your Wellstar provider can help you evaluate your risk of VTE and manage your risk factors.

Learn more about cardiovascular care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center. 

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Patient Ralph Aiken. Text reads "RalphCare"

PeopleCare

RalphCare

Douglasville, Georgia resident Ralph Aiken experienced a motorcycle accident in April of 2022. The 82-year-old was thrown 10 feet in the air and another 20 feet down into a hole, suffering a broken left leg below the knee. As part of his healing, Aiken worked closely with Dawnette Waters, Wellstar Physical Therapist, to rebuild muscle in the injured leg.

One fateful day while at therapy, the U.S. Army veteran suffered cardiac arrest. Due to the quick actions of Waters and members of the adjoining Wellstar Outpatient Cardiac Rehab center, EMTs were able to revive Aiken and rush him to Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, where Wellstar Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Cheryl Robertson found the cause of the cardiac event — 95% blockage of an artery. Dr. Robertson immediately inserted an atrial stent. Mr. Aiken has felt healthy since the surgery and is grateful for the team at Wellstar who saved his life. 

“Wellstar is very well-operated and efficient, and the doctors, the nurses and the therapists are top-notch. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for the therapy staff,” Aiken says, choking up.

In early March of this year, Aiken enthusiastically reunited with his entire care team at Wellstar. Smiles and hugs were the mood of the day, as each recalled the events that led to Aiken still being with us to enjoy life.

Today, Aiken continues to exercise and is proud of his active lifestyle, despite his age. “Look at me. How many 82-year-old men have a 34-inch waist and an arm muscle like that?” he says, showing off his impressive bicep.

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