Tom first joined Bike to Beat Cancer in 2013, inspired by his best friend, Ken, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and received treatment at Norton Cancer Institute. He vividly remembers taking Ken to appointments and spotting a bicycle in the lobby, an early spark that would lead to something much bigger.

“Ken loved biking,” Tom said. “Riding felt like a way to carry his memory forward.”

Bike to Beat Cancer is an event that brings together hundreds of people across the community to ride, walk and rally behind one shared mission: to fight back against cancer.

But in 2021, the cause became even more personal. Tom was diagnosed with tongue cancer and underwent six weeks of intense radiation. He lost 70 pounds during treatment. Just two days after finishing his final radiation session, he showed up to ride the 35-mile route in Bike to Beat Cancer. He calls that day his “most proud moment,” describing reaching the finish line as being like a NASCAR victory lap over cancer.

“It was not about speed; it was about making it through,” Tom said.  

Now a regular participant, Tom fundraises, driven by the belief that everyone, regardless of age or experience, can be part of this mission. He loves all things about the event, but most of all, he loves the people.

“You see every kind of person out there. Survivors. Families. First-time riders. People who just show up to support. It’s special.”

This year, as Tom joins the hundreds of other riders on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Norton Cancer Institute – Brownsboro, he will ride with the same message: Cancer may have left its mark, but it didn’t win.

Join Tom and hundreds of others at Bike to Beat Cancer. With 10 ways to participate, there is an option for everyone.

The post For Tom, Christmas comes in September appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

And it shows.

At age 30, Austin looks like he’s in the physical prime of his life. He feels that way too. Still, as good as he feels today is as bad as it was eight years ago, when he was 22 and barely able to walk.

Austin was always an active person. He was a college cheerleader at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. He had also taken up powerlifting, to keep up his physical fitness. One day in 2017 — during a powerlifting competition — he walked up to the barbell, intending to deadlift it.

He dug his heels into the ground, took a deep breath and hinged at the hips, pulling the bar up. However, at the apex of his motion, he stood up too tall, too quickly.

“Whenever I stood up and I overcorrected like that, I knew it,” Austin said. “It all hit me, and I knew something wasn’t right.”

Austin herniated a disc in his lower back, but he wasn’t sure how badly he was injured until the next day, when he started experiencing both bowel and bladder incontinence at work. He went straight to the hospital, where he needed an emergency discectomy.

“There was a lot of pain and a lot of restricted movement,” Austin said. “The doctors removed the disc. They didn’t do a fusion or anything, so I ended up bone-on-bone with my vertebrae. Whenever I was sitting down, getting up, it was catching and causing a lot of pain. I couldn’t really do anything.”

But Austin experienced more than just constant pain.

He got an infection in his spine. He couldn’t move his left leg, and he developed a tremor in his left hand. He spent time in an inpatient rehabilitation facility to clear the infection and learn how to walk again.

“I couldn’t run, couldn’t lift, couldn’t play with my kids,” Austin said. “I was restricted from what I could do.”

‘That’s how I knew I was back’

Austin’s road to true recovery hit another roadblock in 2023.

His pain was come-and-go, and one afternoon he thought he’d get on the trampoline and jump around with his kids. He felt a twinge in his back. He reaggravated his injury.

“It was just one of those things,” he said. “I felt that pain and knew I still wasn’t really right.”

He finally came in contact with Mitchell J. Campbell, M.D., spine surgeon at Norton Leatherman Spine, who talked to Austin about his options. Other doctors had suggested a typical spinal fusion, but Dr. Campbell had other ideas. Austin was still young, and his bones and joints were still in good shape. Dr. Campbell recommended an artificial disc replacement at the lowest two vertebrae of the lumbar spine. The surgery would remove the worn-out disc in Austin’s lower back and replace it with an artificial one, made of a combination of metal and plastic.

“A fusion is analogous to taking a wheel off an 18-wheeler,” Dr. Campbell said. “Something picks up the load. In this case, it’s the other 17 wheels. But with a disc replacement, we’ve now replaced the wheel, keeping the car intact. Now, the spine is going to continue to move as it should, so the wear and tear, or the next-level degenerating, has just been diminished.”

Austin agreed, and in September 2023, Dr. Campbell performed the surgery.

“There was a lot of nervousness,” Austin said. “[Dr. Campbell] explained the risks, and hearing them aloud made me nervous. But he triple-checked and made sure I was OK with them, which helped calm me down and give me the confidence to get through it.”

