Cardiopulmonary

The cardiopulmonary department offers a range of services for both inpatient and outpatient treatment and diagnostic testing. Services include:

• Respiratory care including aerosol therapy, oxygen therapy, ventilation, postural drainage and breathing exercises.
• Cardiac care including electrocardiograms, Holter monitors stress Tests, stress echocardiograms, signal average electrocardiograms, and electroencephalograms.

All outpatient diagnostic tests are performed with a physician's order and are performed Monday-Friday 7:30am-3:30pm. They must be scheduled in advance

Indoor Air Pollution - Tips from the AARC

People who have respiratory conditions, such as asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and other lung ailments should be especially wary of indoor air hazards, but the indoor air we breathe can adversely affect all of us.

Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitation, chest pains, shortness of breath and a change in visual acuity, may signal a problem stemming from indoor air pollution.

Here are some tips from the American Association for Respiratory Care that will help you alleviate and control respiratory irritants and pollution in your home.

1. When cooking, especially with oils and shortening that sometimes smoke, use a fan to vent fumes outdoors.
2. Pilot lights on gas appliances emit carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide fumes - two dangerous gases. Make sure your kitchen or other rooms where you have gas appliances are well ventilated. Clean your appliances regularly and check for leaks. Call your utility company if you suspect problems.
3. Portable kerosene heaters can emit hazardous fumes. Be sure to follow manufactures' instructions and provide proper ventilation.
4. When using your fireplace, make sure your damper is open. Never burn charcoal briquettes indoors. If you have a wood burning stove, minimize the opening and closing of doors and vents, and don't breath the smoke fumes.
5. Household cleaners and personal products in an aerosol form introduce harmful chemicals into the air. We suggest you consider using cleaning products, deodorants and hair sprays in the spray mist form. If you must use aerosols, do so in a well ventilated area.
6. Certain cleaning agents, such as ammonia and bleach, when mixed together, give off noxious fumes. Do not mix cleaning products unless recommended by the manufacturer. Read all the warning labels on such products.
7. Air conditioning and humidification systems can contribute to the spreading of bacteria, fungi, and particle leading to respiratory ailments. Have your air conditioners cleaned and checked regularly to minimize these problems. Clean filters once or twice a week.
8. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, remember to take special precautions. Use a face mask when sanding or varnishing, and do these only in a well-ventilated area.
9. Some insulation materials have been shown to contribute to respiratory illness. Fumes from formaldehyde insulation may pose a hazard to your good health. If you're having breathing difficulties, check to see what kind of insulation you have, or if you're buying a new home, check with the builder and find out what kind of insulation materials he is using.
10. There is only one suggestion we have for smoking indoors-don't do it. The secondhand smoke from a cigarette is nearly as dangerous to others as the actual smoke is to you. If you are a smoker and don't see yourself quitting, smoke outdoors or confine your smoke in one well-ventilated room.
11. When working on your automobile in the garage, make sure your garage door is open. Carbon monoxide fumes from your car can be deadly.
12. If you do make changes in your home or undertake some remodeling projects for health reasons, check with your tax consultants or the IRS. Some things may be deductible.
13. Have your home tested for radon. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless radioactive gas. During the decay process, radon and its decay products, or daughters, emit alpha particles, the lowest energy particles in the subatomic spectrum. These particles are highly radioactive and, as such, are carcinogenic. The Centers for Disease Control predict that radon alone will cause and additional 18,000 cases of lung cancer per year in America.

If you believe you may have problems in your home that contribute to poor health, call your utility company to check for leaks and appliance malfunction. And consult your physician immediately for a proper diagnosis if you experience symptoms