This Avera Medical Minute is sending us on a trip to Planet Heart. You can get to the whole new world in heart health by going to the Avera Heart Hospital. If you are a man in your 40's or a woman 45 and older and you think you may be at risk for a heart attack or stroke,  why risk it? Get screened now.

Jodee Lomheim is a 45 year old pharmacist at the Avera Heart Hospital and is at an age where she is concerned about having a family history of heart disease. Jodee is taking advantage of the expertise around her by getting screened through the Heart Hospital's Planet Heart Program. Registered Nurse Anne Frankman will run Jodee through a number of tests. It generally taking less than an hour. It includes taking her blood pressure, checking her cholesterol, and waist circumference. All of it targeting cardiovascular disease prevention. 

Another important part of the screening includes a CT scan to look for buildup of calcium plague in the coronary arteries. The most common form of heart disease in the U.S. and the leading cause of death in this country.

Deb Howell is also an RN at the Avera Heart Hospital and helping with the screening clinic. She says, "The calcium score shows us how much calcium you have in the arteries of the heart. It gives us a number and that's what we use to help figure out if you go on for further intervention or make lifestyle changes. That includes lowering your blood pressure, lowering your cholesterol, quitting smoking, getting your diabetes under control and reducing your belly fat and lowering your weight."

They RN's also probe into your activity level, diet quality index and personal history and what makes this program especially unique is they will follow up with you.

Anne Frankman, RN says, "Heart disease is escalating in this country. One of the things we are looking at is prevention at the Heart Hospital so people will be able to detect risk factors and start to prevent them and go on to treatment. Prevention is so important."

Folks at the Heart Hospital would just as soon see you in the screening room, than the operating room.

To schedule a Heart Check Appointment call 877-AT-AVERA.
The cost is $50.