Getting to the heart of the matter with Dr. Fontanet
Dr. Hector Fontanet, born and raised in Puerto Rico, brought his knowledge in cardiology to Florida Medical Clinic in November of 2004. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Dr. Fontanet was originally interested in agriculture and had great plans to feed the world. As time progressed and interests changed, he ultimately fell in love with the inner workings of the heart- the relation of the heart to function, emotions and most importantly, the immense impact on patient’s lives following treatment and healing cardiac procedures.
One of Dr. Fontanet’s passions is studying failing hearts. According to the Heart Failure Society of America, heart failure is the only major cardiovascular disease on the rise. Heart failure is a serious chronic medical condition that develops slowly due to underlying coronary artery disease, valvular disease and longstanding hypertension. It weakens the heart muscle so that it cannot pump blood adequately through the body. Some symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling. Even with the use of medical therapy, heart failure is life threatening. Approximately 250,000 Americans die from heart failure each year. One of the most dangerous complications of heart failure is the development of irregular heart rhythm. When heart rhythm becomes rapid or chaotic, the heart suddenly stops beating which is known as sudden cardiac death. The estimated cardiac arrest survival rate is approximately 5%. Studies show that sudden cardiac death is the terminal event in 30-50% of patients with heart failure.
For the five million Americans who live with heart failure there is a new implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy that has shown a significant decrease in the risk of sudden cardiac death. An ICD is an electronic device that is implanted surgically (similar to a pacemaker) that monitors heart rhythm and can also deliver powerful shocks to the heart to correct life threatening abnormal rhythms. Until recently ICD’s were implanted only in the highest-risk patients who have survived an episode of sudden cardiac death. In January of this year, The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a clinical trial, which showed that ICD implant therapy reduces all-cause mortality in heart failure patients by 23% when compared to placebo.
Living with heart failure requires modification in lifestyle and careful monitoring by a physician. Because of nighttime sleep interruptions due to shortness of breath and coughing, patients must plan rest times during the day. Close attention must be paid to changes in condition such as sudden weight gain of 3-5 pounds per day, increased swelling, pain in the abdomen, rapid heart beat or loss of appetite. These changes are usually due to water retention around the heart and can be prevented by moderate exercise, avoiding stress, taking prescribed medications faithfully and following up with a physician regularly.
Comprehensive Heart Care Clinics such as the one at Florida Medical Clinic have been developed to improve quality of life. Dr. Fontanet and his cardiology staff help patients manage their heart failure, have shorter hospital stays and can often avoid hospital admissions by offering treatment in a more comfortable out-patient setting. Dr. Fontanet’s patients often comment on the confidence they feel at the end of their first visit and, more importantly over the years of developing a professional relationship, patients observe a strong sense of becoming a part of Dr. Fontanet’s extended family.
