Pawnee Valley Community Hospital patients now have face-to-face access to a HaysMed cardiologist who regularly travels to Larned to treat a variety of heart conditions.

Kalyan Wagle, MD, offers his outreach clinic monthly at the hospital’s Specialty Care Clinic; he has cared for HaysMed patients for close to two years.

“This is a good environment for my patients and me,” Dr. Wagle said. “I am pleased to be here each month to care for and treat my patients.”

Dr. Wagle sees patients for conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation, hypertension, high cholesterol, chest pain, shortness of breath and others.

“When patients need a cardiac-risk assessment prior to a surgery, I can see them pre-operatively in Larned,” Dr. Wagle noted.

Since February is American Heart Month, Dr. Wagle took the opportunity to outline information about heart disease and ways to prevent it.

“Heart disease is the top cause of mortality and morbidity,” Dr. Wagle pointed out. “Because of this, it is important to take measures to keep a healthy heart, while focusing on primary prevention of heart disease.”

Preventive measures include a heart-healthy diet, adequate physical activity and control of common risk factors.

For example, Dr. Wagle noted, the diet should be low in salt and cholesterol, and rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats such as fish, seafood and chicken.

“At least moderate exercise also is suggested,” Dr. Wagle advised. “This could mean about 150 minutes a week or 20-25 minutes a day. This is very helpful.”

Common risk factors for heart disease are high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obstructive sleep apnea.

“We should focus on controlling or alleviating these risk factors to prevent or delay cardiac disease,” Dr. Wagle said.

Originally from Nepal, Dr. Wagle completed his internal medicine residency at New York Health and Hospital in Queens, NY. Next, he completed his cardiology fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Dr. Wagle is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear medicine and cardiac CT.

Melanie Urban, PVCH administrator, said “our hospital’s partnership with the HaysMed DeBakey Heart Institute benefits patients and our community through this continuous cardiology support. Dr. Wagle’s outreach clinic offers patients access to local cardiology services with the added benefit of less travel.

“It is so important for us to partner with a high-quality provider and Dr. Wagle is a perfect fit. All of us appreciate his expertise in caring for and treating patients.”