The BEST Resolutions for 2012

If you are already finding it tough to keep your New Year’s resolutions perhaps it is time to re-evaluate and make resolutions that are achievable. These suggestions from the National Heart and Lung Blood Alliance has some GREAT tips for how to make resolutions that are reasonable AND how to keep them. Sometimes baby steps are the key. Here’s to a healthier 2012 – one small step at a time!

                      

3 Simple Steps To Make Healthy Resolutions You’ll Keep

While it’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions such as “lose weight” or “get more sleep,” it can be hard to keep them. This year try designing a series of simple and achievable resolutions that you can focus on over the course of the entire year.

To craft successful resolutions, make sure they have three simple characteristics.

Make sure they are:

• Specific
• Attainable (doable)
• Forgiving (less than perfect)

For example, “be more physically active” is a great resolution. But it’s not specific.

• “Walk 5 miles every day” is specific and measurable. But it may not be doable if you’re just starting out.
• “Walk 30 minutes every day.” This resolution is specific and it’s more doable. But what happens if you’re held up at work one day and there’s a thunderstorm during your walking time another day? Thus this resolution is not forgiving.
• “Walk 30 minutes, 3 or more days each week.” This resolution is specific, doable, and forgiving. In short, it’s just right!

6 New Year’s Resolutions To Try

Here are examples of healthy resolutions that are specific, attainable, and forgiving. Choose from this list, or make your own resolutions. Remember, the best New Year’s resolutions are the ones you will keep!

1. Have a meatless dinner 1 day a week.

2. Try a new grain once a month.

3. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier 2 nights a week.Try a new heart healthy substitution each week.

4. Make one substitution.

Substitution suggestions:

• Low-fat or fat-free milk instead of whole milk.
• Plain, low-fat yogurt or fat-free sour cream instead of regular sour cream.
• Reduced- or low-fat cheese instead of regular cheese.
• Whole-grain pasta instead of regular pasta.
• Brown rice instead of white rice.
• 100 percent whole-grain bread instead of white bread.
• A hearty bean soup instead of stew.
• Broiled or baked fish instead of other meats.
• Extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey instead of regular ground beef.

5. Take a family walk after dinner 1 day a week.

6. Turn off the TV during meals 3 days a week.

Dr. Le-Bert Improving Scope of Cardiac Care in Nassau Cty

In keeping with our commitment to provide the highest quality of cardiology care to the communities of Northeast Florida, Southern Heart Group is working hard to improve the scope of services available to Nassau County and surrounding areas. Beginning this week, transesophageal echocardiogram (also known as TEE), an important diagnostic test used to better visualize deep cardiac structures, will be available in Nassau County for the first time.

Southern Heart Group’s own Dr. George Le-Bert, a cardiologist board certified in both transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography, will be performing the diagnostic procedure at Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina Beach. Previously, patients needing this advanced cardiac imaging were required to travel well outside of Nassau County to have the test performed. Says Dr. Le-Bert, “We now have the ability to evaluate and manage a variety of complex cardiac conditions that traditionally have required transfer to other institutions.”

An echocardiogram, often referred to in the medical community as simply an ECHO, is a sonogram of the heart. Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional or sometimes three-dimensional slices of the heart. A standard echo is obtained by applying a transducer to the front of the chest. The ultrasound beam travels through the chest wall (skin, muscle, bone, tissue) and lungs to reach the heart. At times, certain physical traits of the patient such as closely positioned ribs may create technical difficulties by limiting the transmission of the ultrasound beams to and from the heart. In such cases, your physician may elect to get a transesophageal echo, where the echo transducer is placed in the esophagus or food pipe that connects the mouth to the stomach. Since the esophagus sits behind the heart, the echo beam does not have to travel through the front of the chest, avoiding any obstacles such as the one described above. Therefore, TEE offers a much clearer image of the heart, particularly, the back structures, such as the left atrium, which may not be seen as well by a standard echo taken from the front of the heart.

TEE is a relatively common procedure that is extremely useful in diagnosing a variety of heart problems. The ability to offer this important diagnostic tool and offer advanced cardiac imaging to Nassau County residents in the community in which they live will improve patient care and convenience dramatically.

As a Southern Heart Group physician, Dr.Le-Bert is part of a distinguished team of multi-disciplined cardiovascular specialists dedicated to providing superior care and service. Dr. Le-Bert practices full time at our Fernandina Beach location and is currently accepting new patients. For more information on TEE or on Dr. Le-Bert, please contact us at (904) 885-6646.

George G. Le-Bert, DO

George G.  Le-Bert, DO,  is the newest addition to the Southern Heart Group cardiovascular team.

