Cardiovascular CT Scans at Emory Will Give ING Marathon Runners Peace of Mind

Cardiovascular CT Scans at Emory Will Give ING Marathon Runners Peace of Mind

ATLANTA – Most people wouldn’t dream of taking the family car on a long-distance vacation without first giving the vehicle a thorough check-up by a qualified mechanic. But many people, unfortunately, never give their bodies the same level of attention – especially prior to participating in high-endurance physical events, such as a marathon.

For the 15,000 participants preparing to compete in this year’s ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, Emory Healthcare is providing the perfect opportunity to ensure they are heart-healthy enough to undergo the rigorous 26.2 full – or 13.1 half marathon. Emory will provide blood pressure screenings and cardiac CT scans to detect for potential heart problems for $100.

“Individuals will have access to Emory’s new, state-of-the-art Siemens SOMATOM Definition CT scanner, which can provide one of the most detailed images of the heart available today,” says Dr. Arthur Stillman, MD, professor of radiology and the director of cardiothoracic imaging in the Emory University School of Medicine. “This technology allows the detection of coronary artery calcium, an accurate marker of coronary disease.”

According to Dr. Paolo Raggi, MD, professor of medicine in the Emory University School of Medicine, “Several recent studies suggest that marathon running may, in some individuals, cause damage to the heart and place these runners at higher risk of suffering a heart attack. It may therefore be prudent for runners who are 40 years of age or older, have a strong family history of coronary disease or suffer from either diabetes or renal disease, to undergo a simple screening test with CT.”

“A test as simple and as detailed as a CT scan is very helpful to assess risk of future cardiovascular events,” Raggi continued.

Exams will be available at Emory Clinic and Emory Crawford Long Hospital Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on an appointment-only basis. Individuals wishing to take part in the scan:

• Should be 40 years of age or older (unless there is a family history of heart disease, diabetes or renal disease)

• Should not have cardiac stents in place

• Should have no history of cardiac bypass surgery

• Should not be pregnant

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (404) 778-7226 (Emory Clinic) or (404) 686-9729 (Crawford Long).