Overview

For many, a heart attack is a complete surprise

For many, a heart attack is a complete surprise. In more than 50% of all cases, seemingly healthy people suddenly suffer an attack which leads to cardiac death. In conjunction with other cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks (myocardial infarction) are amongst the leading cause of death in western industrial countries. In Germany, approximately 280,000 people will suffer a heart attack and only 50% will survive the first year after the attack.

The leading cause of this life threatening disease is arteriosclerosis in the cardiac arteries. This develops when fatty acids, cholesterol and/or calcium build up in the blood vessels. The slow, gradual change in the blood vessels of the coronary heart vessels is termed coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary heart disease is particularly dangerous because its most evident warning signal, chest pain (angina pectoris), happens once the blood vessels have narrowed by 70% or more. In most cases, heart attacks do not happen because of extreme narrowing of the blood vessels but rather because plaque built up in the arteries causes the vessel walls to become brittle. Often, these changes remain undetected because they cause no pain. The plaque particles can suddenly break off and block the coronary heart vessels which then leads a supposedly healthy person to suddenly be in a life threatening situation caused by a heart attack.

As we age everyone can be affected by arteriosclerosis and, in men the risks of suffering an attack

increases dramatically as of their 40th year and, in women as of the age of 50. A higher risk of suffering arteriosclerosis and subsequent heart attack exists for specific high risk groups namely, smokers, diabetics and those who are overweight.

To determine your individual risk of heart attack, we can perform a cardio-CT scan of the coronary heart vessels. If you fall into more than 1 of the high risk categories, i.e. smoker and overweight, it is highly recommended to have a cardio-CT scan to rule out the presence of coronary heart disease.

Historically, the most common methods for diagnosing coronary heart disease (CHD) such as a stress EKG, EKG or the more risky, heart catheter examination were only performed once significant narrowing of the arteries had already taken place. The only procedure that is non-invasive and can identify the most minuscule plaque particles in the vessel walls is a cardio-CT scan which, when performed early enough, can determine and potential prevent the risk of an attack.

Only by detecting the imminent dangers early can your physician recommend a course of treatment to prevent coronary illness and save you from the sudden onset of a heart attack.