When it comes to matters of the heart, Floridians are no strangers to the cardiovascular epidemic that has taken a stranglehold on the nation. As the leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability due to life-altering events like heart attacks and strokes, heart disease is an ever-present threat. The most common type of heart condition is coronary heart disease, and if left unchecked, often surfaces as a heart attack. As the baby boomer population continues to age, the need for physicians to educate their patients about vascular health becomes of great importance, not only for older generations, but for younger generations that will face the same challenges.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 758,000 Americans had a coronary heart attack in 2010, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. While these numbers are very staggering, we know they can be altered with simple, preventive measures. According to the National Stroke Association, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented, so why aren’t they? One answer lies in education.

Heart Health is Mission Critical

It goes without saying that the mission of every healthcare provider is to do their utmost in treating, healing and caring for their patients. While encouraging lifestyle choices such as a healthy diet, exercise and stress reduction are helpful in the fight against heart disease, the most effective, preventive measure is a vascular screening for those that may be at risk for a stroke or heart attack. Common risk indicators include diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, sedentary life style and a family history of atherosclerotic problems and circulatory problems.

In Step with the Heartbeat of Technology

Staying abreast of the latest advances in preemptive treatment for vascular health greatly impacts the patient experience, making screening visits quicker and more comfortable. While the majority of echocardiogram (ECHO) machines are found in the hospital setting, some private practices perform ECHO scans from the convenience of their office, eliminating the need for patients to make a trip to the hospital. The ECHO machine can detect problems related to heart failure, abnormal heart valves, blocked arteries, aortic aneurysms, as well as plaque buildup in the legs.

A Closer Look at Vascular Disease

Vascular disease is a life-threatening condition that can cause potentially lethal aneurysms of the aorta (AAA), block the carotid arteries to the brain and impair circulation to the legs, which can reduce the ability to walk and even lead to leg amputation. These realities make it very important to note who is in the highest risk bracket. According to the Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS), the probability of AAA in the general population is increased when the following risk factors are in place; increasing age, male gender, Caucasian race, smoking, family history of aneurysms, history of other vascular aneurysms, hypertension, atherosclerotic diseases, cerebrovascular disease and high cholesterol. SVS recommends an ultrasound screening for all men age 65 and older. For those with a family history of AAA, screenings should begin as early as 55. For women with a history of AAA or who smoke, screenings are recommended for ages 65 and older.
When cerebral vascular disease becomes more advanced, it can block the carotid arteries to the brain and cause paralyzing strokes. According to a National Vital Statistics Report conducted in 2010, 137,000 people die annually due to stroke. Plaque buildup within the carotid arteries contributes to a large proportion of strokes, heightening the importance of vascular screenings for those at risk. 
A non-life threatening, but no less dangerous, condition caused by vascular disease is impaired circulation to the legs, which can reduce a patient’s ability to walk, and in some cases, require leg amputation. This condition, known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), affects 8-12 million people in the United States, according to Interim State Population Projections from the United States Census Bureau. SVS asserts that individuals with PAD “suffer a five-fold increased relative risk of a cardiovascular event and total mortality that is two to three-fold greater than those without PAD.” Consequently, screening patients for PAD accomplishes two important objectives; it helps to identify those individuals with asymptomatic PAD in whom reducing risk factors can slow or stop the progression of the disease and allows the physician to identify individuals who might be at risk for heart attack and stroke due to blockages affecting these organs. SVS recommends that individuals age 55 and older with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, or known cardiovascular disease could benefit from preventive screening for vascular disease.

Screenings are Quick, Painless and Affordable

On average, vascular screenings can be completed in less than an hour, are non-invasive and very inexpensive, considering the value of the information obtained. Screening options include a variety of tests. Echocardiograms (ECHO) use ultrasound to evaluate the heart muscle, heart valves and risk for heart disease. The carotid Doppler ultrasound measures the flow of blood through the large carotid arteries. The abdominal aorta ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to image the “aorta,” the main blood vessel leading away from the heart. A venus/arterial Doppler scan uses reflected sound waves to see how blood flows through a blood vessel.

The Price of Vascular Screenings vs. the Cost of Disease

The University of Maryland Medical Center claims that 20 to 30 million Americans are at risk for various vascular diseases, including stroke, PAD, carotid artery disease (CAD) and aortic aneurysms. With significant numbers such as these, most healthcare providers would agree that simple, preemptive measures such as cardiovascular screenings are a necessary step in the fight against cardiovascular disease. If you have patients with cardiovascular risk factors, encourage them to take steps towards preventative treatment and make an appointment to get screened. One visit could save their life.

Cardiologists Khurram Shahzad, MD and Linus Wodi, MD at Florida Heart Consultants, have provided heart care since 2010 with over 25 years of combined experience.  The practice, located in Apopka, offers screenings to determine the risk of heart disease, stroke, aneurysms and blood clots. For more information visit www.FloridaHeartConsultants.com.

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