Association for Eradication of Heart Attack

Via e-mail yesterday, I learned about the Association for Eradication of Heart Attack. In June, their main project – S.H.A.P.E., Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Education – will publish an executive summary of the SHAPE task force report in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Primarily, they are proposing to identify close to 65 million asymptomatic individuals vulnerable to first heart attacks by detecting subclinical atherosclerosis and documenting risk factors.

• Screen all men aged 45 and older, women aged 55 and older
• Test for atherosclerosis by determining coronary calcium score via CT scan or carotid artery intima-media thickness via ultraound (both non-invasive)

Early detection could prevent more than 90,000 CVD deaths each year and reduce the rate of heart attacks by as much as 25 percent. The task force believes early screening will save approximately $21.5 billion annually.

These numbers, of course, are optimistic and assume that everyone who is eligible will avail themselves of screening. As we all know, people are stubborn and often prefer not to know any specifics about their health. If you are willing to get a regular check-up then all the better. Regardless, eat right, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle.

*E-mail tip from Daniel Keeney, APR