‘The right operation the right way’

“If you pick the right person and do the right operation the right way, [an artificial disc replacement] is life changing,” Dr. Campbell said. “We have a lot of boxes to check before I say, ‘yes, you’re the right person.’ They have to have good bone quality and fail about a year of conservative treatment. Surgery is one of those bridges that once you cross, you can’t go back. So, we make sure we do our due diligence.”

The first few weeks after surgery were rough.

Austin experienced frequent muscle spasms. He was living with restrictions — no bending, twisting or arching his back. The pain was still there, but he believed he’d turn the corner.

Eventually, the pain subsided, and he was finally able to do things he hadn’t done in years.

“My mom saw me get down and play with my kids on the floor for the first time in a long time,” Austin said. “It [was] everything to me. I hadn’t played with my kids in a long time like that. I couldn’t play tag with them. I couldn’t run and jump and do all those things with them. Being able to go out and chase them around on the playground and play soccer with them and coach my son’s T-ball team. That’s how I knew I was back.”

‘I’m grateful for where I’m at now’

Austin’s recovery has gone so well, he decided to push himself even further. He began to run after surgery and stopped lifting as heavily as he used to. His body responded well. What were once long walks became runs. And as his body continued to respond, he continued to increase his distance.

So much so, that in July 2024 — just 10 months after his surgery with Dr. Campbell — Austin completed the Run Under the Stars, a 12-hour ultramarathon, where runners complete as many miles as possible in a 12-hour span. Austin finished 44 miles, an incredible feat for someone who, a few years prior, thought he may never walk again.

Yet he wasn’t finished.

Austin’s body has continued to respond, and he’s continued to push himself. He’s now training for November’s Fall Creek 100, a 100-mile event in Tennessee. It’s the last step to prove to himself that he’s fully back to the way he used to be before his injury.

“I’m grateful for my kids and everything that I have now,” Austin said. “So while I don’t give it too much thought, life could’ve looked significantly different. It’s peaceful for me, and it’s good to know I can do it.”

“You take someone who can’t walk, or has bad spinal narrowing, and you bring them back to somewhat normalcy, and it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe,” Dr. Campbell said. “Someone with chronic pain, people who say to themselves, ‘I can’t live like this,’ that’s what we do this for.”

The post Months after artificial disc surgery, Kentucky man completes ultramarathon appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Grabbing onto the cold steel can bring a rush of adrenaline, the secret stuff she needs to get over the edge during a grueling day of training. It can bring a sudden wave of anxiety, the weightlifter’s ever-present thought that she has plateaued. But the bar also can deliver a flood of memories, things Amber has overcome — personally and professionally — on her journey to become a six-time Kentucky state weightlifting record holder.

“I’ve had a traveling husband; I’m also a mom of four,” Amber said. “And [my time in the gym] was the time of the day I could take out for me. And there are things I learned about myself I didn’t know I was capable of. I worked through injury. I worked through being home with my kids. I worked through a lot of hardships. I lived in a dark place about myself for a really long time. Sometimes I would have the bar in hands and I’d just cry.”

‘I learned a lot about myself’

It can be heavy.

Not just the weights on the bar, which Amber will eventually grab, thrust and lift above her head. Not just the pressures of life, which can build up over time. But physically, Amber was not at her best either.

“I used to weigh over 400 pounds, and I still — to this day — sometimes feel like I weigh over 400 pounds,” she said. “It’s been a hard road. I learned a lot about myself.”

Her weight, and the chronic back pain it caused, was the driving force behind her introduction to fitness coach Gary Esparza. She came to his CrossFit gym in 2016, looking for a way out of that back pain and into a better, healthier way of life. Instantly, their partnership blossomed way beyond expectations, as Amber shed the weight and packed on the power.

“I saw some promise in her movement patterns, and I thought to myself that I could get her into weightlifting,” Gary said.

Amber transformed quickly. She became an employee at the gym, as a way to fund her workouts. Speaking of, she took to the exercises Gary prescribed and began increasing how much she could lift. In 2022, she took another step, and began competing in Olympic-style weightlifting through USA Weightlifting. Four years in, she’s earned two bronze medals at national competitions and set six Kentucky state records. In 2023, she set the record in three categories – the snatch, clean and jerk, and total — in the 35 to 39 age bracket. In 2024, she set records in the same three categories in the 40 to 44 age bracket.

“Making it to nationals was wild,” Amber said. “I never thought I’d be at a national competition, let alone competing at all.”

‘What I celebrate with her …’

“The numbers she hits, I don’t necessarily celebrate too much,” Gary said. “What I celebrate with her is when I see her get out of her head and look at present-day Amber and not past Amber. That’s what gets me hyped up. The numbers are an expectation, like ‘Sis, you’re going to hit these numbers.’ And she does. But what gets me is seeing her truly become her best self.”

