Cardiac Scan Imaging Services of New York

Coronary Heart Disease

Symptoms of CHD vary widely and do not necessarily indicate the severity of the condition. The classic indicator of CHD is angina, or chest pain. The pain may radiate to the neck, jaw, or left arm. It is often described as a crushing, burning, or squeezing sensation. The person may also have shortness of breath. Sometimes, a person may have no symptoms at all until he or she suffers a heart attack.
CHD affects people of all races. It can be caused by a combination of unhealthy lifestyle and genetics. Coronary risk factors that increase the risk of CHD are as follows: cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke diabetes high blood cholesterol, especially a high level of LDL, the bad carrier for cholesterol high blood levels of triglycerides high blood pressure increasing age lack of exercisemale gender overweight or obesity Genetic factors that affect heart disease risk are beyond a person's control. These include a strong family history of the following: coronary heart disease heart attack high cholesterol  
Although family medical history or genetics can't be changed, a person can lower his or her risk for developing CHD. Here are some steps that a person can take to lower his or her coronary risk factors: Avoid smoking Control blood cholesterol and LDL Control diabetes Exercise regularly Follow a diet that is designed to lessen the risk factors for heart disease Keep high blood pressure under control Before menopause, women have some protection against heart disease. Experts believe this is due in part to the fact that they have adequate levels of estrogen in their bodies. This hormone may have a protective effect. Estrogen tends to raise HDL cholesterol, known as the good cholesterol. It also lowers total cholesterol. There is no proof that estrogen replacement therapy has this same protective effect in a woman who has gone through menopause. Estrogen replacement therapy is a form of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. In fact, the latest recommendation from the American Heart Association, or AHA, does not advise starting HRT for the sole purpose of preventing heart disease. There is not enough data to support this. This same advisory issued by the AHA in 2001 recommends that women who already have heart disease should not be started on HRT. In fact, a recent study has even shown that if HRT is started after a woman has a heart attack, she may be at a higher risk for worsening of her angina, or having other serious cardiac complications.
The diagnosis of CHD starts with a medical history and physical exam. An electrocardiogram, or EKG, may show abnormalities. However, an EKG may be normal between attacks of angina. A stress EKG is an EKG taken before, during, and after exercise. It is designed to bring on an attack of angina and record the changes that take place in the heart. Sometimes the person is injected with a substance called thallium during the stress test. Special pictures are then taken of the heart. The thallium scan can show areas of the heart that are damaged. The most reliable test for diagnosing CHD is a cardiac catheterization. In this procedure, a thin hollow tube or catheter is placed into an artery in the leg or arm. It is then passed through the artery and into the coronary artery. A contrast agent is injected into the tube. This allows the doctor to watch the blood flow through the heart and its arteries. Other techniques that are being used to help in the diagnosis of CHD include stress echocardiograms and new generations of CT scans.
CHD is a progressive disease that can lead to heart attack and sudden death.
Coronary heart disease is not contagious. However, it does tend to run in families.
Several types of medicines are often used together to reduce the symptoms of stable angina caused by CHD. Beta-blockers, such as atenolol or metoprolol, are used to decrease the work level of the heart Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide mononitrate, help to expand the blood vessels that supply the heart Aspirin may prevent heart attacks and warfarin may prevent blood clots. However, the use of warfarin in treating stable angina remains controversial Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, nifedipine, or verapamil, have been used for more than 20 years to open the coronary arteries and lower high blood pressure. However, two recent studies have found that people who take a calcium channel blocker have a much higher incidence of complications than people taking other medicines for high blood pressure. One study, for example, found that the risk of heart attack was 27% greater, and the risk of congestive heart failure was 26% higher. The American Heart Association recommends that people discuss risks and benefits of the medicine with the healthcare provider. Several surgical procedures can be used to reduce the symptoms of stable angina from coronary artery disease, such as: angioplasty, a procedure in which a tube with a balloon is inserted to reopen the artery atherectomy, which involves removing plaques that cause narrowing of a blood vessel laser surgery, which uses light waves to dissolve plaque placement of a stent, a rigid tube, into the artery at the reopened area to keep it from narrowing again
Side effects vary depending on the treatment used: Aspirin and warfarin increase the risk of bleeding Beta-blockers can cause a slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, depression, erectile dysfunction, and unpleasant dreams. Calcium channel blockers can cause flushing, nausea, headache, swelling of the ankles, low blood pressure, and weakness. These medicines have recently been linked with a higher risk of heart attack and congestive heart failure. Nitrates can cause headaches and low blood pressure. Surgery can result in infection, bleeding, allergic reaction to anesthesia, and even death.
Most people who have coronary heart disease are advised to start a regular exercise program. A person who has CHD should make every effort to reduce coronary risk factors. This may include smoking cessation, control of other diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and following a healthy diet for heart disease. Medicines may need to be adjusted to get the best response.
The person will have regular examinations and tests by the healthcare provider to check the progress of the coronary heart disease. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider. ** Discovery Health, Men's Health Center
According to the American Stroke Association, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies every 3 minutes? On average, over 89 females die from heart disease and stroke in New York each day? That early detection and treatment can save lives & Reduce Healthcare costs?
Coronary heart disease, or CHD, refers to the narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. CHD is a progressive disease that increases the risk of heart attack and sudden death.
In order for the heart to pump as it should, the heart muscle needs a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood. This blood is delivered by the coronary arteries. Two main vessels branch out to supply blood to the entire muscle of the heart. The heart needs more oxygen during exercise and high levels of activity. Less is needed when the person is at rest. Atherosclerosis means the fatty deposits that form under the inner lining of the blood vessels. When the coronary arteries become blocked, less blood can get through. The blockage can be small, or it may be large enough to fully obstruct blood flow. Blockage can occur in one or many coronary arteries. Small blockages may not always affect the heart's performance. The person may not have symptoms until the heart needs more oxygen-rich blood than the arteries can supply. This commonly occurs during exercise or other activity. The pain that results is called stable angina. If a blockage is large, angina pain can occur with little or no activity. This is known as unstable angina. In this case, the flow of blood to the heart is so limited that the person cannot do daily tasks without bringing on an angina attack. When the blood flow to an area of the heart is completely blocked, a heart attack occurs.

