Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is heart disease?
Coronary Artery Disease, the most common form of heart disease in this country and the primary cause of heart attacks, is the single largest killer of American men and women. Coronary Artery Disease occurs when the arteries carrying blood to the heart are blocked. Every 30 seconds, an American suffers a heart attack because of such a blockage, and 40 percent die within a year. More than 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease and many more, an estimated 25% of the middle-aged population, are unaware of their illness until they have a heart attack. In the U.S., coronary artery disease accounts for one-third of all deaths each year.
Century Study from Memorial Hermann on Vimeo.
You would be considered to have heart disease if you have had:
- a heart attack
- a heart bypass procedure
- angioplasty, balloon, or stent procedure
- heart failure
- your doctor has diagnosed you with heart disease
You would be considered high risk for heart disease if you fit into three or more of the following categories:
- Men 40 years or older
- Women 50 years or older
- Chest pain with exertion (exercise), at rest, or with emotional stress
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- If you smoke or used to smoke
- High Cholesterol
- Family History of Heart Disease
- High Coronary Calcium Score
What causes a heart attack?
In coronary artery disease, cholesterol is deposited in walls of coronary arteries due to family history of heart disease, abnormal cholesterol or blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, excess weight and high fat blood.
In most patients, the first sign is sudden heart attack or death due to the cholesterol plaque in the wall of the artery suddenly rupturing or breaking loose. On contact with underlying tissue, blood in the artery clots or forms a thrombosis (or blood clot) that blocks the artery, thereby causing the heart attack.
Removing the cholesterol deposit from the wall of the artery by intense medical management (ex. Medications) reduces the risk of plaque rupture and heart attack.
What will I have to do in the study?
To participate in this study you will have to be screened to see if you meet eligibility criteria. If you meet the criteria, and you decide you want to participate, you will have to sign consent forms and agree to participate. The Century Staff will review the consent form with you and answer any questions you may have before you sign.
You will have to complete a 3 day food diary and a Diet History Questionnaire before your first appointment. When you come in for your first visit, you will have an exercise treadmill test and a PET Scan done. You will be seen by a nurse, dietitian and a physician. While you are having your PET Scan, you will be randomized (like the flip of a coin) into one of two groups: Stars or Stripes.
This study is meant to support, and not substitute, the care provided by your physician not intended to replace your primary doctor. Lifestyle risk assessment reports from every visit will be sent to you and your doctor’s office.
What is a PET Scan?
A cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is a type of stress test in which blood flow to the heart muscle is seen with a radiotracer and a special scanner. PET provides an accurate non-invasive assessment of the heart arteries. Pictures of the heart blood flow are taken before and after pharmacologic stress instead of exercise to determine if maximum blood flow is restricted by narrowing of the arteries. Now, PET scan diagnoses heart disease non-invasively with 96-98% accuracy in individuals with or without symptoms of heart disease, allowing treatment even before symptoms appear.
What is the consent process? How do I sign up?
If you have heart disease or several risk factors, please contact our office at 713-500-5200 for a telephone screening. If you are eligible for the study, we can schedule an appointment for you to meet with our staff to review and sign the consent form before you come in for your first PET scan.
What are the screening criteria to see if I am eligible?
If you presently have heart disease or have 2 or more risk factors for heart disease, call us at 713-500-5200 to discuss whether you meet all the criteria.
How do I determine my Body Mass Index?
How do I know which group I am in?
When you come to your first visit, a computer will randomly assign you to one of the groups. You will have a 50-50 chance of getting into either group. Once you are assigned to a group, we are not able to switch groups. You will belong to that group for the duration of the study (5 years).
What are the benefits?
Simple measures such as healthy eating and physical fitness markedly reduce heart attacks.
By enrolling in the Century Health Study, you will be evaluated by a team of specialists looking at the lifestyle factors that may increase your risk for heart disease.
You could benefit from this trial by receiving free electrocardiograms, exercise treadmill stress tests, diet evaluations, clinic visits, and a complete cholesterol profile. The results of these tests will be given to you and your primary care physician.
This study also could benefit society by proving more efficient, cost-effective ways of diagnosing and treating coronary heart disease.
Your taking part in this study may help other people with risk factors, or with heart disease get better care and hopefully attain a century of well being.
Does this mean I am changing doctors?
No. Your involvement in this study is not meant to replace the care of your primary care physician or cardiologist; but is an added free service to the care you are already receiving from your doctor.
What are the costs involved to be in this study?
There are no costs to you for any of the tests, diet evaluations, clinic visits. Lab work done for study visits will be free. Parking costs for each of your visits will be validated before you leave. Please note: If you have a medication change, you will have to have additional blood work done to evaluate your liver function. That extra blood work will be paid for by your insurance company.
What if I do not have a primary care physician or cardiologist?
This study is not meant to replace the care of a primary care physician or cardiologist. If you do not have a doctor, we can refer you to one of the UT Physicians.
What if I do not have any insurance?
Unfortunately, at this time, you must have insurance to participate in this study because you will need to have a primary care physician or cardiologist for us to send reports to.
Please refer to the Harris County Hospital District website to see if you qualify for a Gold Card.
Once you get your Gold Card, we would be happy to refer you to one of the UT Physicians working through one of the Harris County Hospitals.
How do I contact your office?
For questions, or to speak with one of our physicians or staff, call:
Century Study Hotline: 713-500-5200
Weatherhead PET Imaging Center: 713-500-6611
