Don't have a "HEART ATTACK", NEW CAT SCAN for Heart Disease can save your life.

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

I wanted to make this post to help members here, and their families, ( in light of the tragic loss of "Manny" at a young age ) from suffering the the loss of a loved one to a heart attack.

There is a new CT scan, in the last 5+ years, that checks for plaque in the coronary arteries . Clogged arteries that supply the fresh blood to the heart is what causes heart attacks. There are 4 main arteries in the heart that supply blood to the heart; if one,or more artery is clogged , you have a heart attack.

The scan is very easy. You go to the Radiology Clinic, lay on the scan table for 5 minutes, then go look at the scan (with a guy like me) on a computer screen and we look at the heart arteries. It is that simple. No shots, IV lines, or any other "heavy duty" worries. If you have a lot of "plaque" in your arteries; you get sent to a Cardiologist to fix the problem before you have a problem.

It costs about $250 for this scan, damn cheap to save your life............I pay $500/month on my truck payment.

Do not be fooled by Doctors who state you have the heart of a "teenager" after an exam or treadmill EKG. You can not tell the status without this exam or a cardiac catheter ( where they run a scope up your leg into your heart).

There are Clinics all over the Western States that do these exams.

I know this is not about "desert racing" , but I hope it saves some lives.

ORMM.

[jjordan]

Thanks for the valuable tip, being in the financial planning business and working with hundreds of families each year it is very tragic and always unexpected when somebody goes. No one expects it or wants to think about it but with new technology like this there is no excuse to not get checked out

[fashionbiff]

I know this is something I need to do, so any radiology clinic can do this that has a CT machine? Its 250 (prices may vary :) ) for someone off the street to get this done w/o insurance ? Sorry for the stupid questions but I just got terminated so insurance and $ are both hard to come by. Thanks for posting ORMM

[pjc]

I got that at the 50,000 mile checkup. No major repairs needed. Easy prep. Time to race!

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

This scan is called a "Cardiac Calcium Score CT Scan".

It is not covered by insurance and you can call the Radiology Clinic directly; you do not need to see a Doctor for a referral; you can make the appointment on your own; they will send a copy to your Doctor or you can keep the info personal and out of "health insurance" information.

I would look in the Yellow Pages for a Clinic that does MRI and CT Scans; call them and ask if they do this test , or if they can refer you to a Clinic that does.

I don't know how to move this to original post.

ORMM

[fashionbiff]

Thanks for the info ORMM

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

Just wanted to "bump" this post after reading about "nimrod" having a artery 75% clogged and having a cardiac cath.............

The "Cardiac Calcium Scoring Ct Scan" will completely show the status of the CA's.

ORMM

[steveG]

Patrick, at what age do you recommend people have this scan?

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

I have treated guys with fatal heart attacks as young as 35 yo in the field as a medic, they had a strong family history of Dad's,Bro's,Sis,Uncle,Grandfather.

A good guide is 40 yo ,or up, for a male, especially if high cholesterol, smoking , high blood pressure, diabetes, a lot of booze, overweight, etc. Sometimes a person has all the above and comes out fine.

Don't think because you are in good shape, workout gym/bike and have no chest pain that you don't have a problem.

Every person that I have found to have advanced coronary artery disease has never had "ANY CHEST PAIN" under any stress loads. Many had recent treadmill EKG's and were told there heart was great, I've seen those same people a week later with this CT Scan and found them to have dangerous , life threatening conditions.

Bottom line it is really the "state of the art" for heart evaluation, I hope anyone reading this will consider it for themselves or a loved one, it takes 5 minutes and could save your life.

All the Best , ORMM.

[Mark_Weyhrich]

I have heard that, due to the amount of radiation exposure needed for this test, your cancer risk increases dramatically with even one of these tests. Getting them done on a regular basis is even worse.

What have you heard regarding this?

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

Again, I just want to state that I was motivated to write this thread by the tragic loss of Manny Esquera at such a young age to a "heart attack", there is no doubt in my mind that this simple scan would have saved his life, I met Manny in the late 70's and he was one of the nicest people I have ever met; always smiling and friendly to racers and the fans; what a gentleman.


You are referring to the "Total Body CT Scan", which exposes you to a much higher level of "Rads", ( it is equal to 2 round trips to Australia in an aircraft, yes a lots of people don't know that we are exposed to lots of "rads" while flying) .

The Cardiac CT is different, all the scan involves is going over the heart; I'd say on average 20 cm.

But yes you are being exposed to some rads, like in any X-Ray or CT, but is is much less than ,say, your head being CT'ed.

Again it is risk vs benefit, if you fell off your bicycle, (or had an extremely bad headache), and hit your head hard enough to change your level of consciousness, your ER Doc would advise you to have a CT of your head. Again your choice, it is only done w/ informed consent, unless you are unconscious, then it is considered " implied consent".

