By Guest Columnist Dr. Stephanie Duguid
Mississippi faces many challenges when it comes to health, especially heart health. As one of over 100 Mississippi Health Ambassadors, I work hard to share vital information to help fix health problems and make life better for all Mississippians.
We are thankful for Dr. Thad Waites, who is active in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and whose helpful knowledge and ideas have taught us
much about heart health and how to improve care in Mississippi.
Our health is affected by many things, like how much money people have, how far they live from doctors, their education, and access to care. In Mississippi, these problems often overlap, making it harder for people to stay healthy. Many areas in our state are far from hospitals, which means people might not get the fast, good care they need during emergencies like heart attacks.
Another problem is health literacy -- knowing how to recognize signs of heart trouble and how to get help. Many people don’t have this knowledge, so we must teach our communities how to stay healthier and act quickly when there’s a problem.
Mississippi has made progress by creating systems to help with major heart emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes, and injuries. These systems connect hospitals and doctors to ensure people get life-saving care faster. One great example is the STEMI care plan, which helps hospitals work together in a network to save lives.
Even people in remote areas can get better care by focusing on areas within 60 miles of main hospitals.
We’ve also seen excellent results with new treatments for heart problems with devices like MitraClip and WATCHMAN. These new tools make surgeries less invasive, help people recover faster, and prevent serious problems like strokes.
To improve heart health in Mississippi, we need to make advanced care easier to access and fix the causes of poor health. Telemedicine and mobile health clinics can help people in rural areas get the necessary care.
At the same time, we must focus on preventing heart disease by encouraging healthy habits like eating better and staying active. Programs that involve the community will help make these changes last.
Making heart health better in Mississippi takes teamwork. Doctors, teachers, leaders, and community members all have a role to play. Together, we can make Mississippi a healthier place where everyone has a chance to live a heart-healthy life. Let’s work quickly and carefully to solve the problems as we move forward. The people of Mississippi deserve our best efforts to improve their health and well-being.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Stephanie Duguid is owner of Do Good ProHealth (CPR Classes) and Do Good Leadership (motivational speaking, and leadership and success coaching). She is also a Mississippi Health Ambassador.
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