But through success, Amber was dealing with a major issue. Her wrist was in pain.

It had nagged her for years, dating back to her teenage days as a cheerleader. The pain worsened as she lifted heavier weight. Then one day, during the jerk movement of the clean and jerk lift, she “caught it wrong.” From there, she dealt with constant pain, adapting her training schedule and regimen to keep the pressure off her wrist as best she could.

“I would compete through the pain,” Amber said. “We would stop doing anything that would aggravate it, which was a lot. Then once we’d get close to competition time, it was just like ‘OK, you’ve got to do it in pain.’ And that’s what I would do. And then finally it got to a point where it hurt to touch a barbell. I couldn’t open a jar. I couldn’t touch a bar. It broke my heart.”

The pain became unbearable in 2024, after nationals.

After several doctor visits and unsuccessful injections, in summer 2024 she was introduced to Luke P. Robinson, M.D., orthopedic hand surgeon at Norton Arm & Hand Institute. Dr. Robinson diagnosed Amber with a torn scapholunate, the ligament in the wrist that connects the scaphoid and lunate bones, essential for stability and movement. It was the same injury Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow experienced in 2023.

Amber and Dr. Robinson talked about her options. They tried injections. But when those didn’t take, the pair decided Amber needed arthroscopic surgery to repair her wrist. It was a tough decision, because the 2025 national competition was just months away. Amber knew she wanted to compete and needed Dr. Robinson to fix her in time.

“Right off the bat, she was like, ‘My wrist hurts, and my problem is I want to be on the podium and right now I can’t be there,’” Dr. Robinson said. “That was her goal. She was trying to be a state champ and trying to compete nationally and internationally. Her goals are different from almost anyone else I take care of. So we had to act fast.”

‘That’s what it’s all about’

Dr. Robinson performed successful surgery Sept. 3, 2024.

Amber started occupational therapy immediately and went back to her training regimen, modified to prevent any strain or movement on her wrist. Six weeks later, with Dr. Robinson’s OK, Amber was back with a barbell in her hand preparing for April’s national competition. Training gained steam quickly, and she built up enough strength to make it to nationals this past spring.

While she didn’t make the podium, Amber had a successful competition. She qualified for the 2025 World Championships, scheduled in December. She also broke her own state records from 2024. Overall, it was an encouraging performance for someone who, just a few months ago, didn’t know what her weightlifting future would look like.

“While I was injured, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to compete again,” Amber said. “After the surgery, everything just felt so locked up. I just didn’t know if I was going to get the range of motion I needed back. And there were tears. There were definitely tears. There were definitely times of [telling myself], ‘I’m not going to be able to do this.’ But it’s amazing how much support I had through the process.”

This summer, Amber and Gary are back in the gym, working toward December. The wrist is feeling better than it has in months, though she does check back in periodically with Dr. Robinson. But the results have shown themselves. Numbers she could only clear during competitions, she now is routinely hitting during training sessions.

Her goals are more within her grasp than ever before, thanks to hard work and a surgeon focused on getting her grip back.

“It was cool that when I saw Dr. Robinson [for the first time], he knew what I was talking about,” Amber said. “At my old orthopedist, he didn’t know what I do. But Dr. Robinson walked in and said, ‘My team says you lift and do clean and jerks and snatches. That’s really cool. So, what do we need?’ So, it was cool to have that relationship from the beginning.”

“That’s what it’s all about,” Dr. Robinson said. “It’s wonderful being able to see someone who comes to you and says, ‘Hey, I need some help,’ and you can give them the help they’re looking for and ultimately, the result they’re aiming for. And it’s great when you have a patient who’s motivated and dedicated, and I don’t think anything is going to stop her from getting where she wants to go. I’m glad to be a part of that and help get her to the level she’s looking for.”

The post Wrist surgery helps record-holding weightlifter regain her grip and her strength appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Then came a day when exhaustion hit her hard. She struggled to catch her breath, and her body felt drained. Her husband, alarmed by her condition, insisted she go to the emergency room.

At Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Tammy underwent extensive testing. The diagnosis came as a shock: She was in advanced heart failure, and her heart was functioning at just 23% capacity.

“I remember asking my provider, Natalie, through tears, ‘Am I going to die?’” Tammy said. “She hugged me and told me the team at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute would do everything possible to save my life.”

‘Empowering women’

“Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women, yet too often the warning signs go unnoticed,” said Natalie K. Kendall, APRN, nurse practitioner with the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program. “Our goal is to change that by educating, treating and empowering women like Tammy.”

