Keeping an eye on firefighters' hearts

Dominick Tufano has worked as a firefighter since 1979 but has never focused on the risks of his job. That includes learning the job's risk to his heart.

The No. 1 cause of death for firefighters is heart attack, according to a consultant.

"Am I more aware of things that can cause heart and lung problems? Sure," said Tufano, who has worked in Libertyville since 1985. "But I use the equipment given to me to help prevent that in the best way I can."

Thanks to a new heart education program, he and possibly more firefighters can detect early heart disease before it becomes fatal.

"It's more prevention, to catch it early and do something about it," he said.

Michelle Rathman created Impact Communications 20 years ago to help health-care providers promote prevention and wellness.

Working with GRC Imaging Centers in Libertyville, Rathman called the program Helping the Hearts of Those Who Care for Lake County. She wanted to save lives.

"We wanted to work with GRC, who is an advocate for community health, encourage firefighters to get the screening done before they become a statistic," she said.

Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani said there are reasons beyond heredity including stress and years of buildup due to smoke inhalation that put firefighters at risk. That risk has been reduced thanks to better equipment.

But he wanted to participate in the pilot program because being given a chance to find people at risk only makes sense.

Tufano never showed any symptoms of heart trouble. But he had a family history of risk factors. His grandparents and parents all have high blood pressure. His brother had quadruple bypass surgery at age 45. A couple years older than him, Tufano decided he should get checked.

"Am I afraid of what I hear? Yeah. I don't want to be told you can't do your job anymore," he said.

But he said joining the program can only better himself. If something is found, it can be detected and addressed.

To begin, the doctor conducts a one-hour education session. Tufano said the session reviewed how heredity and risk factors affect heart health and also further explained the screening.

They were then given the choice to undergo a blood test and ultrasound of the carotid artery. Of the 22 who chose to be tested, nine were shown to need to undergo the coronary CTA scan.

"We were thinking maybe, potentially four. To have nine, we were pretty surprised," Rathman said. "We said, 'Oh my gosh. This program did a real service.'"

Conducted at GRC Imaging, the coronary computed topography angiography is a noninvasive heart imaging test that determines whether fatty deposits or calcium deposits build up in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, Dr. Frank Kalmar said.

Normally a catheter would be injected through the groin to the heart's aorta to evaluate the coronary arteries. The coronary CTA is less invasive, provides a more detailed picture of the heart and only takes about 20 minutes.

For Tufano, the blood test revealed high cholesterol, which he has been monitoring with his doctor. But it also showed something he did not know. The test showed no blockage, but there was calcified and non-calcified plaque in the left descending artery in his heart. He said that has built up for years at home.

"I grew up in an Italian household. You do nothing but eat. Staying slim is a hard feat," he said.

Thankfully, he was told it was normal and no further procedures were required.

"Hopefully with the medications I'm taking, it will help loosen this up and prevent further buildup," he said.

From the beginning, Rathman hoped to expand this program to public service officers across Lake County. Following the pilot, Rathman along with Carani presented information on the program before the Lake County Fire Chiefs last month. Three departments have responded to further study the program.

While the screening was given free as part of the pilot, other departments will receive a significant discount to be screened.

For Libertyville, Carani said the department is progressing toward making sure all firefighters receive regular physicals. This program helps in that effort.

Tufano sees this program ais something that can be invaluable to departments. If a program can ensure the physical and mental well-being of personnel, they should do it.

"These people we employ are our assets," he said. "Let's make them healthy. Let's make sure they are healthy."