Heart Disease Education, Analysis and Research, and Treatment for Women Act

The American Heart Association, and its division the American Stroke Association, strongly supports the HEART for Women Act. This legislation would help ensure that heart disease and stroke are more widely recognized and more effectively treated in women. The association urges Congress to pass this important legislation this year.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and stroke is the No. 3 killer of women. Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill more women than the next five causes of death combined. Since 1979, the death rate for heart disease in men has declined by more than 17 percent, but the death rate for women has declined by only 2.5 percent over this same period. Minority women are particularly at risk for heart disease and stroke. For example, nearly half of African American women (45 percent) have some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to 32 percent of white women. More than 90 percent of primary care physicians don't know that heart disease kills more women each year than men. Women are less likely than men to receive certain diagnostic testing and treatments, such as angioplasties and stents, for cardiovascular diseases. Drug and medical device effectiveness may differ in women and men, yet doctors and researchers often don't know how safe and effective a particular medicine or device is for women.
The HEART for Women Act will be re-introduced in the Senate by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) in mid-February 2009. In the last Congress, the HEART for Women Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 418-4 vote on Sept. 25, 2008, but the bill was not voted on by the Senate. The HEART for Women Act takes a multi-pronged approach to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke: Raise awareness among women and their health care providers. The legislation authorizes grants to educate healthcare professionals about the prevalence and unique aspects of care for women in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It also authorizes the Medicare program to conduct an educational awareness campaign for older women about their risk for heart disease and stroke. Provide gender and race-specific information for clinicians and researchers. The legislation would require that healthcare data that is already being reported to the federal government be stratified by gender, as well as by race and ethnicity. Among the information that would be reported by gender includes clinical trial data, pharmaceutical and medical device approval data, medical errors data, hospital quality data, and quality improvement data. Improve screening for low-income women at risk for heart disease and stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently administers a program called WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) that provides heart disease and stroke prevention screening, such as tests for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, to low-income uninsured and underinsured women in 20 states. The legislation would authorize the expansion of WISEWOMAN to all 50 states.
On average, employers spend an estimated $18,000 per employee per year for all costs related to health and lost productivity due to illness according to the CDC? Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the United States of both men & women and leading cause of permanent disability? Obesity is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

Go Red For Women Video \"Just A Little Heart Attack\"

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ABCs of Prevention

Sounds simple doesn't it? So why is coronary heart disease the single major cause of death and stroke the No. 3 killer in the U.S.? One reason is undeniably a lack of commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not only your best defense against heart disease and stroke, it's also your responsibility. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes the ideas listed in the heart below. By following these three simple steps you can reduce all of the modifiable risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke including: Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If someone in your household smokes, encourage them to quit. We know it's tough. But it's tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease. Commit to quit. Choose good nutrition. A healthy diet is one of the best weapons you have to fight cardiovascular disease. The food you eat (and the amount) can affect other controllable risk factors: cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and overweight. Choose nutrient-rich foods - which have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories - over nutrient-poor foods. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, fish, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products is the key. And to maintain a healthy weight, coordinate your diet with your physical activity level so you're using up as many calories as you take in. Reduce blood cholesterol. Fat lodged in your arteries is a disaster waiting to happen. Sooner or later it could trigger a heart attack or stroke. You've got to reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and get moving. If diet and physical activity alone don't get those numbers down, then medication may be the key. Take it just like the doctor orders. Here's the lowdown on where those numbers need to be: Total Cholesterol: should be less than 200 mg/dL LDL (bad) Cholesterol: If you're at low risk for heart disease: LDL should be less than 160 mg/dL If you're at intermediate risk for heart disease: LDL should be less than 130 mg/dL If you're at high risk for heart disease (including those with heart disease or diabetes): LDL should be less than 100mg/dL HDL (good) Cholesterol: should be 40 mg/dL or higher for men or 50 mg/dL or higher for women Triglycerides: should be less than 150 mg/dL Lower high blood pressure. It's the single largest risk factor for stroke. Stroke is the No. 3 killer and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Stroke recovery is difficult at best and you could be disabled for life. Shake that salt habit, take your medications as recommended by your doctor and get moving. Those numbers need to get down and stay down. Your goal is less than 120/80 mmHg. Be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days of the week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level. But something IS better than nothing. If you're doing nothing now, start out slow. Even 10 minutes at a time may offer some health benefits. Studies show that people who have achieved even a moderate level of fitness are much less likely to die early than those with a low fitness level. Aim for a healthy weight. Obesity is an epidemic in America, not only for adults but also for children. An epidemic is when a health problem is out of control and many people are affected by it. Fad diets and supplements are not the answer. Good nutrition, controlling calorie intake and physical activity are the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes - the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) can help tell you if your weight is healthy. Manage diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related death. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease due to a variety of risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. Reduce stress. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person's life that may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Research has even shown that stress reaction in young adults predicts middle-age blood pressure risk. Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and lead to heart failure or stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, produce irregular heartbeats and affect cancer and other diseases. It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. However, it's not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.