While heart disease is often thought of as a men’s issue, it’s the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. Many women, like Tammy, don’t recognize the symptoms or believe they’re at risk — until it’s nearly too late.

Tammy spent several days in the hospital, closely monitored, while the heart failure team developed a personalized treatment plan. Along with medication, she needed to adopt lifestyle changes to support her recovery. The care didn’t stop when she left the hospital. The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program remained by her side — offering follow-up appointments, support calls and a direct line to heart failure specialists who knew her case inside and out.

“They treated me like family,” Tammy said. “I could call them anytime with questions or concerns, and they were always there for me with compassion and the best care.”

Today, Tammy’s heart is functioning at normal capacity — a remarkable and lifesaving improvement. She’s back to traveling, working full time and enjoying life with her husband and children.

Natalie knows that Tammy is just one example of what the team at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute can do.

“Heart failure recovery is possible. Our team proves it every day,” Natalie said. “We recover more than 60% of heart failure cases with medication when we can treat it early, whereas the national benchmark is only 10%.”

Beyond medication, even patients with advanced heart failure are finding they can recover enough to return to everyday activities, through ventricular assist devices that often make heart transplants unnecessary. The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program offers a variety of treatment options based on a patient’s needs.

“I have a second chance,” Tammy said. “I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t gone to the hospital. I want people — especially women — to take their heart health seriously. If I can help save one person’s life by sharing my story, everything I went through will have been worth it.”

Now that Tammy is back at work, caring for her family members and travelling with her husband, next up is a bucket-list visit to Washington D.C. She plans to walk the entire city, take in historic sites and enjoy her time using her newfound strength.

The post Tammy’s story: A wake-up call about women’s heart health appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

“If you have diabetes, you either need a cardiologist now or you likely will need one in the future,” said Catrina R. Hancock, PA-C, physician assistant with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “Diabetes has the potential to affect nearly every part of the body, but its impact on the heart is especially serious. The good news is that with proper cardiac care, we can significantly reduce your risk of heart complications.”

How diabetes causes heart disease

People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease and often have other conditions that increase heart disease risks: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney and liver disease, and obesity.

Diabetes affects how your body processes sugar. Over time, high blood sugar acts like sandpaper in your bloodstream, causing damage to arteries. High glucose levels can also cause inflammation throughout the body, making it easier for cholesterol to stick to artery walls and block blood flow to your heart.

Diabetes also can damage the nerves that control your heart rate and blood pressure. This condition, called diabetic neuropathy, can mask typical warning signs of heart issues. Diabetes-related heart damage often happens silently and slowly, making it difficult to detect without regular cardiac monitoring.

Symptoms of diabetes and heart disease

Not everyone with diabetes experiences clear warning signs of heart issues. While chest pain can still occur, many symptoms of diabetes with heart disease can be subtle or mistaken for fatigue, aging or other conditions.

Important symptoms to watch for include:

• Shortness of breath, especially with normal activities
• Chest discomfort, pressure or tightness
• Swelling in the feet, ankles or legs
• Unexplained fatigue or weakness
• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

If you have diabetes and are experiencing any of these symptoms, even occasionally, it’s time to talk to a cardiologist about your risks related to diabetes and heart disease.

Benefits of a cardiologist in diabetes care

Managing heart disease in people who have diabetes extends beyond glucose control. A cardiologist plays an essential role in identifying and helping to control silent cardiovascular risks before they can become major, life-threatening complications.

“Many patients don’t realize how significantly a cardiologist can enhance their overall diabetes management and provide peace of mind regarding their cardiovascular health,” Catrina said.

When you consult with a cardiologist at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, they will evaluate your cardiovascular health using advanced screenings, imaging and lab tests, specifically designed for diabetes patients.

More advanced diagnostic testing: Cardiologists use specialized tests that can detect cardiovascular issues before a person shows symptoms. These might include coronary artery calcium scoring, advanced lipid panels or cardiac imaging that can reveal early signs of heart disease in patients with diabetes.

Personalized treatment plans: Every person with diabetes has a unique risk profile. A cardiologist can develop a customized treatment plan that considers how long you’ve had diabetes, glycemic control, family history and other individual factors that influence cardiovascular disease development.

Based on your condition, a cardiologist may recommend:

• Medicine that protects the heart and complements your diabetes treatments
• Lifestyle modifications specifically designed to reduce your cardiovascular risk
• Regular monitoring with cardiac imaging or stress testing
• Blood pressure and cholesterol management to address risk factors
• Coordination with your diabetes care team for comprehensive treatment

With appropriate cardiac care, people living with diabetes can dramatically reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke or other long-term disability. Early detection and preventive treatment can minimize diabetes-related cardiovascular complications and improve your overall quality of life.

