On behalf of: Dr. James Harvey, interventional cardiologist and vice president and chief medical officer of heart and vascular services at WellSpan Health.
For nearly a decade, I have had the pleasure of caring for WellSpan patients and their hearts, but last year, the roles reversed as I became the patient who was diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
As a cardiologist at a heart and vascular center of excellence like WellSpan, I know the value of understanding the dangers of heart disease and the importance of heart health. No one is immune to the risk. Even heart doctors, like me, need to take their health seriously and prioritize self-care.
So, how did I get here?
I knew my family had a history of heart disease. My grandfather and two of my uncles died from heart attacks at an early age – less than 70 years old. Because of that family history, I knew I had to pay attention to my own heart health.
Even knowing everything I do, I fluctuated between knowing my numbers and staying aggressive toward my health habits… and not. “Why?” you ask. Because heart doctors are humans just like you.
Fortunately for me – and for other heart patients – there is both advanced testing and targeted treatment right here in our region.
During my cardiology training, I started getting my cholesterol levels checked. My LDL, also referred to as the “bad cholesterol,” level was 156, which was high. So, I exercised, changed my diet and lost some weight, but unfortunately, my LDL reading did not come down far enough.
As I entered my early 30s, I started taking a statin, a drug to lower my cholesterol and reduce my risk of heart attack and stroke, eventually moving to a stronger statin.
While at WellSpan, I shared my family history and experience with my colleague Dr. David Kann, who leads WellSpan’s precision medicine program where they tailor treatments and preventative measures to individual patients.
Dr. Kann ordered some advanced cholesterol testing and discussed both diet and exercise, as have done with countless of my own patients. But, this time, I heard myself confess that I, too, get short of breath when pushing myself in exercise.
Dr. Kann asked me to undergo an advanced type of testing using a 4D cardiac CT machine – which adds time as the fourth dimension to traditional three-dimensional imaging. This is basically a really fast and high-functioning CT scanner.
The 4DCT records multiple rapid images of the heart over time, allowing us to see heart disease when it is severe and late in its course, but also when it is early. That is the difference. Early disease is not something that would be caught in a traditional stress test. I compare a cardiac 4DCT to a colonoscopy or mammogram, in that it allows us to find disease before it is severe and take steps to treat it and prevent it from becoming a real problem.
So, what did my scan show? It showed something very concerning: a 30% narrowing in the artery to the front of my heart. If it becomes blocked, it can lead to a devastating heart attack that often strikes younger people.
As the father of two little girls, this more than got my attention. Needless to say, I was humbled. I knew had to do something to stop this from progressing.
I knew the first step was to get a better diet. The key to success here is consistency… and the key to that is planning. Interventional cardiologists have a uniquely unpredictable schedule, so it’s easy to find yourself missing a meal and then reaching for anything you can find… and you can always find junk food. To combat this, I began planning my meals for the week and bringing them in with me.
The next step was to make time for consistent exercise. Realistically for me, that meant early mornings. So, I put together a makeshift home gym and began getting up early. Really early. With waking up earlier, that meant going to bed earlier, too.
Lastly, in addition to the changes in lifestyle, I was a candidate for a relatively new medication. Dr. Kann started me on a drug called a PCSK9 inhibitor, something that helps significantly lower the “bad cholesterol” level and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.
The test was a wakeup call for me, but it empowered me to get my own heart health under control. In truth, having made these changes, I feel fantastic.
Here’s the thing I want people to know: You don’t have to be an interventional cardiologist to know how to take care of your own heart, but you do need to know your numbers. I encourage you to visit your doctor and take action to live a healthier lifestyle.
Knowledge is power. As this February is recognized nationally as heart month, I hope this message really connects with you to empower yourself to get your numbers checked and see your doctor. It can identify heart disease early and treat it before becomes a serious problem.
If you are curious about your heart health and want to learn more, please visit www.WellSpan.org/Heart. Here, you’ll find a heart health risk assessment that you can take at no cost. You’ll also find resources to help you take charge of your own heart health.
