Access Focuses on Heart Month

At Access, we find it important each month to focus on a particular disease that is a common affliction suffered by many. This month, known as Heart Month, our focus is on cardiovascular disease.

According to the Center of Disease Control, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities. Cardiovascular disease is also very expensive—together heart disease and stroke hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity. Unfortunately, we are not immune to disease regardless of how careful we are. However, we can fight back against heart disease and stroke.

Regrettably, almost every person knows of someone who has had heart disease.  As a company, Access prides itself on taking care of your loved ones who suffer with heart disease and are in need of our care. The following prevention programs and activities can help you or your loved ones prevent such circumstances from occurring: 

• Get up and get active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Know your ABCS:
• Ask your doctor if you should take Aspirin every day.
• Find out if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, and if you do, get effective treatment.
• If you smoke, get help to quit.
• Make your calories count by eating a heart-healthy diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Take control of your heart health by following your doctor's prescription instructions.
• Reduce the amount of sodium and trans fat consumption.

These changes could reduce medical treatment for high blood pressure or cholesterol—and ultimately prevent heart attacks and strokes.

"Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke."
- Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

It’s also important to know that many people are not aware that they have cardiovascular disease and confuse these symptoms with normal signs of aging. The Acronym “FACES” is an easy way to identify symptoms, and a strong preventive tool to use:


“F” fatigue or tiredness.

“A” activity becomes limited or reduced.

“C” chest congestion or cough.

“E” stands for edema (swelling) in your ankles.

“S” stands for shortness of breath.

If any of these symptoms do occur, please contact your doctor to see if any of these symptoms are related to cardiovascular disease.  

Access Home Care and Hospice is highly regarded for making sure patients are given the utmost care when suffering from cardiovascular disease in the home. We hope these preventive tools are beneficial for you and your loved ones.  Please join us in support of Heart Month.

Get to Know Dr. Redd - Hospice Medical Director for Access Hospice, Logan, Utah

Dr. Redd was raised in Murray, Utah. He was educated in the Granite School District, participating in science and music and excelling in auto mechanics. Agriculture was a significant part of his childhood and adolescence. He started his own business doing custom plowing at the age of 11, doing so until leaving on a mission for the LDS church at the age of 19. After serving a mission in Southern Brazil, Dr. Redd continued his education at BYU, earning a degree in Chemistry and graduating with honors. He financed college through hard work—milking cows and cleaning chicken coops.

  

After earning his undergraduate degree, Dr. Redd earned a Medical Degree at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He did his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University, again finishing with honors.

 

After his residency, Dr. Redd practiced internal medicine for 16 years in Logan, Utah.  Then, the Bear River Health Department hired him as Deputy Director and Medical Officer where he oversees health issues for Cache, Box Elder, and Rich counties. In addition to his responsibilities at the health department, he has served as Chairman of the Cache Valley Air Quality Task Force, Medical Director for IHC Hospice, Cache Valley Region, and Emergency Department Physician at Logan Regional Hospital. He has also shown his capabilities in other areas, farming wheat and other crops in Lewiston, Utah, for 14 years; owning and managing an apartment complex in Logan for ten years; continuing his interest and expertise in auto mechanics; participating as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America for 17 years; mentoring refugees; and raising four children with his wife of 32 years, Susan Jackson Redd.

  

In addition to his responsibilities at the Health Department, Dr. Redd is currently serving as:

Deputy Medical Examiner for the Cache County Coroner

Off-line Medical Control Officer for Cache County EMS

Cache County Jail Physician, providing inmate healthcare, including alcohol and drug detox

Bear River Mental Health physician, providing outpatient and inpatient care for people suffering with mental illness

Patients for Access Hospice can feel very comfortable with Dr. Redd's knowledge and expertise in end-of-life care.  The Access Hospice team, as well as the patients, welcome Dr. Redd as a hospice Medical Director.