It’s nice to know that top-tier cardiovascular care is available close to home.

I’m proud to say both Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital are outstanding choices for cardiac care. In fact, Edward-Elmhurst is the largest non-academic provider of heart care in Illinois.

Edward Hospital was named a 2016 Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Truven Health Analytics and named for Outstanding Cardiovascular Surgery Quality by Consumer Reports in 2017.

Elmhurst Hospital has been recognized for high performance by the American College of Cardiology, and both hospitals have received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award.

They’re top notch. But we’d prefer that you didn’t need the services.

Sure, knowing we’re here provides some peace of mind. But taking care of your heart now, and potentially eliminating the need for medical care, is more comforting.

Make self-care a priority! You can reduce your risk of heart disease by exercising regularly, eating healthy food and lowering your stress level.

It’s time to stop thinking about it and start taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for nice weather to start exercising! Try this home workout or stop by one of our Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness centers. Replace processed foods and sugar with cleaner eating – you’ll feel AND look better too. Find a method to de-stress that works for you, and practice it often.

As you tweak your routine, take advantage of these tools to help you keep tabs on your cardiovascular health:

• Heart Aware is an online assessment that can show you your risk for heart disease. It takes 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire, after which you’ll learn more about your risk. If you’re found to be at-risk, you’ll be contacted for further screenings.
• A heart scan is the safest and most accurate screening tool for detecting the early build-up of calcium in the coronary arteries, the most common cause of heart disease. This simple, painless and potentially lifesaving test takes just 15 minutes.
  In one appointment, you’ll receive a heart scan and cholesterol and blood sugar screenings. Your heart scan is reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist or radiologist, and a registered nurse will meet with you to review your scores so you leave with a better overall understanding of your heart health.

Of course, if you need care, we’ve got your back. At Edward-Elmhurst Health, you have access to the latest advancements in diagnosing and treating heart and vascular disease. During an emergency, such as a heart attack, we can deliver rapid, lifesaving interventions.

Remember: if you’re having symptoms of a heart attack, don’t ignore them. Call 9-1-1. Don’t drive yourself to a hospital.

Our cardiac care is unstoppable. And with the right loving care, your heart will be unstoppable too.