vHEART continued from page 7 mind that this is a screening for those that don’t have any heart problems. If you have any chest pain or other symptoms, you should visit your doctor before making a Planet Heart appointment. You can choose to take part in the two different components of the program, the Heart Check or the Vascular Check, or you can take part in both screenings. The Heart Check. The Heart Check, available for $50 includes the following: • Calcium Score CT – helps in early detection of heart disease. • Blood pressure • Body Mass Index • Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Check • Education and Risk Assessment by an expert cardiovascular team. •What is calcium scoring? According to Avera’s Planet Heart website, http://www.avera.org/heart-hospital/planet-heart/, calcium scoring is explained as follows: “Cardiac calcium scoring looks for calcified or hardened plaque in the coronary arteries. State-of-the-art CT equipment helps to determine a patient’s risk of heart disease before symptoms develop. Calcium in the coronary arteries is shown on the CT scan and can be a sign that there is atherosclerosis or narrowing of the arteries, which can block blood flow. This can put you at risk of a heart attack.” The Vascular Check. The Vascular Check, available for $50, includes the following items listed below. Your exam will be read by a vascular technician and you will be given your Planet Heart results the same day as your exam. • Carotid artery screening – A technologist will examine your neck while you lie on your back on an exam table. • Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening – A technologist will examine your abdominal area while you lie on your back on an exam table. • Peripheral artery disease screening – After you remove your socks and shoes, a technologist will place blood pressure cuffs on your upper arms and ankles. To get scheduled for an exam or for more information, please call 1-877-AT-AVERA (1-877-282-8372). Get scheduled now as appointments are two to three weeks out. Heart Attack Symptoms It’s always good to keep in mind the warning signs of a heart attack, these are taken from the American Heart Association website: Chest discomfort. Don’t ignore chest discomfort. Heart attacks can involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts several minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort elsewhere. Heart attacks can bring pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath can occur with or without chest discomfort. Other signs may include nausea, lightheadedness or breaking out in a cold sweat. Though a woman’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other symptoms of a heart attack. Shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain can be common heart attack symptoms in women. As you can see, you can help reduce your chances of heart disease dramatically by making some simple lifestyle choices, visiting your doctor regularly and taking part in health screenings to help determine your risk. This February, the month of love, start off by loving the most important person you know – yourself. Sources: www.aha.org, www.cdc.gov, www.goredforwomen.org http://www.avera.org/heart-hospital/planet-heart/ vBy Julie Eickhoff check out... hervoice.com If your family suddenly needs surgical care, where will you turn? You want someone to ease your fears, lessen the stress, and take the time to comfort you and your family. No referral necessary. Call Yankton Surgical Associates, PC today for a consultation. 605-668-9670 2525 Fox Run Parkway, Suite 204, Yankton www.yanktonsurgical.com Kynan C.Trail, MD, FACS HERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016v13