The post Diabetes and heart disease: Why you may need a cardiologist appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

“We’ve got the map of [the] U.S., and we’ve probably got 50% of it done,” Charlie said. “We have it in our bedroom as a reminder of all the places we’ve been together, and the places we still have yet to visit.”

Their traveling traditions started decades ago. Charlie spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, serving at air bases not just across the country, but also in Okinawa, Japan, and in Iceland. When Charlie retired in 1993, he and Debbie set out to accomplish their goal of visiting all 50 states.

With about 30 crossed off the list, the couple set their sights on South Dakota: the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. The iconic American landmark carved into the Black Hills is something Charlie always dreamed of visiting. But the retired airman’s chance to see the granite sculpture had one major hurdle to clear.

Charlie started having back pain years ago. It slowly — but surely — limited him. By the time summer 2024 rolled around, it was unbearable.

“[I was] on a walker, guaranteed, and not walking very much at all,” Charlie said. “I probably could do enough steps to walk to get something to eat and go back to the chair or lie down. That’s it. Flat on my back is where I lived.”

It took a toll on Debbie too, who assumed the role of full-time caregiver. She tended to Charlie during his bad days — helping him get up and get around the house, all the while keeping track of his pain medication schedule.

“Any time you watch a loved one degenerate, it’s painful,” she said. “You watch it, and you try to be their cheerleader, and you try to say, ‘This too shall pass.’ But it is very difficult. And it was difficult for me to not get depressed as well. But I just kept trying to say, ‘We’re going to get through this. We just have to keep trying.’” 

‘Fix it at all costs’

Charlie’s pain worsened to the point of no return. He knew he needed a permanent fix.

In fall 2024, he visited Charles H. Crawford III, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine.

Dr. Crawford diagnosed Charlie with several issues. Most notably, he had degenerative scoliosis and spinal arthritis, also known as spondylosis. He also was experiencing multilevel stenosis, or narrowing of the space between the vertebrae. The nerves near the bottom of Charlie’s spinal cord were being compressed, causing pain, numbness and difficulty walking. Lastly, Charlie was diagnosed with thoracic myelopathy, or compression of the spinal cord in the thoracic (mid-back) part of the spine.

In short, Charlie needed help — fast. Dr. Crawford recommended surgery.

“Charlie and his wife are such incredibly kind people,” Dr. Crawford said. “He had a really debilitating issue that was progressively getting worse. And I knew it would require a big surgery to help him. And these bigger, more complex surgeries require a big team — before, during and after. So we wanted to make sure we crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s and got him ready for surgery.”

“When I heard what I needed, I said to Dr. Crawford, ‘If you can fix it, fix it at all costs,’” Charlie said. “I was just at that point.”

In November 2024, Dr. Crawford performed a successful two-day, two-part spinal fusion, correcting Charlie’s scoliosis, decompressing his spine and relieving his excruciating pain.

“We removed some of the lamina bone, the back of the spine, that was pinching the nerves,” Dr. Crawford said. “We also removed parts of some discs. From there, we began rebuilding the spine. It’s like a building that’s collapsing. We need to rebuild and realign the structure. So, we used screws and rods to straighten the spine and hold it in its normal, anatomical position. That way, when Charlie — or any other patient — stands up, his spine is no longer collapsing and putting pressure on the nerves, but it stays in its good position.”

‘It gave us our life back’

Charlie progressed quickly. After a few months with a walker, some medication for residual pain and a few restrictions, he was back on two feet for good.

“I’ll tell you, I couldn’t really walk,” Charlie said. “Before surgery, I needed a walker to get around; I was bent over. I just couldn’t do it. And after surgery, I got rid of my walker very quickly and started getting back to my life.”

Now it was time to pull out that U.S. map and reset their sights on their destination — Mount Rushmore. The Hinckleys rebooked their trip, and in May 2025 finally got to cross South Dakota off their list.

“At Mount Rushmore, they’ve got 422 stairs on the Presidential Trail,” Charlie said. “That stopped me in my tracks, and I was like, ‘Might as well see if I can do it.’ And we had already decided that if I couldn’t do it, [we would] turn around and walk back the way we came. I ended up doing it, feeling great about the whole thing — and that’s when I decided surgery was over. Mentally, I had cleared the hurdle.”

Now, almost 60 days since their trip, Charlie’s back continues to respond well. He and Debbie continue to be active. The two walk roughly 10,000 steps a day and already have the next trip planned. They both know their travels, for a while, seemed like they’d be stopped in their tracks. But thanks to the right surgeon and the right procedure, their future is brighter than ever.

