Heart Treatments
You don’t have to travel far for the full range of cardiac treatments. Access almost any procedure you need in your Lumberton-area community from UNC Health Southeastern.
Arrhythmia Treatment
Arrhythmia means your heart doesn’t beat with the right rhythm. To treat the condition, your doctor may recommend:
- Medications – Control your heartbeat and reduce the risk of stroke
- Cardioversion – Uses medicine or electricity to restore normal rhythm to your heart
- Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) – Makes your heart beat normally by sending electrical signals to it from a device placed under your skin
Care for Coronary Artery Disease
When coronary (heart) arteries become clogged with fat, they slow blood flow and increase your risk of a heart attack. Doctors can improve your blood flow and prevent heart damage with:
- Medications – Decrease cholesterol (fat), thin your blood, or lower blood pressure
- Angioplasty – Inserts a tiny balloon into an artery, inflates it to widen the blood vessel, and places a stent (tiny tube) to keep the artery open
- Atherectomy – Uses a tiny drill you can’t feel to shave away fat in an artery
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also called bypass surgery – Reroutes blood through healthy vessels instead of clogged arteries
Heart Failure Clinic
Attend regular appointments with our care team to manage heart failure and live well. You’ll learn how to:
- Reduce symptoms with medications and lifestyle changes, such as exercising and eating healthy foods
- Recognize signs of the disease and understand when to call your doctor
- Prevent a hospital stay or trip to the emergency room
- Take part in clinical trials, which research new approaches to monitoring and treating heart failure
Heart Valve Disease Care
Four valves control the flow of blood through your heart. Sometimes, blood doesn’t flow as it should because a valve leaks or gets clogged with plaque (fat). If you’re diagnosed with heart valve disease, you may benefit from:
- Medications – Lessen the heart’s workload, lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, or treat your condition in other ways
- Valvuloplasty – Inflates a tiny balloon in a narrowed valve to widen the valve’s opening and restore full blood flow
- Valve repair – Uses surgery to fix a valve
- Valve replacement – Exchanges your valve with one made from metal or donor tissue
Cardiovascular Operating Room
At UNC Health Southeastern, heart surgery takes place in a special operating room. In this setting, your surgeons have advanced equipment they need to precisely treat your condition.
After surgery, you’ll transition right away to either intensive care or a comfortable, private hospital room—not to a separate recovery area. That means fewer changes in your surroundings and less risk of exposure to germs.
Cardiovascular ICU
Our cardiovascular intensive care unit (CV ICU) has the technology and specialized staff to help you recover following surgery or a heart attack. Highly trained nurses monitor you around the clock to make sure you get care the moment you need it.
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Restore your energy and endurance after a serious heart issue or procedure. In group classes and one-on-one meetings with the cardiopulmonary rehab team, you’ll:
- Exercise safely under supervision to strengthen your heart and lungs
- Plan how to eat a heart-healthy diet that helps you feel better
- Explore ways to prevent heart problems
Follow-Up Care
Stay well after treatment by seeing your cardiologist for check-ups, even if you feel fine. Expect to discuss your progress, learn how to manage any side effects, and get answers to your questions. Your doctor will adjust your care plan as needed to help you achieve the best possible long-term outcome.
