SARC Cardiovascular & Vein Center

10/28/2026

Your heart, kidneys and metabolism are connected. Your healthcare should be, too.

Cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic—or CKM—care considers how cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity and other metabolic risk factors can overlap.

Two medication classes receiving significant attention include:
- GLP-1–based medicines: May support blood-sugar control and weight management, while certain medications may reduce cardiovascular risk in eligible patients.
- SGLT2 inhibitors: May help protect the heart and kidneys in selected patients, including some people with heart failure or chronic kidney disease who do not have diabetes.
These medication classes work differently. Benefits and approved uses vary, and not every patient needs or qualifies for either therapy.

Call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900 to schedule a cardiovascular evaluation and discuss your individual risk factors.

This information is educational and is not individual medical advice. Never start, stop or change medication without guidance from your healthcare provider.



Clinical reference: 2026 cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic syndrome guidance from the AHA and ACC.

10/26/2026

🩸 **Blood work: a clearer picture of your health.**

Feeling well doesn’t always tell the whole story. The right blood tests can help your healthcare provider identify risk factors, investigate symptoms, and guide treatment.

Depending on your needs, testing may include:

❤️ **Cholesterol panel:** Measures cholesterol and triglycerides to help assess cardiovascular risk.

🩸 **Blood glucose or A1C:** Helps identify and monitor diabetes. A1C reflects average blood sugar over approximately three months.

💧 **Metabolic panel:** Checks kidney function, electrolytes, and other markers that can help guide care.

🔬 **Complete blood count:** Evaluates blood cells and can help identify anemia.

There’s no single blood panel that checks everything. Your provider will recommend the tests and timing appropriate for your health history, symptoms, and medications. Ask whether fasting is needed, and review your results with your care team.

📞 **Schedule your appointment: 870-534-2900**
**SARC — Cardiovascular and Vein Center**

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10/24/2026

High cholesterol often has no warning signs, but excess LDL cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup inside the arteries.

A lipid panel helps measure:
- LDL: Can contribute to artery plaque
- HDL: Helps carry cholesterol back to the liver
- Triglycerides: Another type of fat in the blood
Your numbers are only part of your cardiovascular picture. Your healthcare provider may also consider your age, family history, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking history and existing cardiovascular disease when recommending lifestyle changes or medication.

Call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900 to schedule an evaluation.

This information is educational and is not individual medical advice. Call 911 for possible heart-attack or stroke warning signs, including chest pressure, shortness of breath, sudden one-sided weakness or difficulty speaking.

10/20/2026

❤️ **When fainting needs answers: Tilt Table Testing**

Unexplained fainting or recurring lightheadedness deserves an evaluation. A tilt table test helps your healthcare provider understand how your heart rate and blood pressure respond to changes in body position.

During testing, you’re secured comfortably on a special table that gradually tilts upright while a healthcare team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms.

Testing may help evaluate:

✅ Unexplained fainting or near-fainting
✅ Blood pressure drops when standing
✅ Vasovagal fainting
✅ Suspected postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

Tilt table testing is one part of an evaluation. Your provider will determine whether it’s appropriate and whether other tests are needed.

📞 **Call 870-534-2900 to request an evaluation.**
**SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center**

🚨 Call 911 for fainting accompanied by chest pain, severe trouble breathing, or failure to regain consciousness promptly.

10/20/2026

WHAT CAN A LOWER EXTREMITY ARTERIAL DOPPLER SHOW?

A lower-extremity arterial Doppler—also called an arterial duplex ultrasound—is a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow through the arteries in your legs.

It can help identify:

Areas of reduced blood flow
Possible arterial narrowing or blockage
Changes in blood-flow speed and waveform patterns
Changes after a PAD diagnosis or vascular treatment

Possible signs that may prompt an arterial evaluation include:

Leg aching, cramping or fatigue while walking
One foot feeling cooler than the other
Pale or discolored skin
Slow-healing sores on the feet or toes
Weak leg or foot pulses

During the test, gel is placed on the skin and a handheld ultrasound probe is moved along the leg. The examination does not use ionizing radiation.

Testing is ordered based on your symptoms, medical history, physical examination and previous results. An arterial Doppler does not determine treatment by itself.

Call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900 to request an arterial evaluation.

A suddenly cold, pale, numb, weak or severely painful leg or foot may indicate an emergency. Call 911 or seek immediate emergency care.

Educational information only—not individual medical advice.

10/15/2026

WHAT DOES AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM LOOK FOR?

An echocardiogram—also called an echo or heart ultrasound—uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. A standard transthoracic echo is noninvasive and does not use X-ray radiation.

An echo can help your healthcare provider evaluate:

• Heart size, chambers and wall thickness
• Pumping strength, including ejection fraction and wall motion
• How the heart valves open and close
• Possible valve narrowing or leakage
• The direction and speed of blood flow
• Certain pressure estimates inside the heart
• Possible fluid around the heart

Your healthcare provider will determine whether an echocardiogram or another test is appropriate. A standard echo does not directly show whether a coronary artery is blocked.

Call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900 to schedule a cardiovascular evaluation.

Call 911 for new or severe chest pressure, difficulty breathing, fainting or possible stroke signs.

Educational information only—not individual medical advice.

10/13/2026

Could an irregular heart rhythm be hiding?

Palpitations, recurring dizziness or unexplained fainting can be difficult to evaluate when they occur only occasionally. An implantable loop recorder is a small device placed just beneath the skin of the chest to monitor your heart rhythm over an extended period.

It may help your healthcare team compare your heart rhythm with possible symptoms such as:

* Unexplained fainting
* Recurring dizziness
* A racing, fluttering or skipping heartbeat
* Suspected intermittent arrhythmias

A loop recorder is a diagnostic monitor—not a pacemaker, defibrillator or emergency-alert system—and it does not treat an abnormal rhythm. Not everyone experiencing these symptoms needs or qualifies for one. A cardiovascular evaluation is required.

Call **SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900** to schedule an evaluation.

Call 911 for fainting accompanied by chest pain, severe shortness of breath, weakness, difficulty speaking or other possible emergency symptoms. Do not wait for the monitor to notify your healthcare team.

This information is educational and does not replace individual medical advice.

10/12/2026

Diabetes affects more than blood sugar. Over time, elevated blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Protecting your cardiovascular health starts with knowing your ABCs:

A1C: Ask about your personal goal.
Blood pressure: Check it regularly and follow your treatment plan.
Cholesterol: Know your levels and discuss appropriate management.
Stop smoking: To***co damages the heart and blood vessels.

Possible heart attack signs include chest pressure or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the back, jaw or arms. Diabetes-related nerve damage can sometimes make symptoms less noticeable.

Call 911 immediately if possible heart attack signs occur—even if you are unsure.

Call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900 to schedule a cardiovascular evaluation. Your goals and treatment plan should be personalized with your healthcare provider.

This information is educational and does not replace individual medical advice.

10/08/2026

Sleep apnea can repeatedly interrupt breathing during sleep, lower oxygen levels and prevent restorative rest. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, heart disease and stroke. NHLBI, NIH
Possible signs include:
- Frequent loud snoring
- Witnessed breathing pauses or gasping
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
These symptoms do not confirm sleep apnea. A healthcare provider may recommend a sleep study to determine whether the condition is present. NHLBI, NIH
Talk with your healthcare provider about sleep testing. To evaluate your cardiovascular health and risk factors, call SARC Cardiovascular and Vein Center at 870-534-2900.
This information is educational and does not replace individual medical advice.

10/01/2026