Heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK – that’s nearly 170,000 deaths each year, an average of 460 deaths each day or one every three minutes in the UK.

There are around 7.4 million people living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK – 3.9 million men and 3.5 million women (www.bhf.org.uk).

In June of this year, a former Newport County manager, who led the club back to the Football League, died at the age of 49 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Heartfelt condolences and tributes came flooding in from his past and present clubs due to his sudden and unexpected death.

Common symptoms include a family history of heart disease, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, chills, weakness, pain in the limbs, discomfort in the neck, throat and jaw, and nausea. And here therein lies the problem.

Most people don’t know that they have any sort of problem until it is too late, which is why St Joseph’s Hospital are offering a multifactorial assessment for those at risk of developing coronary heart disease and also for those who have already been diagnosed as having the disease.

St Joseph’s Hospital Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Department sits at the heart of the hospital, with the cardiac assessment including the very latest MRI or CT Coronary Angiography technology. Dr Nathan Manghat, consultant radiologist, told Voice: “We firmly believe that our patients deserve the finest quality imaging.

“Which is why St Joseph’s Hospital have installed the Toshiba Aquilion One 320-slice CT scanner, the UK market-leading CT system. This scanner is the highest standard recommended by British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines, also delivering radiation doses five to eight times less than conventional 64-slice CT scanners.

“Essentially, what we’re looking for are a narrowing of the arteries affecting the heart muscle, and this incredible machine allows us to do that with expert precision.”

When combined with its reporting and data analysis partnership with ‘Heartflow’ for FFR-CT (non-invasive coronary fractional flow reserve-CT) and the experts at Bristol Heart Imaging Ltd, the friendly team at St Joseph’s can provide an efficient and effective patient pathway for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. There is no waiting list for a personalised early detection examination with CT Coronary Angiography or MRI scan at St Joseph’s Hospital and you can be seen within same day/next day, so you can easily avoid long waiting times in the NHS – approximately six to twelve weeks.

You will see a private GP who, where clinically appropriate, will refer you to Advanced Diagnostics where the consultant radiologist will determine the most appropriate scan for you based on an initial assessment with referral to results within 48 hours (24-hour turnaround from scan to results).

Plus, this incredible service is much cheaper than you’d think with an exclusive all-inclusive cost of £650 for appointments booked before September 19 for Voice readers (usual price £850 to £1,225).

WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THE PROCEDURE?

A CT coronary angiogram is a special imaging test which looks at the arteries that supply blood to your heart.

It is a safe test used to find out if your coronary arteries are clogged, where and by how much.

A CT angiogram helps your cardiologist to see if you need treatment such as angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery or medical therapy.

Before the procedure you may be given medicine to slow your heart rate, but you will stay awake. A small needle will be inserted into your arm or hand and used to administer the X ray dye during the procedure. On the CT scanner you lie on a bed which moves through the scanner.

This highly specialist test shows whether arteries supplying blood to the heart are narrowed or becoming blocked.

The 640-Slice CT Scanner images the entire heart in 0.275 seconds and provides a complete diagnostic heart assessment in a single heartbeat, giving the lowest radiation dose possible.

Generally, as long as you are feeling well, you can leave straight after the test and you can drive.

The CT Coronary Angiogram is recommended by the UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as the first line of investigation for the majority of patients with underlying symptoms.

For more information about coronary heart disease, either call, e-mail, or visit www.stjosephshospital.co.uk/treatments/specialities/cardiology/

St Joseph’s Hospital - Harding Ave, Newport NP20 6ZE

01633 820 301

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