Study: Erectile dysfunction may indicate heart disease, death risk

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Study focused on 1,519 men in 13 countries who had heart disease. After five years, researchers found men with ED had more hypertension, stroke Researchers said risks of death increased with progression of ED About 50 million U.S. men have some degree of erectile dysfunction (CNN) -- Erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of death in men with cardiovascular disease, according to new research out this week. German researchers said in the current issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association that men with cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, and ED were twice as likely to die from all causes than men who did not have erectile dysfunction. And those with ED were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a serious cardiovascular problem such as a heart attack or stroke. The study focused on 1,519 men from 13 countries who had heart disease. The men were asked in a questionnaire whether they suffered from ED and at what degree they were impotent (mild, mild-to-moderate, moderate or severe). They were given follow-up questionnaires after two years and at their final visits five years later. During the five years, some men were given specific drugs for heart disease, such as ACE inhibitors including ramipril, telmisartan or a combination. These drugs relax blood vessels and decrease the heart's workload. Others were given placebos. Health.com: 9 surprising heart attack risks After the five years, researchers found that patients with ED tended to be older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, stroke, diabetes and lower urinary tract surgery than those without ED. And deaths from all causes occurred in 11.3 percent of the patients who reported ED but in only 5.6 percent of those with no or mild ED at the start of the study. Approximately 50 million U.S. men, including 50 to 52 percent of men ages 40 to 70, have some degree of erectile dysfunction, according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, one of the largest U.S. studies on the disorder. Researchers said the risks of death from all causes increased with the progression of ED. Health.com: 7 ways to treat erectile dysfunction "Erectile dysfunction is something that regularly should be addressed in the medical history of patients; it might be a symptom of early atherosclerosis," said Dr. Michael Böhm, lead author of the study and chairman of Internal Medicine in the Department of Cardiology and Intensive Care at the University of Saarland, Germany. "Men with ED [who] are going to a general practitioner or a urologist need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment," Böhm stressed. "ED is an early predictor of cardiovascular disease." Dr. Robert Stein, professor of cardiology at the New York University School Medicine, agrees. A spokesman for the American Heart Association, Stein called the study a wake-up call. "If I suffered from ED, I would start changing my lifestyle. Eat better, watch my cholesterol, stop smoking, exercise and see my doctor," Stein warned. "This is important for all men, not just those with cardiovascular problems. "It's something we've suspected for a long time," Stein said. "That's because ED is associated with endothelial dysfunction that occurs in cardiovascular problems. But this study is the first to really put it into perspective." Endothelial dysfunction is a chemical breakdown of the thin layer of cells that line the blood vessels. The condition also can be found in diabetes and hypertension. Stein also noted that researchers found that although the medication given to the participants could reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, the drugs didn't influence the course or the development of ED. And according to Böhm, drugs for erectile dysfunction may cure the initial problem, but they don't protect against cardiovascular or other life-threatening illnesses. "The medication works, and the patient doesn't show up anymore," Böhm said. "These men are being treated for ED, but not the underlying cardiovascular disease. A whole segment of men is being placed at risk." Böhm continued, "if a man has erectile dysfunction, then he needs to ask his physician to check for other risk factors of cardiovascular disease."

Police

Reuters Health- Police officers may have a higher-than-average risk of developing heart disease. Not all of which can be explained by traditional risk factors, a new study suggests. Researchers found that compared with the general population, officers show an elevated rate of early atherosclerosis-build up of fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to heart disease or stroke. The study out of Buffalo showed the difference was not fully explained by the usual heart attack risk factors, such as older age, heavier weight, smoking and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Past studies have suggested that chronically elevated levels of "stress" hormones, like cortisol, may contribute to atherosclerosis. The Buffalo study used ultrasound to measure thickening in the walls of participants' carotid arteries; greater thickness is indicative of early, symptomless atherosclerosis. Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, June 2009

Chronic stress linked to more heart disease among police

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Oct. 20, 2008. Reuters Health- Police officers may have a higher-than-average risk of developing heart disease. Not all of which can be explained by traditional risk factors, a new study suggests. Researchers found that compared with the general population, officers show an elevated rate of early atherosclerosis-build up of fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to heart disease or stroke. The study out of Buffalo showed the difference was not fully explained by the usual heart attack risk factors, such as older age, heavier weight, smoking and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Washington -- It's no secret that police officers face a lot of stress on the job. After all, bringing in the bad guys is hazardous duty. But surprisingly, it's also the low-level, chronic stress of finishing up paperwork and juggling work and family -- stressors faced by workers across occupations -- that can take a toll on the health of police officers, according to recent research. The risk for cardiovascular disease is higher among law enforcement officers than it is for the rest of the population, where it is already exceedingly high. Heart disease and strokes cause more deaths in Americans of both genders and all racial and ethnic groups than any other disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It appears that chronic stress in police officers may be a factor in heart disease's elevated levels among these men and women. And, researchers say, there is likely a similar effect in other occupations. Firefighters, nurses, teachers and even newspaper reporters are all vulnerable to the effects of chronic stress, said Warren Franke, PhD, a kinesiology professor and director of the exercise clinic at Iowa State University. These findings signal the need for additional precautions by physicians, especially those whose patients are either still in law enforcement or are retirees, said Sandra Ramey, PhD, RN, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. "A red flag should go up, and more screening should be considered beyond the routine." Ramey has examined stress's impact on police officers in large and small law enforcement agencies. She found that a common scenario plays out. Officers who have heart disease most often retire with a disability and "self-select out of the population." Heart disease risk is higher for law enforcement personnel than for the rest of the U.S. population. She continued to follow these retirees in her research and discovered they had twice the prevalence of cardiovascular disease as the general population. Some of their risk factors, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and the presence of diabetes, were three times greater than in the general population. Plus, the retirees were still young. Their average age was 55, she said. Another, perhaps unsolvable stressor is in the nature of police organizations, Franke noted. Most police departments have paramilitary structures in which orders come from the top. "There's not a huge amount of give and take," he said. This stress is bureaucratic, which is not unique to police departments, he added. Franke stumbled onto the connection between heart disease and law enforcement when surveying Iowa Dept. of Public Safety retirees and their widows. He found the incidence of workers' cardiovascular disease almost twice as high as that of Iowa's general population. Franke now is examining the biological mechanism that might trigger this high disease rate. He has a CDC grant to explore the hypothesis that the body's inflammatory response is higher among people under chronic stress. John Violanti, PhD, research associate professor in New York's University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, also is examining the stress of police work and its link to physical and mental ills. More than 400 police officers are participating in his study, the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study, funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Data are being collected via ultrasound exams of brachial and carotid arteries, salivary cortisol and blood samples. In addition, the officers wear a small electronic device to measure the quantity and quality of their sleep throughout a typical police shift cycle. "There is a real need to examine what the job does to people, usually good people," said Violanti, a member of the New York State Police for 23 years. Violanti is measuring cortisol patterns among police officers as a signal for stress. A pilot study of officers with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder revealed that the hormone was elevated in those with moderate and severe PTSD. An imbalance in cortisol can signal an opportunity for disease, he said. "Cortisol is a regulatory hormone that keeps things going. Stress messes things up." Violanti managed to sidestep health problems while on the force by exercising, running and watching his diet. "I've been pretty lucky." Education is key for the young officers entering the force, Violanti added. They need to be told about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including eating right and getting enough sleep. "We found that telling officers something as simple as getting a room-darkening shade helped."

