Non-Invasively Assessing Cardiovascular Risk

Tuesday, 30 March 2021 Psalm 118:24 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!

.What a difference a day makes! Yesterday, at least here in Colorado, it was 72 degrees. Today when I woke, up this morning, there was snow on the ground! But no worries, by Sunday, it will be 76! Crazy Colorado weather! But it brings to mind how we never quite know what the day will bring. Seriously, you can make plans, have your Google Calendar all up to date; you can go to bed at night replaying the needs of tomorrow over and over in your head, but…sometimes, it just doesn’t work out that way. Now, when that happens, you can get all discombobulated or you can just greet the new day with anticipation and go with the flow! Personally, I am hitting about .500 on that, but as I get older, I seem to be taking more things in stride (except when I forget something on the honey-do list.). This is a new day! A completely new opportunity to do something new and exciting. Or maybe doing the same thing just like yesterday. Or maybe heading out in a new direction…a new way of doing things. Or maybe, just maybe, it is simply a celebration that you made it through the night and now it is morning. Light has come once again. It is a brand-new day!

This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all could look at every new day as a new possibility? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we greeted the new day not with a grunt but with a smile and a shout of joy? Would that make a difference?

I am sure it would. In fact, I know it would. I woke this morning to a change in weather, but that was after I said “good morning” to the Lord and said a prayer of thanks for getting me through the night. This IS the day that Lord has made!

So, greet this new day with a positive outlook. You can make it whatever you wish it to be. No matter how old or how young you are, God wants to bless you today. And know this, He is working on you! Do not lose heart! This is a new day!

Be Well, Do Good Work, and…

Be Blessed Like Crazy!

Pastor Perry

Destination Ministries

Non-Invasively Assessing Cardiovascular Risk

Jamison Mitchel, PA | SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute - Brighton

I was still in training when my Grandfather developed intermittent chest pain. He is a bit of a hero of mine, cutting back to half marathons and working on extending the Cumberland trail in his late 70s (he’s still doing that in his 80s today). When he developed chest pains, he reached out to his primary care physician. We have a family history of GERD, and his pain had both typical and atypical features. After a thorough evaluation, his next stop was a referral to a Cardiologist. He reviewed his symptoms with this new physician and went over his risk factors. As they spoke, he was informed that he was at intermediate risk based on their discussion, and they decided to proceed with a stress test. Stress Test and Coronary Calcium Scoring The goal of a stress test is to increase demand for blood flow to heart muscle while observing the heart’s response. Using today’s technology, great accuracy can be achieved through ultrasound or nuclear tracer imaging. In current practice where there is a higher suspicion for underlying coronary artery disease, stress testing with imaging is commonly utilized.

In addition to his stress test, my Grandfather obtained what is known as a CT coronary calcium scan. A non-invasive imaging scan which looks for evidence of calcium in the arteries that provide blood flow to the heart. The cost of coronary calcium scoring, though still not covered by insurance, has come down significantly – to about $ 100 for most fairly priced institutions, including Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton.

Fortunately for my grandfather, he was relieved to find his calcium score was very low risk, and his cardiac testing was unremarkable. He then underwent an endoscopy which revealed signs that his symptoms were likely from reflux.

Coronary calcium scoring and this has been endorsed by the American College of Cardiology as a reliable predictor of cardiac risk in addition to stress testing. It can also, and perhaps best, be utilized in younger patients with a strong family history of heart disease prevention. Coronary calcium scoring can non-invasively assesses cardiovascular risk in these patients. For patients found to be at risk, it allows for lifestyle and potentially medication modifications which can ward-off serious disease.

I encourage patients to reach out to schedule an appointment or discuss their options with their primary care provider. Our Cardiology team at SCL Heart and Vascular Institute in Brighton focuses on answering patients’ questions about their personal cardiac risk every day. We also utilize advanced CT imaging facilities for coronary calcium scoring and Coronary CT Angiography at Platte Valley Medical Center to do our part to keep the community healthy.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

The SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute combines the strength of leading cardiovascular specialists with some of the area’s best heart hospitals, including Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton, as well as regional centers of excellence such as Saint Joseph Hospital and National Jewish Health in Denver. Our team of experienced and highly-qualified cardiologists and vascular specialists provides you with the highest level of care, from heart attack prevention and surgical care, to specialized rehabilitation, all to keep your heart healthy and strong.

For more information visit SCLhealth.org/heart or call 303-659-7000 to make an appointment with a cardiologist.

Jamison Mitchel, PA

Physician Assistant, SCL Health Heart and Vascular Institute - Brighton