Rochester, N.Y. - Doug Armstrong had just lost his father-in-law to a heart attack. He was just 62.
So when he felt the tightness and pain in his chest, he worried, but thought it was probably just something he ate.
He ignored the symptoms for a few days until friends urged him to get it checked out.
Boy, is he glad he did. The young father, who is just 39, had a 90% blockage in his arteries.
Doctors found the blockage using a specialized nuclear imaging technology. It uses a camera with a crystal to not detect blood flow abnormalities, and also measure the risk of both a heart attack and death.
URMC Cardiologist Dr. Ronald Schwartz said the University of Rochester Medical Center is the only hospital with this imaging technology in our area.
Dr. Schwartz said, "the Spectrum scan is better than an angiogram for determining what the risk is of a heart attack and death."
Armstrong says he feels much better after surgery. He also changed his eating habits and has lost 25 pounds. Though he admits he hadn't had a regular physical in years before his heart problems were diagnosed, he now has regular check-ups.
Armstrong said, "It was eye-opening when I found out. I have two young kids. I'm 39, I was not experienced in heart-related issues."
