Feature
February
16
Keeping an Eye on Heart Disease
Compiled by The Weekly Staff
February is American Heart Month. During this month, Cardiovascular Institute of the South is creating awareness about the fight against heart disease, the leading cause of death in men and women in America.
A common misconception about heart disease is that it only affects the elderly. But heart disease can affect both men and women of any age. In fact, heart disease is becoming more prevalent for those under age 60. Statistics show that cardiovascular disease affects 40 percent of both men and women ages 40-59.
For that reason, it’s never too early to take care of your heart. Just ask Keith Stanley, who at age 45 discovered that he had 99 percent blockages in two arteries of his heart.
Stanley, a crane operator and avid motorcycle rider from Houma, said he never thought he would be at risk for cardiovascular disease, especially at his age.
“I knew my dad had it, but without any other signs, I really never thought about it,” he said.
Through routine visits and blood work with his family doctor, Stanley learned that he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He was prescribed medication to keep these risk factors in check; however, it wasn’t long before Stanley began to experience chest pains.
“It was pretty bad,” he said of the pain. “It got to the point that I could always expect the chest pains no matter what I was doing.”
When he and his family doctor realized that the pain was not subsiding with medication, he was referred to CIS for cardiovascular testing.
During Stanley’s first visit at CIS, he received a treadmill electrocardiogram stress test, which led to further testing including a calcium score, echocardiogram and carotid ultrasound test on the same day. Each test indicated potential blockages in Stanley’s heart.
As a result, Stanley was scheduled for an angiogram on the next workday. An angiogram is a common non-surgical procedure that uses X-ray imaging and dye to see the arteries of the heart more clearly. This procedure allows physicians to determine the presence or absence of blockages in the arteries, as well as how the heart muscle is functioning and if blood is flowing properly through the heart.
During Stanley’s procedure, Dr. Craig Walker, founder of CIS, located blockages in two major arteries of his heart—both of which were 99 percent blocked. The doctor placed stents in these two areas to keep the vessels open and allow full blood flow back to Stanley’s heart.
After the procedure, Stanley noticed a significant improvement in his health.
“I didn’t feel any pain after the procedure, and certainly not any more chest pain,” he said.
Stanley said he always thought he had lived a fairly healthy lifestyle.
“Married life had me eating healthy,” he laughed. “And I had implemented a few lifestyle changes since I learned my cholesterol was high.”
However, Stanley did have one major, modifiable risk factor—smoking. But he had no idea that he was in danger of having cardiovascular disease, especially at age 45.
“Until you have a reason to go get something checked, you just don’t know,” he said.
To monitor his health, Stanley intends to visit CIS regularly for checkups and screenings. His experience shows that cardiovascular disease can strike at any time and at any age. It’s never too early to take care of your heart. And with heart disease, there may be no symptoms until a life-threatening cardiac event takes place, such as a heart attack or stroke. That is why it is important to determine your risk factors and take preventative measures to lessen your risk.
“The key to effectively prevent heart disease is education,” Dr. Walker said. “Anyone with risk factors, such as family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking, should consider the possibility of having heart disease regardless of the presence of symptoms.”
Stanley is thankful he sought medical attention when he did.
“I most definitely recommend that others get checked,” he said. “They have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
