Fatal Heart Attacks Could Be Predicted Years in Advance
Fatal heart attacks could be predicted years in advance after a new method of reading routine heart scans that can pinpoint those most at risk proved successful in its first major trial.
The technology, based on analysis of computed tomography (CT) coronary angiograms, will “undoubtedly” save lives, according to its creators.
Heart attacks are usually caused by inflamed plaques – fatty deposits on artery walls – rupturing and blocking blood flow to the heart. The challenge for doctors is knowing which plaques are most likely to cause blockages, and therefore which patients should be treated with more aggressive therapies.
In the UK, someone has a heart attack every seven minutes. Doctors currently hope to identify the highest risk patients so they can be given preventative treatment and advised to adopt lifestyle changes.
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