“The way I describe it is that it gave us our life back,” Charlie said. “I was extremely depressed, and at one point I came to the conclusion that even if something bad happened to me, I’d prefer to be with the Lord than the way that I was going with my back. And I have told many, many people, if they’re going to have back surgery, they need to go to this man.”

“It’s one of the best parts of my job, seeing our patients after surgery and seeing how much their function improves, their quality of life improves,” Dr. Crawford said. “We try to quantify these things, but sometimes just seeing the smile and getting the hug from the patient is worth more than anything.”

The post Months after two-day spine surgery, Air Force veteran visits Mount Rushmore appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

On a typical Saturday in June 2024, he was playing basketball with his friends when he jumped up for a rebound. He then collapsed, not moving. Destany Balata, R.N., a nurse manager at Norton Hospital who happened to be watching the game, was at his side in seconds and began assessing Lance’s vital signs. His pulse began to fade, and she began CPR to restart his heart. Watching from the sidelines were Lance’s 12-year-old daughter and numerous others who began to pray.

An ambulance arrived 10 minutes later and transported Lance to Norton Audubon Hospital, where the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute team began assessing him.

Lance was 36 and very active — not your typical heart patient. Why would his heart stop?

“We don’t always know what causes an issue that makes the heart beat irregularly and even stop like Lance’s did,” said Kevin M. Thomas, M.D., electrophysiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “But in Lance’s situation, we knew we wanted to give him the tools to keep him active and prevent issues going forward.”

Lance became the first patient in Louisville to receive a new extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (EV-ICD), a device that operates similarly to traditional internal cardiac defibrillators but is not inserted directly into the heart. It is smaller than other devices, and the battery also sits on the side of the chest rather than near the collarbone, making it less visible. If the device detects an irregular heartbeat, it delivers a small electrical signal to the heart to correct it before delivering a full shock. All of these features are beneficial to a relatively young heart patient with an irregular heartbeat.

“I think that this is the future of device-based therapy — smaller devices that are outside of the veins and outside of the heart, but still give us the full capability to treat the patient the way that that the standard legacy pacemaker or defibrillator would have in the past,” Dr. Thomas said.

Now Lance is living with a new focus.

“Right after I received the ICD, I actually discovered how it worked,” Lance said. “I had another episode where I collapsed. The ICD shocked me and resuscitated me.

“While the doctors aren’t sure why my heart stopped, I’m not taking anything for granted. I am watching my blood pressure, taking my medication and sharing the message to everyone around me — our health is too valuable.”

The post New kind of internal defibrillator gives Louisville father a second chance at life appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

“Your heart works 24/7 to keep you going, so it’s worth taking some time to know some basics about your heart,” Dr. Zhou said. In a recent “Medical Minute” video, she explained that when it comes to heart health, some simple measurements provide crucial insights into cardiovascular function and heart disease risk that everyone can monitor.

Blood Pressure: Your Circulation’s Report Card

Blood pressure is fundamental to understanding cardiovascular health. “Blood pressure tells us how well your blood is moving from your heart to your arteries,” she notes. The ideal target number to aim for is less than 120 over 80.

The importance of monitoring this metric cannot be overstated, as “high blood pressure can quietly damage your heart and arteries” without obvious symptoms. Blood pressure is different from your heart rate, which measures how often your heart beats. Blood pressure measures how much force your blood pushes against blood vessels.

Cholesterol: Understanding Arterial Health

When discussing cholesterol, Dr. Zhou emphasized its connection to arterial wellness. “Cholesterol levels tell us about the health of your arteries,” she said. The recommended targets are clear: “Keep total cholesterol under 200 milligrams per deciliter. And LDL, the bad cholesterol, under 160 milligrams per deciliter.”

Blood Sugar: A Window Into Metabolic Health

Your blood glucose level provides another critical piece of the heart health puzzle. “Your blood sugar levels help us understand how much glucose is present in your blood,” Dr. Zhou said. She recommends that “fasting blood glucose should be under 126 milligram per deciliter,” warning that levels above this threshold could indicate increased risk for diabetes and heart disease.

Body Mass Index: Weight and Heart Health Connection

The final metric Dr. Zhou discusses is body mass index (BMI). “Your body mass index matters and tells us if your weight is healthy for your age and the body,” she explained. The healthy range she recommends is 18.5 to 24.9.

BMI considers your weight relative to your height. The basic formula is your body weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a simple online BMI calculator you can use.

