Learn about why Proton Therapy can provide an important alternative to traditional radiation treatment. This form of treatment which was only available in other parts of the USA now means that residents will have this form of treatment on their doorstep.
Engage Estero Safety Council is made of volunteers serving as a voice for the citizens of greater Estero on safety and transportation priorities and issues. We advocate for related solutions to Village, County, and State Government organizations.
Road Safety in Greater Estero By Contributing Author, Mark Novitski, and Engage Estero Consultant. Everyone has their definition of what determines road safety or, conversely, what makes our roads unsafe. In writing extensively about Corkscrew Road, I have...
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comprtroller Kevin Karnes is now offering an alert notification system for Lee County property owners to reduce fraud. When you sign-up, if a deed, mortgage, or other non-Court official record is recorded in your name, you will be...
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
During the weekend of April 6th, Engage Estero’s team of volunteers, organized by Julie Yellig, collected 360 pounds of bagged litter. A total of 2.2 tons of litter has been collected since the end of April 2023 (the end of last season), and an astonishing 10 tons...
by Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage Estero. Mia McCormick, Advocate, Environment Florida, identifies why we need wildlife crossings: “Each year, animals at risk of extinction die when cars and creatures collide on Florida roadways. It is the number one cause of...
Engage Estero Community Health Council comprises health* and safety-minded volunteers who think about community health comprehensively with a common desire to improve the overall health of the citizens of greater Estero.
https://www.esterotoday.com/event/may2024/ RSVP
The facts Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 300,000 lives annually. Approximately 95 percent of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or receive medical attention. How Can We Help Reduce This...
Engage Estero mobilizes volunteers in our schools, sponsors scholarships, and promotes the involvement of the community through announcements and public forums.
By Mike Wasson, Director, Engage Estero The Village of Estero Council issued a Proclamation its Meeting on Wednesday, March 6th honoring 39 Estero High School Students who were presented the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. In his remarks, Jon McLain, Village of...
The Future Plans for our Schools and Students' Education in Greater EsteroBrought to you by the Engage Estero Education Councilby Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage EsteroPrincipal Leslie Gunderson in her office at Pinewoods Elementary School behind a table full of...
Engage Estero believes the best way to get a community involved is to make sure they are aware of the issues impacting their future, and know how to impact those decisions before they are made. We conduct and publish original research and articles aimed at getting residents Engaged.
A-fib is a severe cardiac (heart) disease! Do you have A-fib? If you answered no, how do you know? 10% of the 5 million US adults who have it have no idea they do! That’s 0.5M adults who have NO idea they have it. Are you one of them?
And to make matters worse, the odds of having A-fib increase exponentially with age. Again, you might say, no worries, I’ve just had a physician check-up – I even had an EKG – I’m all set. Not so fast! A-fib can be intermittent and even fleeting. Unfortunately, most of us know someone who had a recent physical exam and “dropped dead” soon after!
Although A-fib is potentially fatal, it is also very treatable. How many potentially deadly diseases do you know that are treatable and likely preventable? Let’s discuss it:
What is it, why is it so dangerous, what are the causes, if symptoms are present, what are they, how is the diagnosis made, and what are the treatments?
By Robert P. Belin, M.D. Member of Engage Estero’s Health Council and Chairman, Health and Wellness at Breckenridge.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that occurs when the electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) become chaotic. Instead of contracting regularly and efficiently, the atria quiver in an uncoordinated fashion, leading to an irregular heartbeat.
It’s dangerous because blood clots are allowed to form in the fibrillating chambers of the heart, break off, and go to the lungs as a PE (pulmonary embolism) and to any other tissue in the body, especially the brain, resulting in a stroke. BOTH potentially lethal consequences!
An elaborate labyrinth of fibers controls the heart rhythm, which conducts an electric current from the Atria (upper chamber) to the ventricles (lower chamber). When this system is disrupted, A-fib may ensue. Why this happens and to whom is not known.
Although frequently not apparent should a fib be accompanied by symptoms, they may include feeling faint, dizziness, or lightheadedness, experiencing palpitations, pounding heartbeats, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and others. It is also more commonly associated with some comorbidities such as age, preexisting heart disease, smoking, and high blood pressure, to name a few.
The following are the most common procedures to diagnose AF: An Electrocardiogram (EKG); Wearing a Holter Monitor, a portable ECG device worn for 24-48 hours to detect intermittent AF episodes; or an Echocardiogram which uses sound waves to create images of the heart, identifying structural abnormalities.
Managing A-fib involves a comprehensive approach tailored to each individual. Some of the common treatment options include the following:
While we can’t prevent A-fib, we can mitigate the likelihood of it occurring by managing some underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a heart-healthy balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco.
Engage Estero is an all-volunteer, nonpolitical, nonprofit Community Engagement Association. We exist to inform citizens of significant community issues and encourage citizen engagement to favorably impact the quality of life in greater Estero.
