Prevention of cardiovascular disease

The physicians working at the Brandenburg Heart Center are not only interested in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. They are also very much interested in educating patients on how to prevent heart disease, and on how to improve heart health by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The Brandenburg Heart Center forms part of the German Network of Health Promoting Hospitals. As such, the hospital's focus is not restricted to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart disease, but also encompasses the prevention of cardiovascular disease in general.
The fact that we set great store by the management of cardiovascular risk factors stems from the fact that these risk factors not only facilitate the development of cardiovascular disease, but are also responsible for cardiovascular disease developing at an increasingly early stage.

The most important modifiable risk factors traditionally associated with heart disease are:

  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Abnormalities in lipid metabolism
  • Obesity

Smoking cessation support programs

Smoking causes serious damage damages health, and constitutes an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is also responsible for an earlier onset and in many cases causes more severe forms of the disease. Smoking also facilitates the development of most types of cancer. In spite of this, smokers still constitute a total of 30% of men and 21% of women over the age of 15 in Germany (most recent "micro census" in 2009).

The Brandenburg Heart Center is a Health Promoting Hospital and as such is smoke-free. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or within its grounds. In the interest of patient health we would therefore kindly request that you refrain from smoking while on hospital grounds. Many smokers are unhappy with the effect that their addiction has on their lives and wish to quit smoking, and we are happy to provide the support you need to help you quit smoking. The Brandenburg Heart Center supports smoking cessation by offering group therapy courses run by clinical psychologists.

To request information or to register, please contact:

Daniela Zacharias
Telefon:
+49 3338-694 925

Inpatients can of course speak to a member of our Nursing and Care Team at any time. We will then be able to provide you with the relevant contacts for smoking cessation courses.

Diabetes Team

Diabetes is an important cardiovascular risk factor. Not only do patients with diabetes tend to develop cardiovascular disease earlier, but their disease also tends to be more severe.

Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop:

  • Coronary artery atherosclerosis early, with these changes more likely to affect a number of the coronary arteries (multi-vessel coronary artery disease)
  • Stenoses involving the main stem directly in front of or behind the site where the coronary arteries arise from the aorta (main stem stenosis)
  • Stenoses of the more peripheral sections of the coronary arteries
  • Complex and more severe stenosesoft kompliziertere und stärker verkalkte Stenosen
  • Impaired blood flow through an infarct-related artery

Based on the recent literature, researchers are now working under the assumption that patients with diabetes must also have coronary heart disease. As a result, the treatment of patients with diabetes now incorporates the same objectives as the treatment of patients with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease. Approximately 25-30% of our patients have type 2 diabetes. These patients frequently present with severe coronary artery disease that requires complex interventions or even bypass graft surgery.

The Brandenburg Heart Center supports the campaign for a "Diabetes Excellence Center" that would result in improved hospital care for patients with diabetes. All of our inpatients are screened for diabetes. Upon admission, all patients have their HbA1c levels tested, which allows us to assess their health status in relation to diabetes as well as their overall metabolic health. Patients who are known to have diabetes receive support from our Diabetes Team throughout their stay.

Our Diabetes Team:

Due to the need for patients to refrain from eating and drinking prior to surgery and/or the administration of contrast agents, oral antidiabetic drugs are usually discontinued for the duration of the patient's stay in hospital. Our aim during the patient's stay in hospital is to normalize blood sugar levels. This is achieved via a sliding scale regimen for insulin administration, with individual doses depending on the patient's current blood sugar levels. This is particularly beneficial in patients who have to be hospitalized for some time, as it results in a considerable reduction in the rate of complications such as infected wounds.

If the patient's blood sugar management achieved satisfactory results prior to admission, the same dosing regimen can of course be resumed following discharge. If blood sugar surges occur, our Diabetes Team will ensure a prompt adjustment of dosing schedules.

MOBILIS weight management program

The number of people considered overweight or obese is steadily increasing, both within Brandenburg and in the rest of Germany. Patients who are obese are at an increased risk of developing secondary diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. They are also at a significant risk of cardiovascular disease, while the enormous amount of excess weight being carried makes it difficult to exercise on a regular basis. It is part of our role as a Health Promoting Hospital to support patients who are obese in managing their weight. There is only one effective way to achieve weight reduction: permanent changes have to be made in the patient's levels of activity. The target of these changes is to achieve an active and balanced lifestyle, which will need to go hand in hand with improvements to the patient's diet. In short: more exercise and a healthier diet.

This is the approach offered by MOBILIS, an interdisciplinary training program that is on offer at the Brandenburg Heart Center. The Heart Center is an official MOBILIS training center and has run several successful courses already. Sessions are organized in cooperation with the Brandenburg Heart Center, which is also where some of the classes are based.

Contact:
Oberarzt Dr. med. T. Schau

For further information and to register, visit:
www.mobilis-programm.de

 
 
 
Relevant information

Emergency numbers

  • Emergencies only:
    112
    Our emergency room:
    +49 3338-69 45 21

Contact person

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. med.
    Johannes Albes
    Head of Department of Cardiac Surgery at Brandenburg Heart Center

    PA to the Head of Department Gudrun Gaal
    Immanuel Hospital Bernau Brandenburg Heart Center
    Ladeburger Str. 17
    16321 Bernau bei Berlin
    T +40 3338 694-510
    F +49 3338 694-544
    send email
    download vcard

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. med.
    Christian Butter
    Head of the Department of Cardiology, Immanuel Hospital Bernau Brandenburg Heart Center

    PA to Head of Department Christine Meinecke
    Immanuel Hospital Bernau Brandenburg Heart Center
    Ladeburger Str. 17
    16321 Bernau bei Berlin
    T +49 3338 694-610
    F +49 3338 694-644
    send email
    download vcard

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