The Bigger Picture

Dr. Zhou emphasized that these measurements work together to provide a comprehensive view of cardiovascular health. “These numbers tell a story and help us understand your heart health,” she said.

Her advice for maintaining heart health is straightforward: “Check them, track them, talk to your doctor, and your heart will thank you.”

People with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes are more likely to have high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association, which encourages people to “Know Your Numbers” when it comes to heart health.

Understanding these four key numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and BMI — represents a simple yet powerful way to monitor heart health and potentially prevent serious cardiovascular complications. 

Staying up to date with these heart numbers is as easy as getting your annual checkup, which is covered by health insurance. Blood pressure is measured by gently squeezing and then releasing blood vessels in your arm. A blood pressure cuff wraps around your arm can easily capture this key number. Cholesterol and glucose are measured as part of a blood test and you can calculate your BMI yourself.

The post Know your heart numbers to help prevent heart disease appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Why you might need a heart doctor

Your heart works incredibly hard every single day, and sometimes it needs specialized attention from a qualified heart doctor. Understanding when to seek cardiac care can be the difference between prevention and emergency treatment.

A heart doctor, also called a cardiologist, specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting your heart and blood vessels. These heart specialists are trained to identify early warning signs that there could be issues with your heart.

6 warning signs that you may need to see a heart doctor

1. Chest pain or discomfort

Chest pain is the most common reason people seek care from a heart doctor, and for good reason. Any chest discomfort should be taken seriously and evaluated by a cardiac specialist.

“I tell patients I would rather see them to make sure there is nothing more serious happening,” said Jason A. Hopper, M.D., cardiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “Truly, better safe than sorry.”

That tightness, pressure or pain you’re experiencing? Don’t ignore it. It could be a warning sign of:

• Heart attack or angina
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve issues
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (pericarditis)

A heart doctor can distinguish between cardiac chest pain and other causes, such as muscle strain or acid reflux. Even if your chest pain isn’t heart-related, seeing a heart doctor can provide peace of mind and rule out serious conditions.

2. Shortness of breath, even at rest

Experiencing unexplained shortness of breath is a significant red flag that requires immediate evaluation by a heart doctor. This symptom can indicate that your heart is struggling to pump blood effectively throughout your body.

Especially concerning is shortness of breath that’s new or getting worse. A heart doctor should evaluate you if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing during normal activities
• Breathlessness while lying flat
• Waking up short of breath at night
• Breathing issues that interfere with daily life

These symptoms could indicate heart failure, coronary artery disease or other serious cardiac conditions that require prompt treatment from a heart doctor.

3. High blood pressure

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause significant damage to your heart over time. A heart doctor can help you understand your blood pressure readings and develop an effective management strategy.

Consider seeing a heart doctor if:

• Your blood pressure consistently reads above 140/90 (measured in millimeters of mercury, abbreviated as mmHg)
• You’re taking medication but still have elevated readings
• You have other cardiovascular risk factors
• You’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure but haven’t seen a specialist

“High blood pressure often has no symptoms,” Dr. Hopper said. “Keeping a baseline of your blood pressure is crucial for preventing heart attack, stroke and heart failure.”

4. Family history of heart disease

If heart issues run in your family, it’s smart to get ahead of conditions by consulting with a heart doctor. Heart disease is influenced by genetics, so knowing your family history and taking proactive action can save your life.

A heart doctor should evaluate you if you have:

• Parents or siblings with heart disease
• Family history of heart attacks before age 65
• Genetic conditions affecting the heart
• Multiple relatives with cardiovascular issues

Even if you’re currently healthy, a heart doctor can assess your risk and recommend preventive measures based on your family history.

5. Irregular heartbeat or palpitations (rapid or abnormal heartbeat)

Your heart should maintain a steady, regular rhythm. If your heart feels like it’s skipping, fluttering or racing, it’s time to check it out with a heart doctor.

Seek evaluation from a heart doctor if you experience:

• Heart palpitations that occur frequently
• Feeling like your heart is skipping beats
• Rapid or slow heart rate without explanation
• Irregular heartbeat patterns

While occasional palpitations can be normal, irregular heartbeats that don’t go away could indicate arrhythmias that require treatment from a heart doctor.

6. You have diabetes

Diabetes significantly increases your risk of heart disease, making regular check-ins with a specialist essential for managing your overall health. A heart doctor can help prevent cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.

If you have diabetes, a heart doctor can:

• Monitor your cardiovascular risk factors
• Adjust medications to protect your heart
• Provide specialized care for diabetic heart disease
• Help manage your condition to prevent heart issues

Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease because high blood sugar damages blood vessels over time. Regular consultations with a heart doctor can help manage your condition and prevent serious complications.

