Most people who have a heart attack, never saw it coming. In McLean County, heart disease accounts for 25 percent of deaths every year and is often a hidden danger until you see a doctor, have the proper tests, or have a heart attack.
An annual physical allows your doctor to check your cholesterol levels, as well as your triglycerides and blood glucose. High values in these areas can indicate an increased risk for heart disease. Your blood pressure, smoking status, diet, level of exercise and family history are also risk indicators.
If you don’t know these numbers, or your risks, Advocate Medical Group promises a doctor will see you the same or next day by calling 1-800-323-8622. If you already know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, you can use the online heart risk tool at AdvocateHeartInstitute.com. If it indicates you’re a high risk for heart disease, an Advocate Heart Institute cardiologist will see you within 24 hours.
A simple test with big benefits
If you think you may be at risk for heart disease, you should also talk with your doctor about whether or not a heart CT scan is appropriate. This low-cost scan, also called Coronary Calcium Scoring, is a non-invasive, painless test designed to show the build-up of calcium in the arteries around your heart. The more calcium deposits you have, the more plaque -- and too much plaque can reduce or cut off the flow of blood and oxygen.
According to the American Heart Association, almost half of all heart-related deaths occur in people with no previous history of heart disease symptoms. That’s where coronary calcium scoring can lead to early detection of heart disease and identify those who need treatment.
During the procedure, you lie on a motorized bed while x-ray equipment moves around you. Special computer software accelerates the imaging, providing an excellent view of your heart. Through this imagery, doctors are able to determine where and how much calcium deposits are in the arteries. That information is scored, ranging from zero, which is normal, to several hundred.
The heart CT scan can help reveal hidden heart health dangers, and can be conducted every few years to help track heart health and plaque buildup around the heart.
