He completed an interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center; his internal medicine residency and a cardiovascular medicine fellowship were at Beth Israel Medical Center, an affiliate of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Dr. Alperovich's clinic is at 172 West University Parkway, Suite A, which is across University Parkway from Jackson's north Post Office. For an appointment, call 731.215.1281 or visit www.acvcenter.com.
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Patients with congestive heart failure have better survival rate
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| Dr. Alex Alperovich examines a patient. |
It wasn't too long ago that being diagnosed with congestive heart failure was a death sentence. Seventy to 80 percent of the patients would die within five years.
Today, thanks to better diagnostic equipment, new medications, new and more aggressive surgical techniques and new devices, the survival rate is now 70 to 80 percent, said Dr. Alex Alperovich, a board-certified interventional cardiologist.
"Five years ago, the survival rate for patients with congestive heart failure was dismal, worse than from having cancer. Only 20 to 30 percent survived the five-year mark. Today, those people are alive and have active lifestyles. The five-year mortality rate has been reduced to 30 to 40 percent."
Congestive heart failure has seen the "fascinating" field of cardiology dramatically change in the 15 years Dr. Alperovich has been practicing. "We are taking care of sicker patients who in the past would not have survived."
Congestive heart failure is the failure of the heart muscle to pump blood correctly, Dr. Alperovich explained. This can occur when the heart muscle is weak, when heart valves are leaking or are narrowed, or when a heart may be strong, but too stiff to work efficiently.
Congestive heart failure has many causes, including…
• Coronary artery disease, which weakens the strength of the muscle, leading to a heart attack
• Poorly controlled or untreated high blood pressure
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• A viral infection
• Genetic conditions
• Diseases, such as diabetes, hepatitis and sickle cell anemia
• Aging of the heart
Early diagnosis starts the process of prolonging your life if you have heart disease, Dr. Alperovich says. It's time to see your doctor if you are experiencing any of these conditions …
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling and fluid retention
• Rapid weight gain
• Low energy level, decreased ability to exert yourself
• Chest pain
• A racing heartbeat or a slow heartbeat
• Dizziness or fainting
"Imaging technology continues to improve and today's new modalities, such as CT scans and MRIs are available for a more accurate diagnose," he says. "Genetic testing and chemical tests of the blood also are more advanced and more precise in identifying heart disease."
"Once congestive heart failure is diagnosed, the next question is to find out what caused it," he says. For some causes, such as coronary artery disease, treatment with medications, along with lifestyle changes, such as better diet and more exercise, are very important.
Better interventional and surgical techniques make it easier on patients. "For example, we can patch holes or put new valves in the heart without open heart surgery," Dr. Alperovich says. "The much less invasive surgery is easier on the body and allows us to treat people whom we couldn't treat in the past."
One example that allows cardiologists to avoid open heart surgery and save a patient's life is a device that can be inserted into the body to help the heart as it pumps blood. This keeps the patient alive and stabilized while the cardiologist corrects the heart condition, said Dr. Alperovich.
Simple, new medications that treat heart disease also prolong life and the quality of life. "People are able to do more," he says; "they are not bedridden."
Medicine also has seen advancement in devices used to treat heart disease, he added. "Pacemaker defibrillators not only monitor the heart rate and provide a shock when necessary, they also can re-synchronize with the heart to optimize its performance."
From better diagnostic equipment to improved medicines, devices and surgical techniques, "we have good news for patients with heart disease," Dr. Alperovich says. "They have a better chance to not just live longer, but also have a better quality of life."
Patients have heard it before, but they also can take steps to increase their chances of avoiding and/or fighting heart disease. "It starts with a healthy diet and exercise," he says. "A lifetime of exercise keeps your heart muscle young. It's true; you use it or lose it."