Anchor: Welcome back to We Are Austin from dwelling. Well, you are familiar with, February is heart health month and with their soul saver CT scans, ARA DiagnosticImaging is the place to go if you really want to get a check on your aged ticker. Dr. AshkanShademan is assembling us today. Hes an ARA body radiologist and you’re here today to share how youdetect early signs of heart disease. Good morning to you Dr. Shademan, its great to see you. Dr. Shademan: Hi good morning to you, very. Im Dr. Ashkan Shademan. Im a radiologistat ARA Diagnostic Imaging. My specialty is figure radiology which meant that I look at likeness, largely MRI and CT, to diagnose medical matters within the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Anchor: Wow, and that’s a really big job, especially this month. Dr.Shademan as we’re talking about middle state month. You do there, at ARA DiagnosticImaging, a CT calcium scoring, and you call it the heart saver. Why is it known as that? Dr. Shademan: Yes, so CT calcium scoring is a screening exam, so you get it before you haveany symptoms.It is called the heart saver because it can help us see if you have coronary artery disease before it develops into a serious problem such as a heart attack. Anchor: Wow, and you are familiar with with ARA Diagnostic Imaging we talk a lot about avoidance, and this sounds right up that alley. Tell us a little bit about coronary route ailment. Dr. Shademan: Yeah, so, this is an illustration of the heart and the chapter and coronary arteries in red that quantity blood and nutrients immediately to the heart. Coronary artery disease is a commoncondition in which chronic swelling leads to deposits of solid, cholesterol, and calciumin the walls of the coronary veins. These sediments are forwarded to as plaque. Hardplaques happen when plaque generates an hasty barrier of the coronary artery, looting the heartof the blood it needs to function. This can happen very suddenly and often without warning manifestations. Anchor: Oh, so, I’m curious. Can you actually, can you feel the medal in your stomach? Dr. Shademan: Although this plaque buildup can eventually lead to a rapid, ravaging heart attack, it often “havent been” manifestations that you can feel.Which is whyits sometimes drawn attention to as the speechles executioner, especially in brides but subjects as well. Anchor: Well, that’s very good to know and probably we should question, is coronaryartery malady common? Dr. Shademan: Coronary artery disease orheart disease is the leading cause of death in the United Nation. So yes, its very common.The problem is figuring out who is currently walking around with substantial disease and who isnot. Essentially trying to find who would actually benefit from preventive managements today. Anchor: Right, so how does the CT calcium scoring help you and the teamthere at ARA diagnose heart disease? Dr. Shademan: CT calcium scoring is a quick, comfortablenon-invasive exam that can tell you and your medical provider if your coronary arteries haveplaque.It renders likeness of the heart that clearly picture the level of plaque blockage. You simplyrelax on the bunked of one of our CT scanners and the quiz is completed in simply a few minutes. Thisis a CT scan to a regular mettle. Notice there are no prominent areas of white which would indicatethe presence of these calcified medals in the coronary routes. Here is a scan with moderateplaque escalation in one of the coronary veins. The spotlit white-hot sphere is the calcifiedplaque. And here is a scan of a feeling with severe plaque buildup in the coronary routes. This person is in danger of having a heart attack and may not even know it. Anchor: And so, I is clear that, after this quiz you’ll actually receive as a patient a report that gives you a value kind of on your elevation of plaque? Dr. Shademan: Thats right and heres the scale that the radiologists use to classify thelevel of plaque proliferation in coronary arteries.As “youre seeing”, the scale starts from 0 to 400. 0indicates a very low risk of heart attack from plaque escalation. Over 400 reveals a greaterthan 90% risk of having a heart attack. ARA radiologists share this withyou and your medical provider in order to be allowed to utter more informed decisions about when it’s time to take appropriate steps to prevent heart attack. Anchor: Yeah, and those next steps, in fact, it’s a great question. You’ve got your orchestrate, your search, what are the next steps after kind of find out what your level of blockage is? Dr. Shademan: Well, depending on the level of plaque buildup, medicines may includelifestyle modifications, drugs, coronary interventions, or surgery. But theimportant thing is to identify the problem early before it becomes life threatening. Anchor: Right, and you’ve informed the committee that sometimes this can be without evidences. Some ofus right now are maybe walking around with this dangerous condition. Who exactlyis at risk and who should really be thinking hard-bitten about having a CT calcium value? Dr.Shademan: Right, so, the most prominent risk factors are obesity, paucity of use, smoking, good diet, family history, and senility of about 50. Even if you have none of these risk factors, a CT calcium scoring quiz is recommended formerly you turn about 55 years old. If you are inthis age group or have these risk factors, you should definitely ask your healthcare provider aboutthe benefits of CT calcium scoring at ARA. At $75 it’s low cost and can be a real lifesaver. Anchor: Wow, certainly large-hearted bang for your horse there with this CT calcium scoring forsure. So, if somebody is at home thinking, This sounds like this might be a good theme forme, what are the next steps for someone to take to get this amazing heart saver scan? Dr.Shademan: Well, talk it over with your medical provider and see if CT calcium scoringis recommended for you. Then get a referral and announcement ARA at( 512) 453 -6 100. You can alsomake an appointment for CT calcium orchestrating without a referral but is secure and have theresults sent to your doctor so you can consult about next steps if needed. Anchor: Absolutely. And were gonna situated that information on the screen for youright now. You can also head to ausrad.com to start your appointment for the heart saverCT calcium scoring. Dr. Shademan, this is a really incredible technology and such importantinformation , not just now in heart health month, but for our viewers and for the remainder of the year. We recognize you connecting us to share this really important information. Dr. Shademan: Sure, thank you so much. Anchor: Our pleasure. And staying here friends, theres moreWe are Austin coming up right after this.
