Doctors often tell their patients the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle by staying proactive about their health and being mindful of early symptoms. Dr. T.J. Trad, a cardiologist at Stillwater Medical Center, took his own advice and ended up receiving life-saving care from his colleagues.
About a year ago, he was in the middle of a procedure when Dr. Trad began to feel the pangs of slight discomfort.
“At first, I thought it was anxiety,” Dr. Trad said. “I was planning on going to Uganda on a medical mission, so there were a lot of things going on behind the scenes, and I could have easily contributed the pain to that.”
Yet, as the procedure continued, the discomfort radiated, and by the end, his neck and left arm were in pain. Dr. Trad knew he had to look further into it because he has a family history of Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD)- a reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to a buildup of plaque.
A heart screening revealed an 80 percent blockage in one of Dr. Trad’s arteries. This large blockage is severe and placed Dr. Trad at high risk for a stroke. His quick action led to a much different result.
“The signs that I preach to look for to my patients, I experienced myself, and I was able to save my own self from a bad outcome,” Dr. Trad said.
Dr. Trad needed a stent and cancelled his medical mission trip. While being on the patient side of this procedure felt odd, he said he took comfort in the skill of the physicians at Stillwater Medical. “Our cardiology department is very strong whether it’s from the diagnostic part, to the invasive part to the interventional part. Every aspect of this department is top notch,” Dr. Trad said.
He credits this experience with giving him more empathy for his patients. Dr. Trad is 41, and PCAD occurs in men younger than 45 and women younger than 55. He experienced no symptoms and leads a heart-healthy lifestyle, so the incident was “shocking and surprising.”
“It is very important for people to get tested and be preventative. Whether it is a simple ultrasound, called a vascular screen, or a calcium score,” Dr. Trad said. “The return on investment is very high, considering the fact they are not expensive.”
Stillwater Medical offers $50 calcium score exams and ultrasound vascular screenings. These quick, painless screenings are recommended for people with a family history of heart disease or those who experience any of these factors: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high stress, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, obesity, poor diet or smoking. To schedule, call 405-742-5622. No physician referral needed.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of getting his stent, Dr. Trad continued exercising and following guideline-directed medical therapy for his stent placement. He trained and will be headed to climb to base camp Mount Everest during heart month 2025. His Everest expedition will launch February 21.
