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News / Headlines
SHAPE: "Give a Heart Attack
Prevention Test for Father's Day"
The Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE)
is urging American families to use Father's Day as an opportunity to
help their Dad avoid a heart attack. SHAPE suggests giving a heart
scan or a scan of the carotid artery as a gift. The organization
also is calling on hospitals, clinics and physicians to offer
Father's Day specials with discounted rates.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) June 14, 2010 -- Over 400,000 American men will
experience their first heart attack this year. The SHAPE (Screening
for Heart Attack Prevention and Education) Task Force organized
urges families to give dads a heart attack prevention test for
Father's Day. The SHAPE Task Force also calls for hospitals, clinics
and physicians to offer Father's Day specials with discounted rates.
"One of the most meaningful Father's Day gifts would be a heart
attack preventive screening test," said Dr. Morteza Naghavi, founder
of SHAPE and Chairman of the SHAPE Task Force. "This is an excellent
way to show Dad that you love him and want him to enjoy a long and
healthy life."
One of the most meaningful Father's Day gifts would be a heart
attack preventive screening test
This is an excellent way to show Dad that you love him and want him
to enjoy a long and healthy life.
Guy suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly, just days
after a routine visit with his primary care physician. He was only
49. On behalf of our two sons, please protect your loved ones by
being proactive with your heart health.
The key is identifying asymptomatic patients at risk before a
critical event occurs. With current medical therapies, we can reduce
the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death by
approximately 75%
The imaging tests are far more accurate than blood tests in
identifying the patients at risk and in need of medical therapy.
Apparently healthy individuals present a special problem as they are
often asymptomatic yet still have a high risk of heart attack. When
symptoms of heart attack such as chest pain strike, in many cases
it's already too late.
"Image based screening that supplements traditional risk factor
tests could possibly have saved my late husband's life," said JoAnne
Zawitoski, a maritime attorney and board member of SHAPE who has
been hosting the Golf Fore Heart: Guy Fernandez Memorial Charity
event. "Guy suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly, just
days after a routine visit with his primary care physician. He was
only 49. On behalf of our two sons, please protect your loved ones
by being proactive with your heart health."
Modeled after successful cancer screening efforts, the SHAPE
Guideline calls for men 45-75 years and women 55-75 years to undergo
screening to assess coronary plaque or carotid wall thickness. It
recommends the coronary calcium scan (Heart Scan) or carotid scan
(Carotid IMT) - two tests that have proven to be strong predictors
of those who are vulnerable to a heart attack or stroke. Preventive
exams give healthcare professionals the opportunity to take
appropriate action before fatal symptoms appear.
"The key is identifying asymptomatic patients at risk before a
critical event occurs. With current medical therapies, we can reduce
the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death by
approximately 75%," according to Dr. Daniel Berman, Director of
Cardiac Imaging at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
"The imaging tests are far more accurate than blood tests in
identifying the patients at risk and in need of medical therapy,"
according to Berman.
"Apparently healthy individuals present a special problem as they
are often asymptomatic yet still have a high risk of heart attack.
When symptoms of heart attack such as chest pain strike, in many
cases it's already too late," said Dr. Harvey Hecht, Director, of
Cardiovascular Computed TomographyLenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY
and member of the Editorial Committee of the SHAPE Task Force.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. According
to the Center for Disease Control there will be approximately
700,000 first heart attacks in 2010. Among them some 159,600 men
will lose their lives, many within an hour of the event. SHAPE urges
family members to try and save their father being one of those
victims.
About SHAPE:
SHAPE's mission is to eradicate heart attack by promoting effective
tools for prevention while advancing the scientific quest for a
cure. Additional information is available on the organization's Web
site, www.shapesociety.org
or call 1-877-SHAPE11
MEDIA CONTACT: Monique Villasenor
Email:
Monique.Villasenor@shapesociety.org
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