Wellstar Heart Care

If you’re a sports fan, you probably know your stats.

Like how NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins remains undefeated in Atlanta Hawks history for PTS (points: 23,292). And that Atlanta Brave Mike Soroka’s career ERA (earned run average) is 2.86. But there are a few, more important numbers you should know off the top of your head: your health stats.

Do you know your BP (blood pressure)? What about your LDL (low-density lipoproteins)? Maybe you can clock an eight-minute mile or bench press 250 pounds, but do you know your BMI (body mass index)?

Statistically speaking, men are less likely than women to see their doctor once a year.

Dr. Randolph Taylor, a Wellstar Sports and Primary Care Physician, said men typically avoid seeing a doctor due to fear of receiving bad news.

“Similar to how athletes look at their stats to improve their performance, we as men need to visit our primary care physicians regularly to know our medical stats in to order to perform as husbands, fathers and sons,” Dr. Taylor said. “Yearly physicals can catch illnesses before they start and prevent health issues from getting worse.”

Getting and staying healthy doesn’t just help us feel better — it ensures we can be there for those we care about, too.

“It’s also for loved ones — spouses, partners, children and parents. We’re not only here for us. We’re here for our friends and family,” said Wellstar Urologist Dr. Scott Miller. “The best thing you can do for those you care for is to take care of yourself.”

 

Stats all men should know to stay in the game:

• BMI (body mass index). This metric determines whether you have a healthy body weight and categorizes obesity levels. A normal BMI range is between 18.5 - 25.
• LDL and HDL (low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). This blood test measures cholesterol levels and should be part of your wellness routine starting in your 20s. For men age 20 or older, healthy LDL levels should be under 100 milligrams per deciliter and aim to keep your HDL above 40.
• BP (blood pressure). Your provider will take your blood pressure during your regular visit, but you can also find blood pressure checking stations at many pharmacies or buy your own device to use at home. Blood pressure under 120/80 is considered ideal.
• HgA1c (hemoglobin A1C). This metric measures whether or not you have healthy blood sugar. If you are diabetic, you should check your A1C every three months.
• PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen Test). Men who are 50 or older should discuss prostate cancer testing with their provider, according to the American Cancer Society. Men at a higher risk, including African American men and those who had a brother or father diagnosed with cancer before age 65, should ask their provider about testing at age 45. Patients who had more than one close relative with prostate cancer at an early age should have this conversation with their provider when they’re 40.

 

Along with staying up-to-date on those health stats, men should also be getting regular colorectal cancer screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer screening get checked regularly beginning at age 45. Screenings should continue through age 75, and after that patients can discuss their personal risk and history with their provider.

Your Wellstar primary care provider will partner with you in creating a personalized health plan. To find a primary care provider, call (770) 956-STAR (7827) or schedule an appointment online by clicking the “Book Now” button at the top of any page.

When a stroke or heart attack strikes, every second matters. Saving time could mean saving a life, and it’s crucial that medical treatment starts right away. That’s why in the case of a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately — don’t drive yourself or another person to the hospital. 

Emergency Medical Service crews are trained to start life-saving treatment on the way to the hospital, minimizing damage to your heart or brain. They can also conduct and interpret electrocardiograms to diagnose a heart attack in the ambulance. 

You also don’t want to drive if you are experiencing a heart attack or stroke yourself because your condition could worsen on the way to the emergency department and impact your ability to stay safe on the road. 

“If you're having an emergency, which could be severe abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness that you can't really explain, you've got to call 911,” said Dr. Ed Malcom, an emergency medicine physician at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital. “The ambulance and the EMS services will get you to the emergency department in a safe way, and we will get you taken care of.” 

When a patient has a heart attack, ambulance crews communicate with our cardiac team on the way to the hospital, bypassing the emergency department and diverting directly to the cardiac catheterization lab, where our team is ready to restore blood flow to your heart. Calling 911 means reopening the heart artery sooner. And when someone has a stroke, it’s also crucial to take action right away — the sooner you seek treatment, the more brainpower can be saved. 

To learn more about how Wellstar treats heart attacks and strokes, visit our heart care and neuro care pages. 

Wellstar’s cancer care team follows patients through every step of their cancer treatment, from screening to becoming a survivor. Cancer care is about more than a chemotherapy or radiation appointment — and our providers get to know their patients, rejoice in every milestone and support them even after they’re cancer-free.  

This year for National Cancer Survivors Day, we’d like to join our patients in reflecting on their cancer journeys and celebrating their victories. Survivors Day is not only a joyful occasion for survivors and their loved ones but serves to inspire those undergoing treatment, assuring them that their providers and communities are on their side cheering them on. 

“It’s a planned moment in time that everyone stops, looks and listens and really cherishes that very moment where we can look back at the cancer journey and see how far we’ve come — and then have hope as we look into the future for quality of life and more time with our loved ones,” said Marsha Suber, assistant vice president for hospital operations at Wellstar Cobb Hospital. 

Events at several of our locations, including precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing, will bring together survivors and their support systems to celebrate victory over cancer. Just like defeating cancer is collaborative — uniting expert providers, resilient patients and caring loved ones and supporters — Survivors Day will include everyone involved in a patient’s cancer treatment. 

“Cancer doesn’t just impact the patient. It impacts everyone around them, so including everyone in the education, therapy management and support of the cancer patient is critical for not only the patient’s mental health but for the family’s,” Suber said. 

Several Wellstar facilities will host Survivors Day events. RSVP for one of these celebrations by calling (877) 366-6032, then pressing 0. 

• Wellstar Cobb Hospital - Monday, June 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
• Wellstar Acworth Health Park - Saturday, June 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 
• Wellstar Paulding Hospital - Sunday, June 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. 
• Wellstar North Fulton Hospital - Sunday, June 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. 
• Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center - Sunday, June 6 from 1 to 2 p.m.