2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines | Circulation

Local Resident Shares Heart Scan Journey

72-year-old LuAnn Lamie is retired art teacher who underwent open heart surgery less than a month ago.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — "When people say I'm so surprised you had open heart surgery, I'm like if you're surprised, think how I feel."

72-year-old LuAnn Lamie is retired art teacher who underwent open heart surgery less than a month ago. With having no other symptoms other than being tired, she received a heart scan at Franciscan Health. 

"My primary care person said, 'LuAnn, you know with your age and the fact you take statins and cholesterol medicine perhaps you should try one of these scans,'" said Lamie. 

Through the heart scan results, LuAnn found out she has three blockages in her chest and an aortic valve that was leaking.

"I had no idea of any of this," Lamie said. 

LuAnn credits some of her recovery success to one person in particular. 

"I feel great and part of that I'm going to attribute to my neighbor. We walk everyday," said Lamie. 

She also shared her thanks to the staff at Franciscan Health.

"Everybody here, they all just worked together but they embrace you."

LuAnn says her story has inspired others. 

"I've had more people say, 'after this thing with you, or after I read about this, I think that I really need to try that heart scan,'" said Lamie. 

Now LuAnn can continue with her plans for the future.

"I do have some things I planned prior and now I think they are totally going to happen," Lamie said. 

LuAnn shared her advice to anyone who feels their health isn't okay. 

"If you have a questionable thing about any health issue, you really should go and try to have it checked out," said Lamie. 

LuAnn has started cardiopulmonary rehab and is grateful for her doctors. 

 "I did call my primary care office and told her nurse I think she saved my life," Lamie said.

You can sign up for a $49 heart scan by visiting, franciscanhealth.Org. 

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CT For Calcium Another Way To Understand Cardiac Risk

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than 100 years, yet diagnoses continue to climb.

A study by The American Heart Association found 51% of Americans were not aware of the disease's prevalence even though 48% of adults have some type of cardiovascular disease.

Where knowledge is power in heart disease prevention, Dr. Doug Friedman with WakeMed recommends a noninvasive calcium score test to help raise awareness and save lives.

"We don't routinely catch disease without symptoms – that's really where the role of screening takes place," the cardiologist said. "Outside the traditional risk factors, which have been more or less the same forever – high cholesterol, diabetes – we don't use very many other factors. That's why the calcium score is such an important and novel option we have now.

"If you have calcifications on the heart arteries, it's very closely correlated with cardiovascular disease," explained Friedman. "This helps us understand what your risks are and we can better treat you that way."

The cardiologist estimates about 20% of the patients he sees have calcium score tests done.

"We catch stuff all the time," he said.

The screening is done via a CT scan and takes only a few minutes to complete. The scan helps analyze the amount of calcification a patient has in their arteries, typically caused by plaque buildup overtime.

He said coronary calcifications don't automatically mean you will have a heart attack but do indicate impaired blood flow and an increased risk.

Friedman emphasized the test can be an especially helpful tool for patients who may otherwise not have any symptoms.

The American Heart Association reports the average age of a first heart attack is 65.5 for men and 72 for women, but heart attacks have been on the rise among young adults.

Friedman suggests that those with a family history of heart disease consider a calcium score test starting at age 40.

"Usually, you don't want to screen people with very low risk and generally speaking, around the age of 40 is when you start thinking about these things," he said. "A lot of people will manifest or show they have coronary heart disease with a heart attack and obviously you want to find it first so you can treat people better. That's really where the utility of the test is."

The cardiologist shared he has seen patients with scores as low as 0 to as high as 10,000.

"How to put the score in perspective is somewhat challenging, because it depends on your age and your risk factors. Generally, a score less than 100 is considered lower risk, and then when you get above 100 and certainly above 1,000, puts you at increased risk," Friedman said.

Amanda Chambers' physician recommended she schedule a screening after her brother suffered a heart attack in the fall. The author, 66, had also released a book during that time and was undergoing a fair amount of stress.

"Sometimes I felt like my chest would be tight," Chambers recalled. "I think that's just a wakeup call to go ahead and see if there's any issue and take care of it. I just want to prevent anything I can."