Firemen

Firefighters face many hazards, including chemical exposure, thermal injury, and trauma. From 1995 to 2007, there were 1,345 on-duty firefighter fatalities (1-3). What is surprising, however, is that over 44% of these deaths were classified as sudden cardiac death (1-3). Volunteer firefighters (VFF) fall victim to sudden cardiac death at a disproportionate rate when compared to professional firefighters (PFF). Of the 440 sudden cardiac death victims from 1995 to 2004, nearly 70% were VFF (1). Of the victims over 60 years of age, 93% were VFF (1). It was proposed that this might reflect the tendency of VFF to remain active beyond retirement age. From 2001 to 2005, over 80% of the victims were over the age of 40 and over half were over the age of 50 (4). In a review of all on-duty firefighter deaths between 1994 and 2004, 32% were associated with fire suppression duties, 31% involved firefighters responding to or returning from alarms, 13% occurred during training activities, and the remaining 24% occurred during other firefighting duties, such emergency medical services and administrative tasks (5). The author suggests the risk of sudden cardiac death during fire suppression may be increased due to inadequate physical fitness, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, and existing medical conditions (5). Possible explanations for the increased risk of sudden cardiac death in firefighters include psychological stressors, heat stress, smoke and chemical exposure, and high physical demands (6-7). It is unclear which and to what degree occupational and personal risk factors increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in firefighters has been investigated (8- 14). Obesity is known to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with adverse health conditions. In a study by Soteriades et al. (8), baseline and 5-year follow-up measurements of body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were evaluated in municipal firefighters. Of those studied 53% were found to be overweight and 34.9% were obese upon entering the study. After 5 years, obesity prevalence increased significantly to 39.7%. Obese individuals were also more likely to have hypertension at both baseline and follow-up. A separate study conducted by Clark et al. (9) observed similar results. This study also reported significant increases in diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels with increasing BMI (9). Elevated cholesterol levels are another known cardiovascular risk factor. Hypercholesterolemia has been observed in 69.4% of firefighters as reported by Soteriades et al. (10). In this study, firefighters with higher cholesterol levels were more likely to be older, obese, and have higher triglyceride levels. Likewise, Licciardone et al. (11) reported an age-related increase in body weight, total cholesterol, and blood pressure. Byczek et al. (12) found the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and high total cholesterol in male firefighters to be higher than those in U.S. adult men. There is limited research investigating the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in VFF (13). Swank and colleagues reported similar prevalence of all modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors between VFF and the general population. In general, an individual's risk for cardiovascular disease increases with the presence of multiple risk factors, advancing age, or elevations in risk factor severity (14). The presence of cardiovascular risk factors, especially obesity, is known to limit the performance of firefighters (15). Extra fat adversely affects job performance (16) and hinders heat Firefighter Physiology 21 dissipation, which creates strain upon the heart. Overall, the upper body fat distribution typically found in men is associated with higher blood pressure, higher serum glucose and cholesterol levels, and coronary heart disease (17). The high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors found in firefighters may contribute to a higher risk of sudden cardiac death and adversely affect firefighting performance. Little research has examined the physiological requirements of firefighting in order to characterize the physical demands and identify fitness characteristics needed for successful job performance (116, 18-29). Firefighting is known to induce significant demands on cardiovascular functioning as well as require substantial physical strength for prolonged periods (18-20). Firefighters endure long periods of inactivity followed by high degrees of physical stress (6). During the immediate response to an alarm, firefighters experience significant increases in heart rate (21). Upon arrival at the fire scene, firefighters work at levels above 80% of their maximal heart rate (HRmax) for a substantial period of time completing fire suppression duties (18). However, quantifying workload from heart rate alone is difficult due to the influence of heat stress, decreased oxygen, and increased carbon dioxide levels. Source: Indiana University - Firefighter Health and Safety Research Did you know...   Heart attacks are the number one cause of on-duty firefighter deaths. Heart disease affects 80 million Americans, and the emergency services are not immune. In fact, the stress put on the heart and body by emergency response activities creates an increased risk of heart attack. Protecting your heart through regular health screenings, proper nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle choices is key to lowering your risk of becoming a statistic. Source: by the NVFC  

