Heart Health: A Family's Wake-Up Call

Heart disease runs in the Murray family. Kevin Murray, a 72-year-old from Tampa, knows this all too well. He had a close call with a serious heart condition in 2003. He needed emergency surgery. This event changed his life. He now checks his heart health every year. In 2021, Murray switched doctors. His new cardiologist suggested an advanced scan called a cardiac CT. This test gives a 3-D view of the heart and arteries. Murray's scan was clear. But it made him think about his family. Murray's parents, grandfather, and one brother had heart disease. His brother Patrick was feeling tired and had trouble breathing. Murray convinced Patrick to get the scan in late 2022. The results were shocking. Patrick had serious blockages in his arteries. He needed urgent surgery. After Patrick's surgery, Murray's other brothers got the same test. They all had advanced heart disease. They all needed surgery. The family is grateful they caught the problem in time. Heart disease is often silent. Many people have blockages without symptoms. A cardiac CT can spot these issues early. Dr. Mark Russo, a cardiac surgeon, says family history is a big warning sign. He advises people with a family history of heart disease to monitor their heart health closely. The Murray brothers now see their cardiologist regularly. They are doing well. Murray advises others to get checked. He believes early detection saved his brothers' lives.