A native and lifelong Floridian, Dr. Le-Bert was born and raised in Miami and completed his undergraduate degree in Tallahassee at Florida State University. From there, Dr. Le-Bert went on to earn his DO at Nova Southeastern University where the comprehensive education centers around the idea that a patient is much more than a presenting symptom; each person is a complete human being to be evaluated and treated as an individual.  The osteopathic model of medicine is comprehensive and holistic and demands that its practitioners possess both humanitarian and intellectual qualities. The program encourages a broad educational background in the sciences as well as the humanities.

After completing his DO, Dr. Le-Bert returned to Miami to perform an Internal Medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States. There, Dr. Le-Bert was able to train with top experts in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of adult diseases. Choosing to remain at Mount Sinai to complete his cardiology fellowship allowed Dr. Le-Bert to train at the Mount Sinai Heart Institute, recognized as high performing in cardiology and heart surgery. The Mount Sinai Heart Institute, a partnership with New York’s prestigious Columbia University, has the best outcomes and survival rates in the state of Florida.

During his internship and fellowship, Dr. Le-Bert was chosen as Intern of the Year and Chief Cardiology Fellow, a significant achievement demonstrating his level of knowledge and dedication to clinical excellence. His high-energy approach to patient care and his compassionate, friendly demeanor make him a favorite of patients and colleagues alike.

Dr. Le-Bert is newly-wed to his longtime sweetheart, Carolina, a marine mammal veterinarian and together they reside in Fernandina Beach. Dr. Le-Bert is accepting new patients at our Fernandina Beach location where he will practice full time and looks forward to caring for the people of Nassau’s communities.

http://www.southernheartgroup.com/fernandina-beach-office/

Southern Heart Group Welcomes Dr. George Le-Bert

Southern Heart Group is proud to announce the addition of Dr. George-LeBert to our cardiovascular team!

The expansion of our cardiovascular team reflects Southern Heart Group’s ongoing dedication to fully serve the communities of Northeast Florida. We are proud to introduce our newest associate, Dr. George G. Le-Bert.

A native and lifelong Floridian, Dr. Le-Bert was born and raised in Miami and completed his undergraduate degree in Tallahassee at Florida State University. From there, Dr. Le-Bert went on to earn his DO at Nova Southeastern University where the comprehensive education centers around the idea that a patient is much more than a presenting symptom; each person is a complete human being to be evaluated and treated as an individual.  The osteopathic model of medicine is comprehensive and holistic and demands that its practitioners possess both humanitarian and intellectual qualities. The program encourages a broad educational background in the sciences as well as the humanities.

After completing his DO, Dr. Le-Bert returned to Miami to perform an Internal Medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States. There, Dr. Le-Bert was able to train with top experts in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of adult diseases. Choosing to remain at Mount Sinai to complete his cardiology fellowship allowed Dr. Le-Bert to train at the Mount Sinai Heart Institute, recognized as high performing in cardiology and heart surgery. The Mount Sinai Heart Institute, a partnership with New York’s prestigious Columbia University, has the best outcomes and survival rates in the state of Florida.

During his internship and fellowship, Dr. Le-Bert was chosen as Intern of the Year and Chief Cardiology Fellow, a significant achievement demonstrating his level of knowledge and dedication to clinical excellence. His high-energy approach to patient care and his compassionate, friendly demeanor make him a favorite of patients and colleagues alike.

Dr. Le-Bert is newly-wed to his longtime sweetheart, Carolina, a marine mammal veterinarian and together they reside in Fernandina Beach. Dr. Le-Bert is accepting new patients at our Fernandina Beach location where he will practice full time and looks forward to caring for the people of Nassau’s communities.

http://www.southernheartgroup.com/fernandina-beach-office/

Southern Heart Group Named “Jacksonville’s Top Docs”

       Southern Heart Group physicians have once again been named among “Jacksonville’s Top Docs”.

Every year since 1996, Jacksonville Magazine has published a  list of First Coast healthcare professionals who are considered tops in their  respective fields. Congratulations to our Southern Heart Group physicians for being considered the best in Jacksonville. We are dedicated to providing superior care to the communities of Northeast Florida and are proud to be recognized as leaders.

Southern Heart Group Goes Red for Women

Hundreds of First Coast women joined together last Friday to fight heart disease and raise awareness to help defeat the #1 killer of women nationwide. Southern Heart Group believes in the cause to educate women on the dangers of heart disease and helped sponsor this fantastic annual event. Our own Dr. Suzanne Zentko was scheduled to be one of the featured speakers and we gave out hundreds of Southern Heart Group canvas grocery totes with heart healthy recipes and meal planning ideas in keeping with our goal of  helping women and their families stay heart healthy! Guests were treated to a heart healthy lunch and a fashion show sponsored by Macy’s and stories of loss and survival were shared with the audience to help raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease. At Southern Heart Group, we are dedicated to improving the heart health of our patients and the women of the communities that we serve.

Southern Heart Group…….going red for women EVERY day!