Adolescent Lifescan Screening Partnering with Gregory M Hirsch Memorial Foundation

Sudden Cardiac Death is the leading cause of death in young people. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, HCM is a disease that causes thickening of the myocardium (heart muscle). It is the leading cause of death in young people. Our goal is to increase awareness and understanding among the general public, medical professionals, physical education teachers, and athletic coaches and trainers concerning HCM and other conditions that can result in sudden cardiac death. Through screening programs more children and families at risk can be identified early. First Screening - WaldWick High School- Waldwick NJ April 2010 The Gregory M. Hirsch Memorial Foundation, Inc.

Waldwick HS Offers Heart Screening for Freshman

By Christina Hernandez Waldwick Suburban News Friday, February 19, 2010 Waldwick - Waldwick High School Principal Kevin Carroll said the Class of 2013 would be the first in Bergen County to participate in an in-school heart screening next month. To conduct the screening, high school officials have partnered with hospital, county and local organizations, including the Waldwick-based Sean Fisher Memorial Foundation, which is named for a 13-year-old boy who died from heart failure while performing football practice drills two summers ago. Carroll said freshmen were chosen to participate in the health screening program not only because of budget constraints, but the constitute what would have been Sean's graduating class. The free program is open to all ninth-graders who attend Waldwick High and want to be checked for high blood pressure or heart ailments, such as murmurs or irregular rhythms.   A pediatric cardiologist at Hackensack University Medical Center will review each student's results and will, in turn, send them back to the high school. Parents must sign a release to have their child participate in the program, which is expected to be held during school hours next month. A date for the program hasn't been scheduled. James Fisher, Sean's father and the co-founder of the Sean Fisher foundation, said the foundation contributed about $20,000 to the cost of leasing heart screening machines from CardiacScan Imagining and paying for a physician's services.   "There is no harm in doing a test like this," he said. Fisher said he was unsure of the total cost of the initiative, but said hosting such a program for all of the students in the school would have been too expensive. Fisher said this initiative is the first of its kind being held in schools across the state. "If we can save one life, one kid," he said, "that's the goal."   In addition, Carroll said a doctor from Hackensack Medical Center was expected to speak about healthy living and heart disease to high school students this month. The assembly was postponed due to weather, and Carroll said it would likely be held next month.   "I am thankful that this is coming to fruition," Sean's mother, Sheila, said of the program. "I just wish kids get involved with this program" to become more aware of their health conditions.  

Fire Fighters- working to Death

Fire fighters know the gruesome statistics — about 100 fire fighters die in the line of duty each year, on average, and half of those fatalities are caused by heart attacks. Perhaps more alarming is this: the number of line-of-duty deaths from heart attacks has remained constant since the early 1990s. It hasn’t gone up significantly, and it hasn’t gone down much either. Read More

Vascular-Stroke Screen

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} 1.    Carotid Scan-consists of a quick carotid duplex ultrasound scan and a blood pressure check for severe hypertension. These exams can detect the most frequent causes of stroke - significant internal carotid artery stenosis. 2.    Aortic Scan-an ultrasound scan of the aorta, the body's main artery. The scan can tell how big the aneurysm is and when it needs treatment. 3.    PAD Scan-A Doppler exam for PAD can quickly determine if there is any impairment in the circulation to the limbs. The exam can identify blockages in the leg arteries and tell how severe the blockage is and whether treatment is needed. Almost everyone in this country knows about heart disease--the importance of prevention, detection, and treatment and the huge impact it has on people's health. But they know very little about vascular disease outside the heart. That's despite the fact that many vascular diseases can produce strokes, which are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke is also the leading cause of disability in the U.S., and more than $70 billion is spent annually on the care of stroke patients, according to the American Vascular Association (AVA). An estimated 20 to 30 million Americans are at risk for various vascular diseases, including stroke, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery disease and aortic aneurysms. And according to the AVA, vascular disease outside the heart causes almost as much death and disability as heart disease, and more than any cancer. This became evident during one of the AVA's first ever free national screening studies which was held at 17 sites throughout the U.S. in May 2002. The study yielded some disturbing results: Thirteen percent of people screened had signs of vascular conditions, including blocked carotid arteries, aortic aneurysms and PAD. Most people who were screened didn't know they had a problem and had never been tested for vascular disease. Similiarities Between Heart and Vascular Disease It's important to understand that vascular disease outside the heart does occur in a variety of different locations -- the carotid arteries in the neck, the aorta, the arteries in the legs and arms and even disease in the veins. Most of these problems are very similar to heart disease in the sense that they are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) of the arteries. It just occurs in different arteries than the coronary arteries to the heart. It's also important to understand the potential severity of these diseases. Just like heart disease, each one of those problems has consequences that can be fatal or can be very serious and lead to hospitalization and severe disability long term. The Most Deadly Types of Vascular Disease Carotid artery disease, PAD and aortic aneurysms are probably the three most serious non-cardiac vascular diseases that afflict Americans and are certainly the ones that produce the most potential for death and disability. Carotid artery disease typically occurs when the carotid arteries, the main blood vessels to the brain, develop a buildup of plaque caused by atherosclerosis, or a hardening of the arteries. When the buildup becomes severe, it can cause a stroke, which can be fatal or permanently disabling. However, if carotid artery disease is detected and treated, doctors can prevent most strokes. Aortic aneurysms occur when the wall of the aorta, the main artery in the chest and abdomen, progressively weakens. This causes a dilation of the vessel. If not diagnosed and treated, the aneurysm will grow larger and eventually rupture. According to the AVA, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the tenth leading cause of death in men over age 55.  

