If you never experienced symptoms of heart trouble and were in excellent shape, would you think to visit a cardiologist? What if you had a family history of cardiovascular disease – would you change your mind?
For CTVS patient Chad Benestante, these questions hit close to home.
Chad is a very active, fit and generally healthy 53 year old firefighter who works out six days a week.
Even though his father died from a heart attack at an early age, Chad never dreamed he would be affected by heart disease because he has lived a healthy lifestyle. His father also suffered from diabetes, and Chad was always more concerned with developing that condition than worrying about his heart.
However, a routine physical with an important conversation about his family’s heart history prompted him to get his cardiovascular health checked.
Chad’s Story
Because of his excellent health, and a total absence of symptoms, Chad never suspected he was at risk for what is known as a ‘widowmaker’ heart attack, where the left anterior descending artery of the heart is severely blocked.
He discovered he had this surprising diagnosis following a cardiovascular evaluation performed after his routine annual physical required by the fire department. His primary care provider strongly suggested that he undergo a cardiac calcium test to screen for heart disease because of his father’s history.
His test turned up positive with calcium deposits which led to a coronary angiogram by a cardiologist that showed severe coronary artery blockage.
Upon diagnosis of this unexpected and serious form of heart disease, Chad was referred to cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey McNeil who recommended urgent coronary bypass surgery to reroute healthy blood flow around the blocked artery and avoid a potential heart attack.
Chad was worried the surgery would disrupt his work and active lifestyle, but as Dr. McNeil explained, “this procedure was being proactive, not reactive, and he was an excellent candidate for a smooth and successful recovery.”
This American Heart Month, Chad is urging others to never ignore your family history.
“I always ignored the fact that my father died of a heart attack so young because of his unhealthy lifestyle, and did not think it could ever impact my health,” he says.
“Pay attention to your numbers even though you don’t have symptoms.”
What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) is a surgical procedure where a healthy artery or vein is used to create a bypass around a blocked coronary artery. The bypass graft is sewn in place on each end using a very fine suture.
Once the bypass is created, the blood will flow through the graft in a new path that “bypasses” or goes around the blockage supplying better blood flow to the heart muscle.
In order to perform the surgery, access to the heart and chest cavity requires dividing the sternum or breastbone. The bone is then repaired at the end of the surgery and held in place with wires or plates. The usual hospital stay for bypass surgery is about five days and a full recovery takes about six weeks.
When should you see a cardiologist?
Dr. McNeil says that family history (genetics) is a very strong predictor of coronary artery disease, and while having a healthy lifestyle (no smoking, regular exercise, healthy diet, etc.) can help lower your risk, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of developing coronary disease.
He therefore recommends getting screened sooner rather than later if you have a family history of it, even in the absence of any coronary disease symptoms, like chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or high blood pressure.
While there is no current standard recommendation for obtaining coronary CT imaging at a certain age, guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force can be found here.
For questions about our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.
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