LUTCHER — Throughout the month of February, St. James Hospital is helping local patients stay heart healthy with advanced cardiac care, diagnostic testing and educational resources from the American Heart Association.

Patients who visit the St. James Parish Hospital lobby in February could receive goodies such as promotional items, heart healthy snacks and towels to use while exercising.

The Hospital is providing information detailing how patients can live a heart healthy life through Life’s Simple 7, a list developed by the American Heart Association.

Manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, get active, eat better, lose weight and stop smoking comprise the list of ways people can take charge of their life and health, according to Director of Marketing Kassie Roussel.

“With the Simple 7, if you manage one of them in some kind of way, they affect each other,” Roussel said. “Don’t get overwhelmed. Start off small and focus on one.”

Throughout the year, St. James Parish Hospital offers educational services and diagnostic testing. A clinical affiliation with Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner allows the hospital to offer River Parishes residents cardiology support close to home.

The ER is equipped with advanced telestroke technology that remotely sends vital information obtained from stroke patients to neurologists at Ochsner for further examination, according to Roussel.

She said neurologists in Kenner communicate with local medical staff to deliver treatment orders. Additionally, Ochsner cardiologists provide 24/7 support to ER patients.

“If you’re here, don’t travel anywhere else,” Roussel said. “Come to us first. Our goal is to increase access to cardiac care so patients can see specialists and have tests completed locally.”

In house cardiology services include EKGs, echocardiograms, stress tests and nuclear studies and holter monitors.

Outpatient clinic options are held in the Medical Plaza next to the Hospital.

Roussel said the Hospital’s relatively small size allows for comprehensive treatment.

“Our physicians come from large facilities, but our size is small enough for physicians to have better relationships with our patients,” Roussel said.

Staff members keep abreast of the latest recommendations from the American Heart Association to provide up-to-date health information to patients.

Education Director Carolyn Bossier wants the community to be aware of changes in blood pressure regulations that aim to identify and circumvent heart disease risk factors at the earliest stages.

Normal blood pressure is defined as being less than 120/80 mm Hg.

A systolic reading between 120 and 129 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg is considered elevated blood pressure.

Those with elevated blood pressure are advised to make changes in diet and exercise and return to the doctor to be reassessed in three to six months, Bossier said.

Hypertension is now divided into two stages, with stage one designating a systolic reading between 130 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

A systolic reading of 140 mm Hg or greater or a diastolic measurement exceeding 90 mm Hg signals stage two hypertension.

Bossier said doctors assess patients with hypertension for risk factors that could lead to heart attack, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease. If the risk is less than 10 percent, patients are asked to make lifestyle changes and return in three to six months.

A risk factor of more than 10 percent may be cause to prescribe blood pressure medication, Bossier said, adding at-risk patients are reassessed monthly.

“In the past, you may have had a doctor start you on medication, and it may have been a couple of months before you were reassessed,” Bossier said.

She said the new guidelines lower the standards for what is considered elevated blood pressure so preventative actions may be taken earlier.

“That’s what the intention is: to try to get people to be more aware that it can become a problem that could cause a heart attack or stroke if it’s not addressed,” Bossier said.

To ensure accurate readings, people should not smoke, have caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior to having blood pressure checked. Movement should be limited five minutes prior to checking.

Call 225-258-2037 to schedule an appointment, or visit sjph.org/specialty-clinics to view a cardiology outpatient clinic schedule.

For more information, visit sjph.org.