Screening for Heart Attack and Stroke

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Can noninvasive screening help determine risk for heart attack and stroke? More than 1 million Americans have a heart attack each year, and about 515,000 die annually from heart attacks, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Meanwhile, about 700,000 Americans have a stroke, and about 150,000 people die from stroke each year. One way to help identify people who may be at higher risk for stroke and heart attack is a noninvasive screening called a carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) ultrasound, which identifies whether patients have hardening of their arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a key risk factor for both heart attack and stroke. More than 99 percent of heart attacks are caused by atherosclerosis, and atherosclerosis is one of three key risk factors for stroke. It's important to find atherosclerosis before a heart attack occurs, because doctors have treatments that can reduce your risk of a heart attack or sudden death.. What does CIMT measure? CIMT measures how much atherosclerosis (wall thickening and plaque) is present in the wall of the carotid artery. The carotid arteries are the arteries that feed your brain and face with blood. Ideally, we would like to measure atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries that supply your heart with blood, but the coronary arteries are hard to see with ultrasound because the ribs and lungs are in the way. Fortunately, the atherosclerosis (artery wall thickness and plaque) in the carotid arteries predicts who will have both heart attacks and strokes. There is data from several large research studies showing that carotid thickness and carotid plaque predict heart attack and stroke quite well. The University of Virginia studied more than 700 people in Virginia and found that CIMT predicted who was more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or need to have an artery opened. From the CIMT results, we can say if your risk for a heart attack or stroke is less than, equal or greater than the average person your age. Why are CIMT ultrasounds better than some other screening tests at predicting major cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke? Many cardiology tests answer a different question than a CIMT ultrasound. For example, cardiac catheterizations, stress tests and CT angiograms try to find out if there are blocked coronary arteries that cause chest discomfort that occurs with exercise (we call this "stable" angina). While these tests are good for finding blockages, they are not good in finding out whether there is atherosclerosis (thickening and plaque) in the walls of the artery. It is the atherosclerosis in the walls of the artery that causes most heart attacks. Therefore, it is important to find out how much atherosclerosis there is to find out who has a higher risk of a heart attack and sudden death. How is CIMT measured? How long does it take? CIMT is measured with an ultrasound machine in about 30 minutes. There is no discomfort, radiation or side effects for patients. What groups of people might benefit from a CIMT ultrasound? CIMT is a good test for: People who don't know if they have coronary or other artery disease but who have risk factors, including: People whose cholesterol levels are borderline for being a risk factor for heart disease; People with healthy cholesterol levels and a family history of heart disease; and People with unhealthy cholesterol levels but no family history of heart disease. People who have had a previous heart attack. People who are seeking to determine if their cholesterol-lowering treatment is effective and necessary. People who wish to follow how well their cholesterol-lowering treatment is working. This group of patients may want a CIMT ultrasound every five years.  

Firefighter Health and Fitness

Firefighters are subjected to many different situations in which they risk their lives to save others. However, many firefighters do not protect the most valuable asset, themselves. Too many lineofduty deaths (LODD) occur each year, and the numbers have not changed much over the years. Approximately 40 to 50% of the LODDs that occur each year are from heart attack or stroke. Read more

SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH SCREENINGS FOR FRESHMAN CLASS

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Date: February 22, 2011 For Immediate Release SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH SCREENINGS FOR FRESHMAN CLASS As American Heart Health Awareness Month comes to a close, think about preventing sudden cardiac death in children and young adults.  One of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).  HCM is a genetic disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder to pump blood throughout the body.  Most people have few, if any, symptoms of this disease.  Some people experience shortness of breath when exercising, chest pain, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Early detection and treatment saves lives!  For the second year, The Gregory M. Hirsch Memorial Foundation (GMHMF) in conjunction with Waldwick High School will be conducting screenings on Monday, March 21.  Last year three students were identified who required follow-up care. One student’s case was serious.  Thanks to early detection, these students are now under the care of their physician and have the opportunity to lead strong, productive lives.  This innovative screening program was developed by Kerri Winans Kaley, of Huntington, NY, founder of CardiacScan Imaging Services and GMHMF trustee along with Robert J. Tozzi, M.D., FACC, of Ridgewood, director of the Gregory M. Hirsch Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, a division of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). Freshman students at Waldwick High School may take advantage of this free screening.  This year’s screening is sponsored by GMHMF, The Fischer Foundation, Gift of Life America and CardiacScan Imaging Services. Parents of other area students may contact the Gregory M. Hirsch Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at (201) 487-7617 to arrange for a private screening session, which costs $265. “Screenings are the only way to know if your child has HCM,” said Fred C. Hirsch, GMHMF Founder. “They are painless and take about 30 minutes. A fraction of time, compared to a lifetime of grief in losing your child.” GMHMF is working with other area non-profit organizations to defray the costs so that every freshman high school class in Bergen County can be screened. Prevent sudden cardiac arrest; save your child’s life!              GMHMF is dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in children and young adults by better understanding its causes, identifying at-risk individuals and families, and offering those families state-of-the-art treatment and support. All etiologies of sudden cardiac death will be investigated including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is responsible for the vast majority of these devastating losses. For more information, please visit www.gmhmfoundation.org. The Gregory M. Hirsch Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, a division of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at HUMC is committed to providing individualized care, treatment, and support to patients and families with HCM.  It is the first facility established in the area to screen families for HCM. For more information, please visit www.humc.com/hirsch. # # #

Adolescent Screening

What does an adolescent LifeScan include? The adolescent LifeScan is a simple, painless and noninvasive Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Echocardiogram (ECHO) and Body Mass Index (BMI) screening program. The purpose is to identify as many high-risk abnormalities as possible. (Read More...)

