TAMPA, Fla. — At 72 years old, Kevin Murray is living proof of the critical role cardiac health plays in overall well-being. After facing a near-fatal heart condition that required emergency bypass surgery nearly two decades ago, Murray has since devoted himself to proactive health management.

Each year, he made it a point to undergo cardiology check-ups. In 2021, a change in his healthcare provider led Murray to receive a cardiac CT scan, a sophisticated imaging technique that creates a 3-D representation of the heart and its arteries. While the results were reassuring, the experience sparked concern for his family’s health history.

Murray was acutely aware that heart disease ran rampant in his family; his parents and grandfather had all suffered from it. His brother Patrick, 67, had recently shown alarming signs of fatigue and shortness of breath. After discussing the matter, Murray convinced Patrick to undergo a cardiac CT scan in late 2022.

The scan revealed a troubling finding: significant arterial blockages that placed Patrick at high risk for a serious cardiac event. Prompt open-heart surgery addressed these blockages, alleviating Patrick’s symptoms and prompting Murray to encourage his other three brothers to get the same testing.

To the family’s collective shock, each brother was found to have advanced heart disease and ultimately required surgical intervention. “We are incredibly grateful that we were able to avert what could have been a disaster,” Murray shared.

Family medical history is a crucial indicator of potential heart issues, according to Dr. Mark Russo, chief of cardiac surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He stresses the importance of discussing familial patterns of heart disease with healthcare professionals, especially for those with multiple relatives affected.

All four brothers sought treatment from Dr. Alberto Morales, who has utilized advanced cardiovascular imaging technology on thousands of patients. This noninvasive scan produces detailed images of the heart in mere seconds, significantly reducing radiation exposure compared to traditional imaging methods. Morales likens the cardiac CT scan to a mammogram, as it allows doctors to detect disease at earlier stages.

Approximately 80% of patients receiving this scan are asymptomatic but may still be diagnosed with heart disease. Many can have severe blockages in their arteries without experiencing any symptoms, making early detection crucial.

Once heart disease is identified, physicians like Morales work with patients to incorporate lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes preventative procedures like catheterizations to stave off severe cardiac episodes.

For the Murrays, the experience has been transformative. Larry and Michael, two of Kevin’s brothers, underwent successful open-heart surgeries, while their brother Tim was on the brink of a life-threatening “widowmaker” heart attack despite a healthy lifestyle. Tim required three stents to address the critical blockages.

Now, the siblings consult with Morales regularly to monitor their heart health. Kevin Murray has taken it upon himself to advocate for routine cardiac CT scans, urging anyone mentioning heart health to consider getting tested. He emphasizes the importance of discussing family health histories during gatherings, as understanding genetic predispositions is crucial.

“You can’t fight genetics,” Murray remarked, reflecting on his family’s health challenges. “While lifestyle changes are beneficial, awareness and preventive measures can be life-saving.” Thanks to early intervention, all the brothers are currently thriving and committed to their ongoing heart health.