All Things Heart

You can feel healthy, exercise regularly and eat well — and still have plaque building up in your heart's arteries. On this episode of All Things Heart, we explain the cardiac calcium score, also known as a CardioScore. This quick, noninvasive scan can detect calcium deposits in the coronary arteries, helping doctors assess the risk of coronary artery disease before symptoms appear. We also explore a community effort to help more people access this important heart screening. Learn why knowing your heart health matters — even when you feel perfectly fine.

Dawn Moore became part of a medical study made up entirely of women. See the remarkable procedure that helped open the way to her heart, and get 82-year-old Dawn back in the gym.

After heart failure left her struggling just to keep up with life and her two boys, Brooke Newsom turned to a groundbreaking new procedure at The University of Kansas Health System. Now, she's back home on her farm, surrounded by her sons, her animals, and living the life she once feared she may lose.

Gene Hunter had no idea he was living with a potentially deadly aortic aneurysm. A routine X-ray at a chiropractor's office revealed the problem—Gene sought emergency care at The University of Kansas Health System. Vascular surgeon Dr. Axel Thors was able to repair the aneurysm without open heart surgery.

At age 4, Jamie Furey learned she had long QT syndrome after the sudden death of a young cousin prompted her family to uncover a history of the inherited heart condition.

After years of procedures and searching for the right doctor, Jamie found care at The University of Kansas Health System. A new type of defibrillator is helping her feel more confident about the future—and the life she's building at 26.

Glenda Lane spent decades living with a hole in her heart. But when she started having trouble breathing, two specialists uncovered the surprising cause and found a way to fix it without open-heart surgery. See how they worked together to give Glenda her life back.

Miguel Calvillo had just finished his workday at The University of Kansas Health System when he collapsed in the hallway. Among the co-workers who saved his life was the very surgeon Miguel often helps in the operating room. See how Miguel is doing today.

A routine heart procedure takes a terrifying turn for 29-year-old mom of three Alyssa Tatro when her heart suddenly stops working. An emergency flight, a collapsed lung and a race to save her life lead to an extraordinary gift. See how Alyssa went from fighting for her life to holding her children again.

Cathy Jacobson thought she was healthy. She exercised, felt fine and had no idea dangerous plaque was building inside her arteries. But after a coronary calcium scan, often called a CardioScore test, doctors discovered severe heart disease eventually led to quadruple bypass surgery. Cathy shares the emotional moment she learned she needed open heart surgery, while cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Greg Muehlebach, from The University of Kansas Health System, explains how coronary calcium scoring helps detect hidden heart disease before a heart attack happens. The conversation also explores elevated Lp(a), family history risks, who should consider getting screened. He explains why this quick test is becoming a powerful tool in preventative heart care. This is a real-world look at how early detection can save lives.

Anne Weishaar lived with daily chest pain for years after undergoing triple bypass heart surgery. The pain was caused by angina, a condition often linked to reduced blood flow to the heart and coronary artery disease. At times, the pain spread into her arms, shoulders and neck, forcing her to rely on nitroglycerin tablets just to get through the day. In this episode of All Things Heart, Anne shares what it was like to live with chronic angina and why she decided to take part in a clinical trial at The University of Kansas Health System. Her doctors explain what angina is, why it is not the same as a heart attack, and how a small hourglass-shaped device called a coronary sinus reducer may help improve blood flow to areas of the heart. They also discuss who may qualify for the clinical trial, how the device is implanted, possible risks and what this new approach could mean for patients still searching for relief. This is a hopeful look at innovation in heart care and a new option for people living with ongoing chest pain.