Heart Scan Taking Center Stage in Sudden Cardiac Death
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Each year, more than 310,000 Americans die without even experiencing a symptom or indication of heart disease, according to a 2008 report from the American Heart Association(1). It’s called sudden cardiac death (SCD), the same tragic fate that awaited Tim Russert and shocked the nation when the news commentator died suddenly of a heart attack in June.
“SCD victims don’t feel any pain, they don’t have time to get to a phone, and they die at their desk or on the kitchen floor. Their first symptom is their last; that’s the cruel nature of heart disease,” said Dennis R. Breen, M.D., F.A.C.C., of Sacramento HeartScan.
Breen said Russert’s death was a wake-up call for millions of baby boomers and for the medical community as a whole. The hard reality is that half of all men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of coronary artery disease had no previous symptoms of the disease(2).
Breen realizes there are no easy answers, and using the coronary calcium score doesn’t mean ignoring the standard risk factors. However, he’s also quick to point out that the coronary calcium score from a CT heart scan plays an important role when trying to figure out a patient’s risk of heart attack, and it can help give people concerned about their risk of sudden cardiac death a fighting chance.
“Our health care system today continues to rely on largely inadequate technology — including the traditional stress test — that only shows danger signs when the arteries are obstructed by 70 percent or more,” said Breen. “A successful cardiac stress test can actually give patients a false sense of security. It doesn’t mean you don’t have heart disease, and it doesn’t mean you can’t walk out of that test and weeks, days or even hours later, drop dead from a heart attack.”
Heart scans use computed tomography (CT) machines to non-invasively view the arteries, searching for calcium buildup that indicates the metabolic and inflammatory disease called atherosclerosis. The higher the score, the higher the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Candidates for a heart scan are generally 40 years or older and may have risk factors including high blood pressure, a history of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, a family history of heart disease and diabetes. Medicare generally covers the cost of a heart scan for people over 65 with a physician’s referral. For people under 65 the cost is approximately $300 to $400.
“A heart scan is the closest thing to a crystal ball we have in the 21st century. It can predict the likelihood of future heart attacks,” Breen added.
Sacramento HeartScan is one of a limited number of cardiovascular centers in the U.S. using the GE Light Speed VCT scanner for the early detection of heart disease, osteoporosis and certain cancers. For more information about heart scans, contact Sacramento HeartScan at 916-830-2045 or visit http://www.sacheart.com/ct/heartscan.html.
About Sacramento HeartScan
Sacramento HeartScan is part of the Sacramento Heart Center, the area’s premier integrated cardiac facility, providing complete cardiology and wellness care plus a full range of diagnostic and laboratory services. Sacramento HeartScan is one of a limited number of cardiovascular centers in the United States using the Light Speed VCT 64-slice scanner for detection of disease. Sacramento HeartScan purchased the 64-slice CT scanner, replacing the 16-slice CT scanner, which can uncover early stages of disorders such as: heart disease, lung disease and certain cancers. Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates, developers of the Sacramento Heart Center, is affiliated with most health care systems in Sacramento. For more information or to make an appointment, visit http://www.sacheart.com/ct/heartscan.html or call 916-830-2045.
(1) American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. 2008 Update. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3000090 (2) Ibid.
Sacramento HeartScan
CONTACT: Micki Sievwright of Armada Medical Marketing, +1-303-623-1190,x240, micki@armadamedical.com, for Sacramento HeartScan
Web site: http://www.sacheart.com/