Recent News

Fitness Trackers Can Help Keep Healthful Resolutions

Nat Torkelson, MS, RN, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services at Oklahoma Heart Institute tries not to miss her water aerobics class three times a week. But that’s not the only time she’s logging physical activity. Every thirty minutes she gets a reminder if she’s been sitting at her desk without getting up.

“There may be days that I have a lot of meeting time or in-office time, so my steps may be 3,000 or 4,000, and of course you aim for 10,000,” Nat explains. “The days that I greet in the lobby of the hospital, I have plenty of steps and I get more than 10,000.”

Smoking & Lung Cancer: How to Get Screened

Are you a smoker or use tobacco and scared about lung cancer? Or have you quit, but still worry about the toll on health? According to the American Cancer Society, in 2012, about 42 million Americans used tobacco products – ranging from cigarettes, to cigars, e-cigarettes, hookahs, and chews or spit tobacco. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States. Every year, it claims more lives than colon, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined.

The risks associated with tobacco are high – the highest being lung cancer. For former and... Read More »

Hillcrest Partners with Tulsa Roughnecks

The Tulsa Roughnecks and Hillcrest HealthCare System recently announced a major partnership between the two organizations. In the agreement, Hillcrest HealthCare System will be the Official Medical Provider of the Roughnecks soccer team as well as the presenting sponsor of the team’s inaugural 2015 season. “Today is an important day for our new soccer team,” said Roughnecks President Mike Melega. “The commitment given by Hillcrest HealthCare System is big for professional soccer in Tulsa and is a great first step for a successful return to the pro game for our city.” “Hillcrest... Read More »

Fighting Lung Cancer Earlier, Better Outcomes

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month – a time health care providers bring the number one cause-related killer in the United States into the public conversation to learn more about what we can do to prevent, detect and treat this deadly illness to help save lives. The fact remains that lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined. Each year, more than a quarter of a million Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer and each year it claims the lives of 165,000 people. As our population ages, cases of lung cancer continue to grow, unfortunately.... Read More »

Hunting for a Cure

It was “the most debilitating thing someone could have,” according to 65 year old rancher and avid outdoors-man Melvin Mills. “It started when I was 45,” he remembers. “Nobody knew what it was.” Then in 2005, Melvin met Dr. David Sandler, who diagnosed him with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and warned him it could worsen. Over the course of 20 years, Melvin experienced an irregular heart beat that at times would seem to pound out of his chest; at other times beat rapidly. Overtime, the unpredictable nature of his heart took him away from his work outside and his passion for nature. By 2012,... Read More »

Share Your Story - Judy Marshall

Judy Marshall is making a difference in her community as a result of surviving two heart attacks. When her heart took her off the road, Marshall decided to channel the energy she put forth into driving a truck across the country into her hometown one project at a time. Here is her Oklahoma Heart Institute story.

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