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INTERxVENT
NEWSLETTERS
Spring
2000
INTERXVENTUSA
Congratulates
James
Gilliamsen
Ten
years ago, James Gilliamsen found out
that he had a blocked coronary artery.
He considered it the price he
paid for 25 years of smoking.
In 1990 James underwent an
angioplasty to open the blocked
artery.
Nine years later, in August
1999, James volunteered for and was
accepted into the American Heart
Association study conducted by
Dr.Gordon and his staff at the St
Joseph’s/Candler Health System. The
aim of the study is to evaluate the
clinical effectiveness of three models
for comprehensive cardiovascular risk
reduction in patients with coronary
artery disease.
After
being accepted into the study, James
was randomized into the INTERxVENT
program, one of the three treatment
models being evaluated.
James said that in the years
between the angioplasty and coming to INTERxVENT
he had seen several doctors and
attended a number of programs.
By comparison, he is very
impressed with the individual
attention INTERxVENT
offers.
He said, “Despite Dr.
Gordon’s hectic schedule he is never
too busy to listen to you. Everyone takes a real interest in your progress and everyone
cares about you as an individual.”
One
of the features of the INTERxVENT
program
is the one-on-one counseling
provided by MENTORS, who are all
trained health professionals.
INTERxVENTUSA
operates at nine different sites
in Savannah.
James chose to attend the
program at the Savannah Mall. The MENTOR at that site is Elizabeth Blaschko.
James enjoys working with
Elizabeth.
He finds the education,
motivation and support he receives
from her to be invaluable.
“Before
I started with INTERxVENT
I felt that I was marginally healthy.
But I have now learned that I
was eating too much ,and the wrong
foods.
When I came to INTERxVENT
I was walking for exercise.
Elizabeth started me on a
walk/jog program and then started me
jogging.
Now, one of my real pleasures
is jogging on the paths and trails on
Skidaway Island.”
Asked
whether he finds the INTERxVENT
program difficult to follow James
said, “Once I made up my mind to
participate in the program, I decided
to give it my best shot.”
After,
12 weeks in the program, James’s
report shows he has lost 17 pounds.
His systolic blood pressure has
dropped from 140 mmHg to 131 mmHg. His Framingham heart attack risk score has dropped to only 4
percent compared to 16 percent for his
age group. James improved his time on the exercise stress test
from 9 minutes 59 seconds to 10
minutes 49 seconds.
This is a significant
improvement on the Bruce Treadmill
Protocol.
His maximum oxygen uptake
value, the gold standard measure of a
person’s cardiorespiratory fitness
level, improved by 10 percent.
Elizabeth
is delighted with the progress James
has made.
She said,“From the outset
James was compliant, disciplined and
willing to put in the necessary
effort.
James is enjoying the INTERxVENT
program and has achieved excellent
results after only three months.”
As
part of the research study, James will
be re-tested in about nine months.
We look forward to reviewing
his progress.
James
and Elizabeth at the Mall site
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