Don’t wait for a crisis: Early action saves lives

You don’t need to wait for a medical emergency to see a cardiac specialist. If something feels off with your heart or you simply want peace of mind about your cardiovascular health, seeing a heart doctor can be a smart move.

Listen to your body and trust your gut. Early detection and treatment by a qualified heart doctor can prevent minor issues from becoming life-threatening emergencies. 

What to expect during your first heart doctor visit

When you visit a heart doctor for the first time, they will:

• Review your medical history and family history
• Perform a comprehensive physical examination
• Order diagnostic tests such as an electrocardiogram (abbreviated as EKG) echocardiogram, stress testing or cardiac CT scan.
• Discuss your symptoms and risk factors
• Develop a personalized treatment plan

Benefits of regular cardiac care

Working with a heart doctor provides numerous advantages for your cardiovascular health:

Early detection: Heart doctors can identify problems before they become serious, allowing for early intervention and better outcomes.

Specialized expertise: Heart doctors have advanced training in cardiac conditions.

Advanced testing: Heart doctors have access to sophisticated diagnostic equipment and testing procedures.

Comprehensive care: A heart doctor can coordinate with other specialists to provide complete cardiovascular care.

Peace of mind: Regular checkups with a heart doctor can provide reassurance about your heart health.

Don’t delay seeking care if you’re experiencing any warning signs. However, even if you’re symptom-free, consider seeking cardiology care if you:

• Are over 40 with multiple risk factors
• Have concerns about your cardiovascular health
• Want to establish baseline heart health
• Need guidance on heart-healthy diet and lifestyle changes

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death, but it’s also largely preventable with proper care from qualified medical professionals. A heart doctor can help you understand your risk factors and take steps to protect your heart.

The post When to visit a heart doctor: 6 critical signs you need to see a cardiologist today appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Norton Arm & Hand Institute is first in the Louisville and Southern Indiana region to offer the new implant, which removes less bone than conventional thumb joint replacement and shortens recovery time from months to weeks.

Age and injury wear away the cartilage that cushions and protects the ends of the bones that make up the carpometacarpal joint. (,It’s also sometimes called the basal joint or CMC joint). Less cartilage means more bone-to-bone contact and damaged joint surfaces and that means pain and less range of motion.

Early treatment for thumb osteoarthritis includes medication, splinting and physical therapy. Steroid injections into the thumb joint can be very effective at first but will decline over time.

Once nonsurgical options for severe thumb arthritis are exhausted and you’re ready to consider surgery, thumb joint replacement might be something to discuss with your medical provider.

Much like other joint replacements, a thumb joint replacement involves replacing the joint bones. The new surgery, pioneered locally by hand surgeon Antony Hazel, M.D., with Norton Arm & Hand Institute, works similarly, but saves more bone than traditional joint replacements.

Advantages over traditional thumb arthroplasty (joint replacement)

Traditional thumb joint replacement has been similar to a total knee or hip replacement —where the ends of the damaged bones are removed and new pieces are secured in place. This has meant complete removal of the trapezium — one of the small bones that make up the wrist joint.

The new thumb surgery, using the BioPro Modular Thumb Implant, burrs out a new socket in the trapezium bone, and the implant is placed in the end of the metacarpal bone (the long thumb bone that meets your wrist). The implant fits neatly into the newly formed socket. Because of the implant’s modular design, your surgeon can choose the precise size to replicate your natural joint. The implant also has shown to be less prone to dislocation, a complication of traditional implant techniques.

Recovery from the surgical procedure typically takes eight to 12 weeks, versus up to a year for traditional thumb replacement. Also, because the trapezium is intact, revision surgery is possible later if necessary.

“For many patients, the prospect of up to a year of recovery time after the hand surgery has been a drawback,” Dr. Hazel said. “This new thumb arthroplasty cuts that to as little as a couple months, with rehab starting after two to four weeks of casting.”

Traditional thumb joint replacement surgery still may be the right approach for some patients and has proven to be effective over the past 40 years. Ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) involves removing all or part of the trapezium and reconstructing your thumb joint with a tendon. The tendon graft is also used to help stabilize the reconstructed thumb joint.

LRTI has a 96% success rate, with most patients achieving complete thumb pain relief and mobility equal to that of a healthy thumb, with results lasting at least 15 to 20 years, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Other thumb arthritis surgery options include:

• Denervation to remove pain signals without any direct changes to the joint
• Fusing the thumb joint bones together to relieve pain, but limiting movement

The post New thumb joint replacement procedure offers faster recovery appeared first on Norton Healthcare.