Re: Women and heart issues

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I have never thought much or worried about my heart health really. I am 63 years old and now within the last year have started thinking more about my heart.

I have no know heart disease in my family that I know of

I live a healthy lifestyle, exercise and watch my diet closely

I have no heart issues or problems at this time (known about)

A few months ago I had a scan of my neck arteries for plaque and a scan of my abdomen to rule out aortic aneurysm. Those were both fine. I paid for these test myself.

I was thinking about having the scan done of the heart to check for calcium blockage which is the only way to know if you have any. I would rather be proactive and not wait for symptoms of a heart attack to find out that I have blockages....why not check BEFORE you get to that point of poor heart health? It seems like those who have a heart attack, never had their plaque looked at prior to see if they had any?? Maybe heart attacks could be less if this scan was done on everyone either with family history or of a certain age?

I think now that I am older... and hearing so much on heart issues for women...hearing stories of women having strokes and heart attacks etc in the news all the time...I am thinking more and more about this issue. They talk so much about women and heart disease, yet, when I go for a physical nothing is done test wise to rule out any underlying issues that may not be noticeable on the outside.. but are going on inside.

One internist during a physical checkup was telling me all the symptoms of heart attack and what to look for and to dial 911 if I had anything like these symptoms..... I was thinking why not look for heart issues before you are this desperate?

I live my life proactive in most everything I do. Why does medicine tend to wait to find a problem rather than find the issue whatever it may be and be on top of it rather than say wait for an elephant stepping on your chest and a 911 call at 2 AM in the morning? Why not make these heart tests standard for women of a certain age. especially for women with a family history of heart issues?

Even Susan Lucci in her70's with the best medical care I am sure and HAD FAMILY HISTORY of heart disease never had her heart scanned for plaque until AFTER she had the heart attack symptoms and the scan showed all her blocked arteries. She was so surprised.... but that had been going on for years prior and a simple test could have saved her from almost dying.

Is my wanting to be proactive in my heart health and health in general being overly obsessed.....or perhaps a new way of looking at heart disease by staying on top of any changes through scans.

I think part of the reason less is done proactively is that insurance does not want to pay for tests unless you already have symptoms of heart disease. I do not mind paying out of pocket as it is worth it to me for peace of mind.

@SeaMaiden A heart untrasound shows how the heart and blood flow are functioning, but don't know if this test is available to anyone without symptoms of a heart issue.

shoppinggirl59 · ‎03-10-2010

Hi.

The heart scan test you ar speaking about - is this the Life line screening ?

Insurance doesnt pay for it but it’s only $149.00. 5 different tests but some dr’s don’t

believe in them.

Carotoid artery screening

heart rhythm screening

peripheral arterial disease screening

abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

osteoporosis risk assessment.

Or did you have them done at the dr’s office ?

tia.

cheryl

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

@shoppinggirl59 wrote:
Hi.
The heart scan test you ar speaking about - is this the Life line screening ?
Insurance doesnt pay for it but it’s only $149.00. 5 different tests but some dr’s don’t
believe in them.
Carotoid artery screening
heart rhythm screening
peripheral arterial disease screening
abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
osteoporosis risk assessment.

Or did you have them done at the dr’s office ?

tia.

cheryl

@SeaMaiden I believe it is thur Life Line....I see that on TV alot! Hopefully SeaMaiden will confirm on this.

The CAC test is different...it's a CT scan of the heart....I have found it by googling...around $149. Not sure if I need a script even though my insurance would not allow it as a covered benefit...I would simply pay out of pocket. I plan on getting one either way as I want a baseline and to know what's going on inside of me better. I don't want a surprise if I can help it in advance.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@tsavorite wrote:
@shoppinggirl59 wrote:
Hi.
The heart scan test you ar speaking about - is this the Life line screening ?
Insurance doesnt pay for it but it’s only $149.00. 5 different tests but some dr’s don’t
believe in them.
Carotoid artery screening
heart rhythm screening
peripheral arterial disease screening
abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
osteoporosis risk assessment.

Or did you have them done at the dr’s office ?

tia.

cheryl
@SeaMaiden I believe it is thur Life Line....I see that on TV alot! Hopefully SeaMaiden will confirm on this.

The CAC test is different...it's a CT scan of the heart....I have found it by googling...around $149. Not sure if I need a script even though my insurance would not allow it as a covered benefit...I would simply pay out of pocket. I plan on getting one either way as I want a baseline and to know what's going on inside of me better. I don't want a surprise if I can help it in advance.

@shoppinggirl59 @tsavorite DH and I had the Lifeline screening done. I would like to have the CAC test done next. Have to go through this one through my Dr office I am sure.... Yes, probably out of pocket for that too.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

@SeaMaiden

Sounds like you are empowering yourself w/ lots of knowledge!

Life Line screenings....I see their ads on TV quite often.

Have mixed feelings.

It’s good they are focusing on the preventative care

(‘choice’ since 80% of all strokes & HD are preventable),

but I do believe (IMO) they can give people false security.

Just because a questionable diet, lifestyle & high stress has

given these testers a positive result this one time, doesn’t

mean they can continue that self-destructive pattern.

As the Life Line ads say,

@SeaMaiden

Hopefully you saw my Dr. Dean Ornish post for his Tuesday webinar

w/ open Q&A. Again, it might be a repeat of what you already know,

but I feel like this info can’t be said enough, eh?

Thanks for starting your OP! ❤️

brandiwine · ‎03-11-2010

My mom had her 1st heart attack at 35. Very active and not overweight. My sister was dead from a heart attack at barely 50. At some point women need to realize it's more likely they will die from heart disease than all cancers combined. A very sad, but true fact. I've been part of a study since I was in my 20's trying to figure out why I haven't had any signs of heart problems. My dad's side has just as many heart issues as my mom's. I'm 65 and am the only person in my family to make it to this age without issues. One brother had 2 heart attacks in his 40's.

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

Thank you for posting this thread @SeaMaiden . I had heard about some of these tests but wondered why women don't hear more about them. I'm going to bring them up with my doctor during my next physical.

My neighbor died very suddenly from a ruptured aortic abdominal aneurism. She was only 70. So sad and tragic. Miss her so much. I didn't know one could be screened for this.

Thank you to all who have posted info and thoughts to this thread!