Grieving parents set up heart screening tests for Waldwick high schoolers

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CBS Channel 2 News: Waldwick Screening draws media attention

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Fox News: Preventing Sudden Cardiac Death

noscript>Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} See how one high school is screening students for heart conditions to prevent sudden death on the playing field

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS SUGAR INTAKE LEVELS

  recommended sugar intake Report Provides New Sugar Recommendations For Adults The American Heart Association has come up with the first-ever recommended sugar intake levels for adults, in the hopes of spurring healthy eating habits. By Emily Main Avoid processed foods as much as you can, and satisfy your sweet tooth with naturally sweet foods. RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—A teaspoon of the stuff might make your medicine go down, but exceeding your recommended sugar intake could lead to obesity, heart disease, and not-so-healthy eating habits. But how much sugar is sweet, and how much turns your health sour? For the first time ever, the American Heart Association (AHA) has released guidelines giving people an idea of what a healthy daily sugar intake really is. THE DETAILS: The AHA statement, published yesterday online in the journal Circulation, makes the point that added sugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup or ordinary table sugar added to sodas, breads, and other processed foods, are likely responsible for the increase in calorie consumption and the subsequent rise in obesity of the past few decades. Furthermore, people who have unhealthy sugar intake levels also consume lower levels of vital nutrients, such as zinc, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. And one study has suggested that too much sugar could raise blood pressure levels. The report also notes that over the past 30 years, we've consumed an average of 150 to 300 more calories per day than we used to, 50 percent of which come from beverages. And our physical activity levels remain unchanged, so those extra calories don't get burned off. Surveys have also found that the average American consumes around 22.2 teaspoons of added sugar every day. According to the new guidelines, we should really be eating a fraction of that amount. The recommended sugar intake for adult women is 5 teaspoons (20 grams) of sugar per day, for adult men, it’s 9 teaspoons (36 grams) daily, and for children, it's 3 teaspoons (12 grams) a day. WHAT IT MEANS: Naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains don't need to be avoided, and make up part of a healthy diet, says lead author Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, associate provost and professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Even the occasional soda isn't a bad thing. "We're not saying that you should eliminate sugar from your diet or that you can't have sugar-sweetened foods," she says. But when you can't stay within the recommended sugar allowances, you need to make up for it with extra exercise. And rather than waste your sugar intake on sodas and other empty calories, she adds, "use it in a way that enhances the flavor and palatability of already nutritional foods like flavored yogurt or flavored milk." Of course, knowing how much sugar you should be eating is completely different from calculating what you're actually eating. Daily intakes of added sugar aren't easy to estimate, says Johnson, as the Food and Drug Administration doesn't require that nutrition labels list the amount of naturally occurring sugars separate from the amounts of added sugars. The American Society of Nutrition's new Smart Choices Program, which launched this past summer, can help you to a certain extent. Products that qualify must get fewer than 25 percent of their calories from added sugar, but some products that qualify have as many as 17 grams per serving (nearly a full day's worth for women), and the nutrition labels still don't note whether those are naturally occurring or added. The best way to cut added sugars out of your diet is to limit processed foods as much as possible, and satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit. Make a practice of this, and you won't need to spend so much time staring at food labels and counting sugar grams. Since that's not always possible, we compiled a list of a few common processed food items, and their average levels of total and added sugars, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Database: Plain bagel: 5.05 grams of sugar, 4.8 of which are added Whole-wheat bread (one slice): 5.57 grams of sugar, 5.0 of which are added Regular sodas: 8.97 grams of sugar, all of it added Fruit punch: 11.29 grams of sugar, 4.4 of which are added Bowl of corn flakes: 6.11 grams of sugar, all of it added Fruit-flavored yogurt: 19 grams of sugar, 11.4 of which are added Italian salad dressing: 8.85 grams of sugar, 6.9 of which are added Fruit cocktail canned in light syrup: 13.93 grams of sugar, 6.4 of which are added Smooth peanut butter: 9.22 grams of sugar, 3.1 of which are added Granola bars: 21.8 grams of sugar, 20.4 of which are added Low-sodium spaghetti sauce: 11.57 grams of sugar, 6.5 of which are added. Watch your own "added" sugars. While it's important to avoid added sugars in processed foods, you should also limit the amount of sugar you add at the table, whether it's table sugar (4.7 grams of sugar per teaspoon), maple syrup (2.8 grams/teaspoon), or honey (3.8 grams/teaspoon).  