Same situation here, I think it is great that patients can elect to take an active part of there health maintenence , if a person had a strong family history or high risk factors, it is their choice to get the Scan.

Believe me , when I first started doing this 5-6 years ago,( my background is Emergency Medicine, and I have worked in the busiest Urgent Care Clinic in Northern California for the last ten years), the Chief of Cardiology at my local Hospital put out a nasty letter to all the local Doc's in the area putting down the Scan, that same Doc now sends dozens of patients of patients to the Clinic for Scans every year.

People, especially Doctors (due to ego issues, and the fact they don't want to admit they don't know about something medical), tend to fear what they don't understand or don't want to take the time to learn about.

Working in the Radiology Clinic was my "side-job" for 5 years and I had to resign that position last Fall due to the work load at Urgent Care and family time demands.

I have no financial interest in this procedure, I just like the fact that I have save a lot of lives in people that were under the impression that their "heart health" was good.

Believe me, after 14 years as a Fire Dept Medic in the SF Bay Area, I have performed CPR on "hundreds" of people and the worst part was trying to comfort family members and deal with their grief during a sudden "full arrest" acute heart attack, it is hell on Earth.

Why not take one friend or family member > 50yo w/ the family hx of heart dz., and some "risk factors", pitch in $50. each and use them as a "test" to see how things check out and then decide for yourself.

Some interesting info on new technology in "the pipe" so to speak , is a new scanner that can do a "fly-thru" ( visualize the artery down the center) of the coronary arteries, thus eliminating the need for sticking a cath tube into the heart, the guys that make a living doing "caths" are not very happy about that.

I hope this helps and I don't want to piss anybody off by posting this in "desert racing".

Take Care, ORMM.

[DELETED..]

we are probaly talking the same thing but I had a "64 Slice CT Scan" Oct. 8th 2006.. showed BAD blockage.. 50% Heriedataery 50% to many In & Out Burgers and no exercice

4 days later 5 way by pass. I was literally days from a "widow maker" heart attack..

This test and Cooper Clinic in Dallas saved my life..

6 months later i raced the Terrible Town 250 and 1 year after the Baja 1000..

the 'Body Scan" while usuaefullis good but only shows over all plaaque. does not show arteries

[nimrod]

Yeah Baby! I say do whatever it takes to know what's going on. I had the sneak attack at 37. No clue what-so-ever. Just BANG!

See your doctor regularly. Know and PAY ATTENTION to your family history. Inform your docotor of your history and ask for any pertinent test. High Blood pressure is a KILLER and so is high cholesterol. (these are major warning signs) YOU have to take YOUR health seriously or no one else will.

Don't try to ignore the fact that your getting older and that you WILL HAVE health challenges. Self denial almost cost me my life.

[D4D]

ORMM I want to give you a big "Thank You"!

I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for the last 26 years, since I was a young kid, I have great control of it but have lived like crap. I have smoked, eat like crap, 35lbs. over weight, drink here and there, so on and so on. I could and should have lived healthier with my diabetes.
In the last year I have become concerned about my heart, I had done the blood tests which are fine, the tread mill test looked fine but I was still nervous about how healthy I was. When I drink to much caffine, my chest will sometime get heavy and it freaks me out sometimes.

So last week I read this thread and call around to find a place to do the test. Went in yesterday and got the call back this morning which really worried me. They said it would take a few days, they were calling 10 hours later, it must be bad news. Not so, I have little to no build up at all. They were almost amazed, even with my diabetes and not all the crap living I should have more build up then I do.

So thanks for making me go take care of myself and now for the peace of mind!

[Infidel Racing Team]

ORMM, thank you....I have a family history of heart diseases.

I am looking now who can do this in the Tucson Area....Oh, yeah...I am taking my dad with me

Thanks

[Off-Road Medicine Man]

Tucson has some great cardiologists as it is a great place to live; I'm sure you can find a radiology clinic; just look for a private MRI/CT Clinic and call and ask where one is.

Glad I could help my friends here and wishing you all the best, ORMM

[Infidel Racing Team]

Tucson has some great cardiologists as it is a great place to live; I'm sure you can find a radiology clinic; just look for a private MRI/CT Clinic and call and ask where one is.

Glad I could help my friends here and wishing you all the best, ORMM


Thanks, I already have my appointment. I appreciate the tip:D

[Infidel Racing Team]

I have to thank Off Road Medicine Man for his advice.
My studies have return and I am very happy with them despite my cholesterol history.

My friend who always had great blood work results had a terrible calcium score...that is to show anyone should take this scan...

Thanks ORMM :)