The death of NBC News' Tim Russert at 58 years of age came as a shock to those who knew him and to millions of viewers around the country. We are now learning that there were early warning signs - as well as some conflicting medical reports.
Russert had been diagnosed with several risk factors for a sudden heart attack, including diabetes; but he had also recently passed a stress test.
Dr. Emily Senay has more on the risk factors and the effectiveness of testing for heart disease.
Senay says people with diabetes are two to four more times more likely
to die of heart disease. It's a major risk factor for this type of problem.
So how did Russert pass a stress test? Senay explains that there are a lot of caveats and raesons as to why that is possible.
"The bottom line is that a stress test is really good at picking up significant fixed blockages inside coronary arteries. It's less good at
finding what doctors are now coming to understand is a whole new way of thinking about heart disease--that plaques that are vulnerable to rupturing -- breaking off, causing a blood clot and therefore a heart attack."
Is tehre abeter test that could have
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Russert had some history of coronary problems. What are the major risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest?
Aggesibvely all the risk factors
There are other tests that look at theplaque -- and it is controversial
Risk factors:
To lower your risk: