AMERICAN RADIOLOGY SERVICES

February 5 is "National Wear Red Day" in Support of Women's Heart Disease Awareness

By: Susan Nigro, Director of CT

Heart Disease is the number one killer of women. It is a disorder of the blood vessels that surround the heart. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack if one of the vessels becomes blocked; this prevents oxygen and nutrients from being delivered to the heart. The risk of heart disease in women begins to rise around age 40. Steps to help prevent an increase in risk should begin early. Some risk factors to consider are the following:

High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Inactive lifestyle
Smoking
Diabetes
Being overweight
Family history of heart disease

While some risk factors cannot be changed due to heredity, it is important to recognize those that you can change.

It is important for both men and women to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack, as they may begin as mild pain or discomfort. The most common signs are chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, arms, or stomach, nausea, or lightheadedness.

At American Radiology Services, we offer calcium scoring exams as a screening tool to see if there are calcium deposits in the arteries that surround the heart. A limited, quick, non-invasive CT of the chest area is performed to assess for hard plaques. Ask your physician if this exam is right for you. For more information on this procedure call 443.436.4037.