Study finds that teen athletes often not screened for heart risks

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/11/8759048-teen-athletes-often-not-screened-for-heart-risks-study-finds Teen athletes often not screened for heart risks, study finds By Linda Carroll Teen athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death may be falling through the cracks because doctors are skipping parts of screening exams, a new study shows. In pre-season physicals for high school sports, fewer than 6 percent of doctors followed the potentially life-saving screening guidelines suggested by the American Heart Association, according to a report presented at the Heart Association’s annual meeting. While doctors typically listen to young athletes’ hearts and record blood pressures, they often fail to ask important questions designed to ferret out heart disease risk. For example, 67 percent of surveyed doctors said they didn’t always ask teens whether any family members suffered from heart problems. Even more alarming – barely half of the physicians were even aware that the AHA guidelines existed. More than 7 million teens play high school sports, according to Dr. Nicolas Madsen, a cardiology fellow at Seattle Children’s Hospital of the University of Washington. Studies show that sudden death occurs at a rate of one in 30,000 to 40,000. That translates into 175 to 233 deaths each year among high school athletes. Perfect season ends in tragedy: High schooler dies after game-winning shot Recently, there’s been a push to add more tests, such as electrocardiograms, to the standard student-athlete physical, said Madsen, the study’s lead author. But we can’t know whether those additional tests are necessary until all physicians are following current guidelines to the letter, Madsen added. For the new study Madsen and his colleagues sent out surveys to every family practice doctor and every pediatrician in Washington State. The response was high with 72 percent of pediatricians and 56 percent of family practitioners returning surveys. Doctors did most poorly when it came to asking about the heart health of teens and their families.     28 percent didn’t always ask if a teen had chest pain during exercise     22 percent didn’t always ask if the teen ever experienced unexplained fainting     26 percent didn’t always ask about a family history of early deaths     67 percent didn’t always ask about a family history of heart disease. While it’s heartening to see that most doctors did remember to ask about sudden deaths in a teen’s family, it’s distressing to see that more than two thirds of doctors weren’t always asking about a family history of heart disease in their exams, Madsen said. That means that doctors could be missing families in which there were recognized heart problems, but no one had died. For Dr. Gaurav Arora the biggest surprise in the new study was the number of physicians who said they didn’t always ask about chest pain or fainting. “Those are red flags in young athletes,” said Arora, associate director of electrophysiology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. One explanation for the new findings is that there is no single form being used by doctors doing pre-season physicals for student athletes, Arora said. Things would be a lot simpler if everyone used the same screening criteria. Beyond that, Arora said, “we need better education across the board for all providers doing screening.”

CSEA LOCAL 830 - February 23, 2012

CardiacScan Imaging Services will be conducting Lifescan screenings by appointment only: Date:   Thursday, February 23, 2012 Time:    12 Noon - 8PM Where:  CSEA Local 830               400 County Seat Drive               Mineola, NY 11501 Call 1-888-518-2810 to book your appointment

IGHL/Kuhn Opportunity Ctr - February 23, 2012

CardiacScan Imaging Services will be performing Lifescan screenings by appointment only: Date:   February 23, 2012 Time:   9AM - 5PM IGHL/Kuhn Opportunity Center 221 N. Sunrise Service Road Manorville NY 11949 Call 1-888-518-2810 to book your appointment

IGHL/Kuhn Opportunity Ctr - February 28, 2012

CardiacScan Imaging Services will be performing Lifescan screenings by appointment only: Date:   February 28, 2012 Time:   9AM - 5PM IGHL/Kuhn Opportunity Center 221 N. Sunrise Service Road Manorville NY 11949 Call 1-888-518-2810 to book your appointment

Millions of Women Unaware that they have Arterial Disease

Millions of Women Unaware They Have Arterial Disease Peripheral Artery Disease in Women Underdiagnosed and Understudied By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD   Feb. 15, 2012 -- Between 4 million and 5 million women in the United States have peripheral artery disease, or PAD, but few are diagnosed and even fewer receive adequate treatment. In a special report released at the midpoint of American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is calling for greater efforts to identify and diagnose women at risk for the condition that commonly affects the leg arteries, and is also calling for more women to be involved in PAD studies. A major goal is to raise awareness about a disease that millions of women have, but few know about, says University of Minnesota Medical School professor of medicine, epidemiology, and community health, Alan T. Hirsch, MD, who was the lead author of the statement. “The rate of death and the health-care costs associated with PAD are at least comparable to those of heart disease and stroke,” he says. PAD Raises Heart, Stroke Risk Peripheral artery disease occurs when arteries that supply blood to the body’s extremities become narrowed or clogged with fatty plaque, restricting blood flow. PAD most commonly affects the arteries of the legs and pelvis. Hirsch says few people realize that damage to the arteries in the legs can be as serious as damage to those that lead directly to the heart and brain. Among the key findings in the report: Women with PAD are two to three times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack than women without the condition. If left untreated, PAD can sometimes lead to amputation. Age is a major risk factor for PAD for women and men, with people aged 50 or older being at increased risk and those over age 80 at highest risk. PAD appears to impact a woman’s ability to get around more than men, and this is especially true for African-American women. “Damage to the arteries in the legs and damage to those leading to the brain or heart carry comparable risk for future heart attack, stroke, or death,” Hirsch says. PAD Is Often a Silent Disease Classic symptoms of peripheral artery disease include leg pain and cramping when walking or exercising, but most people with the condition do not have these warning signs. Hirsch says the low rate of symptoms helps explain why so few people with PAD receive adequate treatments, which can include drug therapies, supervised exercise, and surgery to restore blood flow to narrowed or blocked arteries. In addition to advanced age, risk factors for PAD include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and having a family history of the condition. Cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, says adequate treatment is important because women with PAD tend to experience very rapid functional declines. She agrees that at-risk women should be screened for PAD and that more gender-specific research is needed to better understand the course of PAD and other diseases of the artery in women. “If you are a woman who has any problem with your arteries, we don’t know enough to tell you what is going to happen,” she says. “We do know that outcomes among women with peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease tend to be bad.” Hirsch hopes that programs like the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign can raise awareness about PAD. “Not too long ago, most women didn’t know that their primary risk was heart disease,” he says, adding that now it is common knowledge that more women die from heart disease than from all cancers combined. “We would like to see a similar effort to make women aware of their risk for PAD,” he says.  

Cold Spring Harbor Library - February 29, 2012

CardiacScan Imaging Services will be performing Lifescan screenings by appointment only: Date:   February 29, 2012 Time:   12PM - 8PM Where: The Cold Spring Harbor Library - Lower Level              95 Harbor Road              Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 Call 1-888-518-2810 to book your appointment