Northside Heart Northside Cardiology & CPNA Partnering For Your Care By Cyndi Braun Northside Heart brings together 16 cardiologists to provide quality care to patients throughout Atlanta and the surrounding communities. Besides the nearby office in Woodstock, offices are located in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Cumming, Roswell, Sandy Springs and Suwanee/Johns Creek. Locations in East Cobb and Canton will open in coming months. While the name Northside Heart is new, the physicians from two practices from which it was formed Northside Cardiology and Cardiovascular Physicians of North Atlanta have served their communities for years. With the new, united practice, patients benefit from a large network of experienced physicians who provide comprehensive cardiology services and a team-based approach to patient care. Physicians are board-certified in cardiovascular disease, nuclear and interventional cardiology and work alongside referring physicians to optimize treatment plans and individualize care. The practice offers state-of-the-art technology and ensures that patients benefit from the most up-to-date treatment modalities. Another benefit of the united practice is that physicians are able to care for patients in multiple locations, when needed, as well. Interventional physicians are able to cover each others calls, providing patients with seamless and continuous care. Northside Heart treats a wide range of cardiovascular disease, offering preventative medicine, diagnostic procedures and cardiac electrophysiology. As a general cardiologist, Dr. Apurva Shah focuses on diagnostic testing and preventative medicine. I focus on primary prevention of heart disease and secondary prevention for patients who already have heart disease, said Dr. Shah. A lot of my focus is getting people to understand that eating properly and exercising are the cornerstone to preventing heart disease. Dr. Shah went on to explain that obesity and cardiac disease often go hand-in-hand, and theres a link to obesity and insulin resistance. Eating right and exercising can stop the progression of coronary disease and prevent heart disease. I do echocardiograms, nuclear stress tests and interpret cardiac CT scans, but the vast majority of what I do is education, said Dr. Shah. I think if people understand the science of what causes them to gain weight and how that can lead to heart disease, it can make a difference in changing their lifestyle habits. If they understand why it happens, it will make them adjust their diet and lifestyle. Many patients see Dr. Shah, after their primary care physician has referred them, due to risk factors for heart disease or if the patient has complained of chest discomfort. Dr. Shah will then perform evaluations to determine if the problem is cardiac in nature. He then takes appropriate steps to identify the specific problem and correct it through lifestyle changes, medication or procedures. Other physicians in the practice specialize in clinical cardiac electrophysiology. These doctors have advanced training in cardiovascular disease, specific to the electrical activities of the heart. They assist patients with heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), perform diagnostic procedures and treat arrhythmias with medications, devices (such as pacemakers) and interventional means (such as catheter ablation). When I see new patients, I tell them that Im like an electrician for their heart. I take a different approach than their regular cardiologist, said Dr. Cesar Cruz, a cardiac electrophysiologist in the practice. I see patients in the office, but I also work in the electrophysiology lab, where we diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias and place cardiac devices in patients. Device implementation allows electrophysiologists, like Dr. Cruz, to insert small mechanisms into a patients body to treat a variety of symptoms. These devices include: Pacemakers, which monitor the electrical impulses in the heart and, when needed, deliver electrical stimuli to make the heart beat in a more normal rhythm. Pacemakers are used when the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia) or has other abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias). Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) monitor heart rhythms and deliver shocks when dangerous rhythms are detected. ICDs are used to treat patients whose lower heart chambers beat too quickly (tachycardia) or quiver ineffectively (fibrillation). Cardiac catheter ablations are used to treat abnormally rapid heartbeats that cannot be controlled with medication. This procedure can restore a normal heart rhythm and eliminate the need for open-heart surgery or long-term drug therapies. The best part of my job is patient interaction, said Dr. Cruz. Its a great feeling when a patient thanks you and tells you how they feel better after you were able to help them with a problem. Northside HeartWoodstock Location900 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 400, Woodstock, GA 30189770-924-5095Northside-Heart.comHours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm
to your business!