When scheduling her test, Chambers said she was surprised to learn of an unfortunate healthcare reality: it wasn't covered by insurance.

"I have good insurance," Chambers told WRAL. "I was surprised they wouldn't put this on our deductible because to me, preventative care is the way to be cost effective."

WakeMed told WRAL News that the average cost to have a calcium score test completed is $150.

Screenings can be done at a hospital, but the most cost-effective option for patients is to have it completed at an outpatient imaging location.

WakeMed, through Raleigh Radiology, offers CT cardiac calcium scoring screenings at its Clayton, Oberlin, Midtown and Wake Forest imaging locations.

"I think they should try it," Chambers advised other patients. "It's a noninvasive test that doesn't take very long."

Friedman reminds everyone that other effective ways of reducing the coronary artery disease are maintaining a healthy diet and increasing exercise.

Check Up 13How A Simple Heart Scan Saved Fred Bock's Life

Fred Bock's discovery that something was "off" happened when he checked his blood pressure at CVS, noting it was extremely high.

INDIANAPOLIS — Fred Bock has always been an outdoor enthusiast, constantly seeking ways to stay active, whether it's hiking, hunting or fishing. 

For him, outdoor activities are more than just a pastime — they're part of his identity. But in a scary turn of events, Bock realized how lucky he was to narrowly escape having a fatal heart attack when out enjoying his hobbies.

A love for the outdoors and hunting

Bock's life had always revolved around physical activities. He wasn't someone to shy away from challenges, even if it meant pushing himself to his limits. 

"I actually literally drug a 200-pound deer across the field in 20-degree weather," Bock said. 

Little did he know, this would be just before he would discover that his heart was failing.

A shocking diagnosis

Bock was 57 years old and was as active as usual when he learned he had major heart blockages.

"They use the terms like 'Widowmaker' for the blockage and, of course, that kind of opened your eyes a little bit," Bock said.

At the time, Bock was shocked to learn how close he was to a heart attack. He spent a lot of time outdoors on his own, and there were moments when he feared what might have happened if he had collapsed alone.

"I don't know that I'm exaggerating when I said I would probably be dead because a lot of my activities are by myself," Bock said. "There is no AED. There is no CPR."

The heart scan that changing everything

Bock's discovery that something was "off" happened when he checked his blood pressure at CVS, noting it was extremely high. 

He went home and re-tested, and it was still elevated. That started the chain of events that included a long-overdue appointment with his primary care doctor and a referral to a cardiologist, who suggested a baseline heart scan.

"I wasn't in there for 15 minutes. It was in and out," Bock said. 

The heart scan generated a calcium score, which measures hardened plaque buildup in the arteries.

"Anything over 300 has outstanding, pretty strong data to suggest, OK, you are at much higher risk for cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Kyle Harry, Bock's cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent. 

Bock's score was 455 — an alarming number that made it clear his heart was in serious danger.

A life-saving surgery

Harry ordered additional tests, which revealed several 80% and 90% blockages in Bock's arteries. Within weeks, Bock had a triple bypass surgery at the St. Vincent Heart Hospital.

The surgery lasted over five hours, and in five days, Bock was released to start cardiac rehab.

"He did a remarkable job with his surgery," Harry said, noting that Bock's compliance with rehab improved his outcome.

Today, Bock's nine-inch chest scar is a constant reminder of the health scare that nearly took his life — and the importance of healthy habits.

"It's a reminder every day to eat healthy, keep the weight off and live well," Bock said.

The impact on his family

Bock says this week marked 1,050 days since his surgery. His weight is down 40 pounds, the pallor on his face is gone and he overall feels better.

He's grateful he could celebrate his 60th birthday, and he is now more determined than ever to be around for his family.

"My daughter was in a few weddings this summer, and you start to realize that I really do want to go to her wedding," Bock said. "And my son got engaged recently, and you start to think about those are things I really want to do."

Sharing his story for others

Bock now shares his story because he wants others to realize the importance of early detection, starting with a heart scan for men 45 and older, and women 55 and older with more than two risk factors.

"Maybe you'll save your life. I mean, it did mine, for sure," Bock said.

For Check Up 13, qualified patients can register today for a $49 heart scan at Ascension St. Vincent.

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