"Early Intervention: Cardiac Arrest"

(CBS)  Heart attacks can be prevented -- or at least made less likely -- if people take care of themselves, heed their risk factors -- and seek treatment when called for.

To highlight it, The Early Show initiated a series called "Early Intervention: Cardiac Arrest."

CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor and Dr. Christie Ballantyne, a cardiologist at Houston's Methodist Hospital, and Dr. Steven Gubin, a cardiologist at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, visited mall food courts seeking people eating unhealthy foods, or who were overweight, or who had other potentially problematic signs, and offered to check out their heart disease risk.

They agreed to undergo CT scans to help assess their heart health. The doctors checked the images the scans produced for signs of calcium, which indicates the presence of artery-clogging plaque.

Glor reported on the results.

If you live in the Memphis area and want to have a scan to check on the calcium levels in your cardiac arteries, call [phone].

Monday, Feb. 18, 2008

There was cause for concern in the scan results of Houston food court patron Lissa Shivers, and she has numerous cardiac risk factors. She called the wakeup call a "life-altering experience" on The Early Show. Ballantyne described the steps Shivers has already taken and intends to take as she vows to turn things around. To see the Early Show report,

click here

.

Friday, Feb. 15, 2008

One of the people Glor and Gubin met at the mall underwent a CT scan live on the show, then Gubin initerpreted ther results. He did the same for others he and Glor spotted at the mall. To see the video,

click here

.

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008

Glor and Gubin sought to help five Memphis residents they met at a mall.

Glor also reported on a Memphis resident who came very close to suffering a heart attack less than two months ago, before getting two stents to open heart blood vessels in an emergency procedure. He was treated at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital's emergency room, then was rushed into the hospital's catheterization lab, where he received the double-stent. To see the video,

click here

.

Tuesday, Feb. 12

Glor was there as one patient had a CT scan and Ballantyne interpreted the results on live TV. Despite significant risk factors, the test showed some worrisome signs, but not overwhelmingly so. Ballantyne explained all. To see the segment,

click here

. Ballantyne then went over the results of another high-risk woman's scan, and these were of much more concern. To watch that segment,

click here

.

Monday, Feb. 11

Glor told the story of Kent DePriest, of the Memphis suburb of Cordova, Tenn. DePriest has a significant family history of heart disease, and a wife, Donna, who's a cardiac nurse -- and had a feeling her husband was heading for trouble, despite an exceptionally healthy lifestyle. It turns out she was right -- and Kent wound up going under the knife in the nick of time.

To see DePriest's story,

click here

.

[atxrocks]

I found a great web site that is all about Cardiac Arrest detection and prevention. It has videos that show what happens to your heart, too. www.InsideCardiacArrest.com

I didn''t get to see if the CT Scan that they''re talking about is the T-Wave Alternans test that is specific for diagnosing this problem. Was it?

[laura5571]

where in the U.S., other than memphis can you get the heart ct scan done? I believe they said the price in memphis was 99.00 dollars.

[lovenv]

I missed this show. Was there anything that the Doctors said to take, other than drugs, to help prevent heart disease?? thank you..Mike

[livinhealthy]

Heart disease is a serious problem. In addition, taking prescription drugs for other medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes in the long run, impact the kidneys which in turn affect the heart. I know because my mom was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1973. She used her medication faithfully and kept to her diet, but in the 90''s she became a diabetic. The medication affected her kidneys, which caused her to have a heart attack in 2000 and in 2003, my mom died of kidney failure.

Fortunately there is a way to avoid all this. That is by healthy living. Eating green vegetables and fruits daily, cutting down on caffeine and soft drinks like Coke, Gatorade, Red Bull and other similar drinks, exercising, walking, and believe it or not, laughter. Laughing alone will help reduce stress.

However, if you have heart disease, the best product to take is PRO-ARGININE PLUS. It is a drink which contains l-arginine and other health supporting ingredients. It has a 99% success rate with NO side effects. This product alone will overcome and reverse heart disease. By drinking it daily, you will avoid a major heart operation and other health issues.

There is 17 years of factual evidence and is supported by actual patients of Dr Joe Prendergast, an Endocrinologist from Palo Alto, California.

For information about the product, go to
www.zeromeds.com/main

For more information about Dr. Joe, go to
www.endocrinemetabolic.com

[grannylady]

I was amazed to hear the doctor pushing statin drugs this a.m. The news has had several reports that statin drugs are being linked to memory loss.
Drugs are the easy fix---there are other effective ways to lower cholestrol.

[mroaten]

Heart disease is real in the city of Memphis. We are glad they did this report to make the public aware of early intervention.
Dr. Gubin is a GREAT cardiologist and did a great job representing Memphis.

[marymnewman]

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a major public health threat. You or your loved ones may be at risk. For more information visit the nonprofit SCA Foundation at www.sca-aware.org

[marymnewman]

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a major public health threat. You or your loved ones may be at risk. For more information visit the nonprofit SCA Foundation at www.sca-aware.org

[forked427]

Prior to last weekend, i would have turned the channel during a segment like this.
Now, as I get ready to bring home my 49 year old husband from the hospital after his triple bypass surgery last week, I know better than to do that.

This is serious stuff, and the sequence of events from heart attack to and through bypass surgery is a roller coaster ride done with one''s heart in one''s throat.
I had no idea if he would live, I still worry.
Genetics plays a role here, as does lifestyle. Only the cardiac cath can truly detect blocked arteries, often the stress tests and EKG''s can be normal.

I can honestly say that this event is life-changing, and my suggestion to all is to pay strict attention to your health. The thirty years of pizza will come back to bite you, don''t think it won''t.
Heart healthy diet, excersise, stop smoking, get a cardiologist, be proactive in helping to further the advances of cardiac surgery.
My life is forever different now, not a path any of you want to be walking on.