Heart scan curiosities #4

5. January 2007 William Davis (2)
Here's an interesting example of a 63-year old man with a heart scan score of 112. However, his aortic valve was also severely calcified (loaded with calcium). In other words, the normally flexible and mobile "leaflets" of the aortic valve were coated with calcium and other tissues that interfere with its free motion. The aortic valve is the starburst white in the center of the heart.








This is what the aortic valve should look like on a CT heart scan--you shouldn't see it at all.

The first man with the calcified valve will unfortunately require a new prosthetic aortic valve sometime in his future. This is usually determined with the help of an ultrasound, or echocardiogram, a better test for assessment of the aortic valve (though useless for detection of coronary plaque).

It's my suspicion that chronic and longstanding deficiency of vitamin D is among the factors that contribute to the abnormal deposition of calcium on the aortic valve. We desperately need more data on this. Nonetheless, perhaps this adds yet another reason to 1)get a CT heart scan, and 2) bring your vitamin D blood level to normal. (We aim for 50 ng/ml year round.)
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Comments (2) -

  • Jeff

    1/5/2007 4:26:00 PM |

    Interesting blog. I take it you are not an invasive cardiologist. In 2004, I was told I needed an immediate CABG or I would most certainly face heart attack, stroke, or death within three months. That was three years ago and rather than the quintuple bypass, I opted for the medication regimen of a noninvasive cardiologist. Check out my story at http://wordworks2001.blogspot.com

  • buy jeans

    11/3/2010 3:42:47 PM |

    The first man with the calcified valve will unfortunately require a new prosthetic aortic valve sometime in his future. This is usually determined with the help of an ultrasound, or echocardiogram, a better test for assessment of the aortic valve (though useless for detection of coronary plaque).

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My life is easy

My life is easy

17. February 2007 William Davis (3)
In the old days (the 1980s and 1990s), practicing cardiology was very physically and emotionally demanding. Since procedures dominated the practice and preventive strategies were limited, heart attacks were painfully common. It wasn't unusual to have to go to the hospital for a patient having a heart attack at 3 am several times a week.

Those were the old days. Nowadays, my life is easy. Heart attacks, for the most part, are a thing of the past in the group of people who follow the Track Your Plaque principles. I can't remember the last time I had a coronary emergency for someone following the program.

But I am reminded of what life used to be like for me when I occasionally have to live up to my hospital responsibilities and/or cover the practices of my colleagues. (Though I voice my views on prevention to my colleagues, the most I get is a odd look. When a colleague recently covered my practice for a weekend while I visited family out of town, he commented to me how quiet my practice was. I responded, "That's because my patients are essentially cured." "Oh, sure they are." He laughed. No registration that he had witnessed something that was genuine and different from his experience of day-to-day catastrophe among his own patients. None.)

I recently had to provide coverage for a colleague for a week while he took his family to Florida. During the 7 days, his patients experienced 4 heart attacks. That is, 4 heart attacks among patients under the care of a cardiologist.

If you want some proof of the power of prevention, watch your results and compare them to the "control" group of people around you: neighbors, colleagues, etc. Unfortunately, the word on prevention, particularly one as powerful as Track Your Plaque, is simply not as widespread as it should be. Instead, it's drowned out in the relentless flood of hospital marketing for glitzy hospital heart programs, the "ask your doctor about" ads for drugs like Plavix, which is little better than spit in preventing heart attacks (except in stented patients), and the media's fascinating with high-tech laser, transplant, robotic surgery, etc.

Prevention? That's not news. But it sure can make the slow but sure difference between life and death, having a heart attack or never having a heart attack.
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Comments (3) -

  • Jeff

    2/19/2007 11:23:00 PM |

    Dr. Davis, I'd like to invite you to visit ad comment on my blog: http://wordworks2001.blogspot.com

    Thanks,

    Jeff Brailey

  • Dr. Davis

    2/19/2007 11:30:00 PM |

    Hi, Jeff-
    I took a look at your Blog and congratulate you on takin the time and effort to talk about the bizarre state of affairs in heart disease. We know that the principle that explains much of what happens is "follow the money". I see it as my role to facilitate this conversation.

  • katkarma

    2/21/2007 12:54:00 AM |

    Dr. Davis - I have been trying to follow your recomasmendations on diet and supplements and am really confused today as the new studies on Women and Heart Disease have contridicted the use of folic acid.  I take 2mg a day and it has brought my homocysteine down below 7 for the first time.   Do you think Women should be treated entirely differently than men as far as heart disease and plague is concerned.   Do you find a difference in the genders in your studies?   If so, how and what?   Thanks so much,
    Noreen Boles

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