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ST. LOUIS (September 18, 2025) – Plaza West Tower, the new 16-story patient care tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, will welcome patients beginning in October. The tower will provide private rooms for heart and vascular patients, advanced imaging, and the latest in surgical preparation and recovery. Plaza West Tower is designed to enhance the experience for patients and their families under the expert care of WashU Medicine physicians and BJC HealthCare clinical teams.

Whether your favorite summer activity is taking a long hike on a trail, catching waves at the beach or having fun at a backyard barbecue, the warmer temperatures generally mean more time spent outdoors in the sun. But because more exposure to sunlight means more exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet A and B rays, you need to take steps to protect yourself from cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation.

What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and heart disease?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term that encompasses several heart conditions, including heart disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.

At least 2.7 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, the most common kind of irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia. A-fib is caused when the heart’s upper chambers beat erratically or quiver and don’t sync with the heart’s lower chambers. Learn more about how a-fib occurs.