NEW TECHNOLOGY HELPS ASSESS
HEART ATTACK RISK
C
ardiovascular disease remains
steadfast as the leading cause of
death worldwide. Health care
providers are continually searching for
better tools to manage
patients at risk for heart disease and
help reduce cardiovascular mortality.
People are increasingly aware of
“traditional” risk factors of coronary heart
disease, which include age/gender, tobacco
use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
family history and diabetes. However,
there are tests that can help determine
the risk of having a heart attack.
“Many patients ask if there is a way to
look at their vessels for the presence or
absence of coronary artery plaque
buildup, the disease process that can lead
to a heart attack,” said Seth Uretsky, MD,
medical director, cardiovascular imaging at
Atlantic Health System medical centers.
"This can be accomplished through
coronary artery calcium (CAC) scanning,
which has emerged as a unique tool to
detect calcium in the heart arteries.”
CAC can be measured using chest-
computed tomography (CT Scanning),
which is now available at Chilton Medical
Center in Pompton Plains. CAC scanning
can be particularly useful especially since
conventional risk assessment tools may
underestimate the risk of coronary heart
disease, particularly in women and
younger patients.
According to Dr. Uretsky, who
interprets the results for all Atlantic
Health System hospitals including
Chilton and Morristown medical centers,
the test takes about five minutes and uses
a relatively low dose of radiation to detect
the presence of calcium in the coronary
arteries. Calcium in the heart arteries
establishes the presence of the disease
process called atherosclerosis.
“The volume of calcium measured by
advanced software technology during the
CAC scanning process produces a score,
which correlates highly with risk of future
coronary heart events. A calcium score of
zero assures a very low risk,” adds Dr.
Uretsky. “In addition, CAC scanning has
virtually no false positive rate – if the scan
detects calcium, then it is there. And
unlike traditional risk factors, coronary
artery calcium is not a risk factor at all; it
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is an actual disease. The presence of
coronary calcium should prompt a
patient’s doctor to consider more
aggressive management.”
However, CAC scanning is not for
everyone. A primary care physician or
cardiologist will be able to determine
whether CAC scanning is appropriate. ❖
For more information about CAC
scanning or to schedule an appointment,
please call 973-831-5089. For a referral to
a skilled Atlantic Health System cardiologist,
call 1-800-247-9580.