His & Hers Heart Scans Reveal Need For Change

Every November, Logansport, Indiana, retirees Marilyn and Wayne Berkshire are ready to dodge the Indiana winter and head to the warmth of San Benito, Texas. But, unfortunately, Wayne's open-heart surgery in October delayed their departure this past winter season. With a "widow-maker" blockage in one artery and another artery also blocked 100%, the Berkshires learned they were lucky to be going at all.

A simple, quick heart scan is to thank for leading to the diagnosis of Wayne's life-threatening condition. The scan was part of a Franciscan Health discounted heart and lung scan bundle package. Wayne's family medicine physician, Keven Dodt, MD, had recommended the scans at Wayne's last two check-ups.

"I don't really go for those kinds of things, so I blew it off both times," Wayne said.

It was easy for Wayne to ignore his doctor's recommendation – he didn't have any signs or symptoms of heart disease, even though he'd been a pack-a-day smoker for 38 years. Since quitting in 2010, Wayne started walking, logging 4-5 miles every weekday and 20-30 on the weekends. He also plays volleyball, softball and gets in a 10-plus mile bike ride every day. Although he admits to a soft spot for steaks and salt, he tries to even out his diet with salads and fish.

Franciscan Health recommends a heart scan for men and women between the ages of 40 and 80 who have one or more risk factors, which include:

• Current or former smoker
• Diabetes
• Parent or sibling with heart disease
• Abnormal cholesterol levels (high total cholesterol or low HDL "good" cholesterol)
• High blood pressure

The heart scan takes pictures of the heart and arteries using a CT scan. It looks for calcium build-up in the blood vessels, which is a sign of plaque. When plaque builds up and hardens, it slows blood flow.

Patients receive a calcium score based on the amount of plaque the scan detects. A calcium score over 300 is a sign of atherosclerosis – a build-up of plaque that narrows arteries and blocks blood flow. The more plaque, the higher the score, which results in a greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

"Calcium in the arteries doesn't tell you whether you have a blockage," Dr. Dodt said. "You can have calcium and not have a severe block. But having calcium in the arteries increases the chance that you do have a blockage."

Dr. Dodt, a Franciscan Physician Network physician in Lafayette, Indiana, says Wayne's response to having a scan isn't all that unusual.

"People sometimes drag their feet about having one because they don't think a heart attack or stroke will happen to them," he said. "But even if we find someone has a small amount of plaque that doesn't require a stent or surgery, it can be a warning sign that motivates them to clean up their diet and control risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, so things don't get worse."

When Dr. Dodt brought up the scans again during another appointment, Wayne quit dragging his feet.

"I got to thinking about it. I've known Keven (Dr. Dodt) since high school, and he's been my doctor for years. He wanted me to do it pretty bad," Wayne said.

Marilyn did too.

"I decided for her and Keven I was going to do it," Wayne said.

The results were sobering: Wayne's calcium score was 1070. Wayne saw Franciscan Physician Network cardiologist Bassel Artin, MD, that day. He learned he would need a heart catheterization, a procedure that allows a doctor to see blockages in blood vessels.

"I knew we were probably in trouble," Wayne said. "I thought there was a good possibility I'd need a stent or two to open things up."

The blockages required treatment beyond stents; Wayne needed bypass surgery. He learned his active lifestyle had helped his body build collateral arteries to compensate for the blockages. That blood flow had kept him alive. "Those collateral arteries would have given out at some point," Wayne said.

A short time later, Wayne underwent successful bypass surgery at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. Once he hits the warm Texas weather, he plans on getting back to biking, volleyball and softball. In the meantime, however, Wayne and Marilyn have hit the local mall to walk laps as part of his rehab therapy. His Franciscan Health team is setting him up with a cardiologist and cardiac rehabilitation program in Texas so the snowbird can continue his recovery there.

Wayne's numbers motivated Marilyn to have a heart scan too. She has diabetes and was worried about her years of living with second-hand smoke.

"I'm a worse eater than Wayne, too," Marilyn admits. "I like my french fries."

Even though she had a calcium score of zero, Marilyn says they'll both be cleaning up their diet, cutting back on salt and sugar and eating more fish.

The Berkshires are using their experience to pay it forward, encouraging others to have scans too. Wayne's sister stepped up, had a scan and learned she and her arteries were clear.

"We've been telling everyone we know – get it done," Wayne said. "We're more than happy to help convince other people to do it. These scans are lifesaving."