STHS & Prominence Health To Provide Education During Special Event To Help Older Adults Understand Heart Failure

Entitled “Living with Heart Failure,” the program is part of STHS & Prominence Health’s “Senior Living Seminar Series,” which focuses on providing essential education on health issues that affect the senior population

From stiffening of the arteries and thickening of the heart muscle to potential issues with the heart valves and a possible decline in cells in the sinoatrial node – the organ’s natural pacemaker, the heart undergoes several changes as we age that can impede its ability to pump blood efficiently.

While some of those fluctuations in the heart and blood vessels are considered a normal part of aging, others like plaque buildup in the arteries and inflammation can be detrimental to your health.

Heart failure, one of the most common cardiovascular conditions in the United States, affects approximately 6.7 million adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent, with an estimated one million new cases diagnosed each year.

A leading cause of hospitalization, particularly among the elderly, and a significant contributor to overall mortality, heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump blood effectively.

The heart is still working, it simply can’t handle the amount of blood it should, so blood builds up in other parts of the body like the lungs, legs and feet.

Unfortunately, untreated heart failure can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life and lead to severe, even life-threatening complications like fluid buildup, breathing difficulties, kidney damage and liver problems.

The good news: heart failure can be managed and treated. Though it’s a chronic condition with no cure, it’s still possible to lead a normal life by making lifestyle modifications like eating well and getting regular exercise, taking medication as prescribed by your doctor and, in some cases, undergoing surgery or a medical device implantation to help regulate blood flow.

To educate the senior community on heart failure and its impact on quality of life, South Texas Health System and Prominence Health are joining forces to host the latest installment of their popular Senior Living Seminar Series on Friday, September 5. Entitled “Living with Heart Failure,” the seminar will spotlight the common causes, risk factors and symptoms of chronic condition.

Held in the Texas Room at South Texas Health System Edinburg from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the event will give participants the opportunity to learn about living with heart failure, including the treatment options available locally.

The seminar will feature medical professionals and patient testimonials, as well as a healthy cooking demonstration and exercise demonstration.

In addition to the talks and demonstrations, the seminar will include a community health fair featuring no-cost health screenings, including blood pressure and glucose checks.

For more information, and to register for this free event, please contact Veronica Galligan at 956-821-9569 or by email at Veronica.Galligan@uhsinc.com

About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

About Prominence Health

Prominence Health began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. They provide coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.