 

 

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Join Us as We GO RED for Women

Join us on Friday, May 20th for the First Coast Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon and Expo. This fantastic annual event raises awareness to help defeat heart disease, the #1 killer of women. Our own Dr. Suzanne Zentko will be one of the featured speakers discussing “Women and Heart Health: What EVERY woman should know”. Stop by the Southern Heart Group exhibit and pick up a canvas grocery tote with heart healthy recipes and meal planning ideas inside. Attendees will enjoy a heart healthy lunch, walk through dozens of exhibitors at the expo, sit in on educational forums, and be treated to a fashion show courtesy of Macy’s.  Together we can save lives. We hope you will join us for this fantastic event! Click the link below for more information including times, venue location and event details.

https://ahajacksonville.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20102011FirstCoastGoRedLuncheon/YourEvent/tabid/240989/Default.aspx

Time to eat healthy!

February is American Heart Health Month! We want to celebrate with our patients by helping you make lifestyle improvements where necessary. Making healthy choices can greatly improve your cardiovascular health and help you control your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and diabetes among other things.

At Southern Heart Group our goal is to help you achieve optimum heart health. One way to improve your overall health and fight cardiovascular disease is by eating a healthy diet. The following links are full of heart healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and meal planning ideas that can help you improve your heart health! Enjoy these delicious recipes and you will be on your way to a healthy start to 2011!

http://www.hearthealthyonline.com/

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/heart_healthy_diet

http://www.goredforwomen.org/BetterU/recipes.aspx

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/Healthy-Recipes_UCM_306797_Article.jsp

Dr. Dillahunt Chosen as one of NE FL’s Healthcare Heroes

 

 Congratulations to Southern Heart Group’s own Dr. Paul H. Dillahunt II for being chosen by The Jacksonville Business Journal as one of Northeast Florida’s Health Care Heroes. Dr. Dillahunt was recognized for his clinical excellence and his never-ending dedication to improving the lives of each person entrusted to his care.  Widely known for his friendly approach and for treating patients with dignity and compassion, Dr. Dillahunt truly believes that each person is an individual with unique needs and challenges.

As a founding member of Southern Heart Group, Dr. Dillahunt has been caring for the residents of Northeast Florida for over 30 years. He has been elected Chief of Cardiology at Baptist Medical Center for 15 consecutive terms and is considered a pioneer in cardiac rehabilitation having been Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit since it’s inception in 1979. Dr. Dillahunt has performed more than 8,000 coronary interventions and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, and Nuclear Cardiology.

Dr. Dillahunt is a true health care hero and we are proud to call him one of our own. His excellent reputation and compassionate demeanor have made Dr. Dillahunt a patient favorite and the personal choice of many physicians in the area. He is widely respected and well known in the medical community and has consistently been named one of “Jacksonville’s Top Docs”. Congratulations to Dr. Dillahunt on being chosen for this prestigious award!

As a Southern Heart Group physician, Dr. Dillahunt is part of a distinguished team of cardiovascular specialists who have cared for the heart health of Northeast Florida residents for over 30 years. With multiple national accreditations and cardiologists recognized among “America’s Top Physicians”, we are proud of our leadership role in the community and are pleased to have been chosen as “Northeast Florida’s Best for Cardiology Care”.

Baptist South Location Completes Expansion

Southern Heart Group is committed to growing with you. In keeping with our dedication to fully serve our patients and the communities of Northeast Florida, we recently completed the expansion of our clinic location at Baptist Medical Center SOUTH. With over 5,000 square feet of new space, our Baptist South location is a comprehensive cardiovascular center where providing superior care and service to our patients is the top priority.                     

The extensive expansion project was designed with patient comfort as the focus and the end result features a beautiful, relaxing setting with roomy waiting areas and spacious, comfortable exam rooms. With multiple treadmills, an echocardiography laboratory, a nationally accredited nuclear laboratory AND a nationally accredited vascular laboratory, we are able to provide patients with a wide array of diagnostic testing in the comfort of our office. And, our multiple national accreditations demonstrate our commitment to excellence and to providing the highest quality of patient care.                     

 Our Baptist South location is convenient to residents of Duval, Clay, and St. Johns Counties.  And, like all Southern Heart Group offices, you will always hear a live person answer the phone when you call us. This means never being stuck in an automated phone tree when you need assistance. At Southern Heart Group we offer timely appointments for both consultations and diagnostic testing so that patients are evaluated promptly.                     

  We look forward to assisting you at our newly expanded Baptist South location. Should that area not be most convenient for you, please consider one of our other locations throughout Northeast Florida which include offices at  Baptist Downtown, Orange Park, Memorial, and Fernandina Beach. All Southern Heart Group locations are full service clinics with appointments available 5 days a week, M-F.     

Southern Heart Group has been caring for the heart health of Northeast Florida residents for over 30 years and we look forward to serving you.       

For a map and directions to our location at Baptist Medical Center South, please click here.