If you could predict the future, would you take steps to improve your health? Studies show that one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups.
Union Hospital Clinton is taking steps to curb those numbers. A simple, non-invasive heart scan is available to patients that want to understand the early warning signs of heart disease. A heart scan is a calcium scoring test. The purpose is to detect calcium deposits in the heart arteries, which ultimately reflects plaque buildup.
“It is a very simple test that takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Results are known instantly so patients can follow up with their physician to see what the next steps are,” Stephanie Laws, MSN, RN, Vice President and Administrator for Union Hospital Clinton, said.
“So, if we have a scan that can detect the calcium early on and we can intervene early on by lowering the cholesterol, controlling the blood pressure, intervening the diabetes, stopping the smoking—all that stuff way ahead of this blockage causing any problems—it is very crucial, very important,” Cardiologist Dr. George Bittar said.
Statistics position Vermillion and Parke as two of the worst counties in the state of Indiana for cardiovascular related issues.
“It is much more common for people in rural areas to postpone their symptoms and only go to the doctor when they have serious symptoms,” Cardiologist Dr. Krishna Namburi said. “We are very fortunate to have a cardiac screen in Vermillion County at Union Hospital Clinton. It is inexpensive, effective and gives us much more information and greatly benefits the community.”
If evidence of heart disease is caught and treated early enough, conditions are more likely to be treated and potentially reversed.
“For those that have risk factors, such as family history, high blood pressure, diabetes or they are a smoker, but they are not showing any symptoms—where the indication for medication is on the borderline for them; if they have the scan and they see calcium—seeing is believing! When you show the blockage or the calcium in the arteries to the patient, they will be more motivated to do something about it, as well as their physician.”
“We see great volume as it pertains to the heart scan,” Dr. Namburi said. “It is a very simple test, takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and gives you the results instantly to allow you to follow up with your primary care physician and see what your next steps are.”
1,844 heart scans were conducted at Union Hospital Clinton in 2023 alone. Since beginning the tests in 2021, clinicians have seen a 70% increase in scans. Heart scans are recommended for men 40 and older and women over 45 who have a family history of heart disease.
“I would recommend a heart scan to anyone with a family history of heart issues, along with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking or poor diet,” Dr. Bittar said. “Even though the patient may not be feeling any symptoms at the time, [the heart scan] will help us guide them on what to do next.”
“We are seeing patients that are younger and younger in age that are coming in with what we call those “stemmies” or those life-altering heart attacks that we have to get to our cath lab right away and the more we can do to prevent that from happening means that those individuals have more time with their families, their friends, their loved ones and to lead a quality life,” Dr. Namburi said.
It doesn’t matter if you live in Clay, Sullivan, Parke, Vermillion or Vigo County, Union Hospital Clinton offers screenings to the entire Wabash Valley. For more information about heart scans at Union Hospital Clinton, call 765.832.1317 or visit myunionhealth.org/heartscan.