Posted on 06/07/2018 2:14:13 PM PDT by CodeToad
No, this is not a boo-hoo thread.
This is a thread to provide a little advice that may save your life.
My brother died suddenly of a massive heart attack yesterday at age 65. He had no known heart issues and was under doctor's care at the time. He thought he had taken care of himself. He obviously hadn't.
Two things that anyone should try to obtain: An EKG, and most importantly, a heart image scan. The heart scan is also known as a Calcium Heart Score and costs about $99.
The heart scan takes about 5 minutes and produces 64 highly accurate photographs of the heart and arteries. It will show arterial blockages from their calcium content. You will immediately know if you have arterial blockages and if you need intervention of some sort.
Combined with the EKG, you will have an exceptional view of your cardiac health.
My brother didn't have such a scan and his EKG didn't demonstrate any blockages, but he had them, and he died from them.
If you are in the Colorado area, South Denver Cardiology in Littleton performs the scan for $99. Check in your State or area for such a service.
South Denver Cardiology Associates Heart Scan
Thanks for paying attention.
I’m so sorry. One of my sisters died on Mother’s day. I am still waiting to hear the result of an autopsy. She was 70.
Folks, get yourself checked out, check your cholesterol, triglycerides and get the heart scan done! You don't just owe it to yourselves, you owe it to your families!
We men are notorious for neglecting ourselves thinking we need to run ourselves into the ground to take care of our families. Truth is, our families want us ALIVE and WELL more than anything else! Take CodeToad's advice and just DO IT!
how do you get your doctor to order a heart scan?....you can’t order one for youself....and I find the $99 amount suspicious...
I recently had two tests on my heart and since heart disease is my family’s most likely cause of death, it was a welcome surprise that I do not appear to be at risk.
if the carotid artery scan was not normal, what would you have the drs do?...operate on her?.....at age 101?
"....He had no known heart issues and was under doctor's care at the time. He thought he had taken care of himself. He obviously hadn't...."
I wouldn't be so quick to judge your brother about not taking care of himself.
These medical issues in humans are mainly hereditary. Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, orthopedic woes, cancer are mainly issues you're more prone to have because of the genes you're born with, not the lifestyle you live.
I was an athlete in school and continued to workout daily my entire adult life. I was a 10k and marathon runner, I did some strength training and yoga every week. I was lean and watched my diet. I didn't smoke or drink alcohol or coffee. I didn't do drugs.
And yet at age 63 my annual physical showed a loud murmur in my heart. My atrial valve was damaged and needed repair or replacement. As a mechanic would do a complete overhaul if he has to break open the engine case to replace the rings, my cardiologist had me do a heart dye test before surgery and found four coronary arteries that were 80% blocked. A heart attack waiting to happen. So this went from a valve repair to coronary bypass surgery just like that.
So within two weeks, I had a quadruple bypass and valve repair in open heart surgery and almost died two days later. Heart stopped and I quit breathing when I threw a pulmonary embolus. After cutting me back open again, the surgeon hand-massaged my heart back into a normal sinus rhythm and I survived. Took three years to get back to normal so I could workout again and work on my farm.
I asked the doctor why I got this heart disease if I took care of myself my entire life? He said it didn't matter. It was in the genes. It was hereditary. Both my parents had heart disease and high blood pressure. All of my siblings have the same problems. I was going to get it too.
I thought I took great care of myself and would avoid these issues later in life. But it was a fool's journey. I could not avoid the inevitable Mother Nature had programmed me for, even if I tried.
So don't be too hard on your brother about not taking care of himself. And having heart problems in your genes too. Make sure you get those tests done on yourself too.
Good luck and again, so sorry for the loss of your brother.
Well said. Take care, friend.
Thanks. You too.
I wonder if this test just might be a gimmick.
Bfl
“how do you get your doctor to order a heart scan?....you can’t order one for youself....and I find the $99 amount suspicious...”
Check the link I provided. No doc order needed. And it is $99. It is a very quick scan. 3 minutes. There is no need for thousands of dollars.
“he’s never recommended the “heart scan” you men”
Just because they have the word “Doctor” next to their name doesn’t mean they know all and see all.
I only heard about it for the first time last year and I have several doctors in my family. We’re also friends with several cardiologists. None had heard of it.
With all the technology discovered and invented very year, it is nearly impossible to know everything.
Take our very own FReeper Jeff Head. His cancer was a death call, but he found better doctors at MD Anderson who saved his life.
I knew a guy that was born a vegan, never had meat, ran marathons, preached health...and dropped dead of a heart attack at 40.
Part of staying alive is eating well, exercising, taking care of yourself, and the rest is seeing doctors that know how to measure your health and take preventative and corrective care.
Just remind me never to get into an airplane if you’re the pilot,. I hate for your attitude of resignation to get us all killed if anything goes wrong. “Oh, well, the engine quit. If God wants us to stay alive, he’ll fix it.”
Recently, after not going to a doctor only 3-times over a 50-year span (85-years old), had a dizzy spell that convinced my wife to make me get both of the above as well as a stress test...Everything looked excellent and dehydration was determined to be the cause of the incident...I've since gone on the wagon (for coffee) and am in my 45th coffee-less day. Withdrawal was a bitch...
Recently, after not going to a doctor only 3-times over a 50-year span (85-years old), had a dizzy spell that convinced my wife to make me get both of the above as well as a stress test...Everything looked excellent and dehydration was determined to be the cause of the incident...I've since gone on the wagon (for coffee) and am in my 45th coffee-less day. Withdrawal was a bitch...
The cost is accurate,and mentioned in this recent article.
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Always good to stay on top of things and take good care of yourself, as much as you’re able.
My brother suddenly had a heart attack and died when he was 45, playing on the floor with his four very young children. They watched him die. He had a terrible diet — his choice, and nobody could talk him out of it.
No, of course not. This was part of an imaging study to determine 1) What the source of an embolism was, and 2) Whether statin therapy would be useful. No invasive procedures were contemplated at any time. Didn’t even use contrast dye w/ the MRI to protect her kidneys.
Majority of docs do not believe in body scans as preventitive information. But for those of us who get these done from time to time it is reassurring to learn your calcium score as well as the radiologists findings. Having said that, it is no guarantee that you wont suffer a sudden heart attack. But it does prvide you valuable information that can be followed up on as needed.
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