Erlanger Hope Mobile Cardiac Screening Unit Can Help Those With Heart Problems In Remote Areas

CHATTANOOGA, TN, (WDEF)- Just over 2000 fit and healthy athletes will compete in Ironman Chattanooga this Sunday however the same number of Americans across the nation will also die of Cardiac disease.

Medical professionals say heart disease is still the number one cause of death in the US and screening is becoming crucial in Tennessee and Georgia.

Terrence Diaz, CEO, HealthFair,"For more than half of the heart attacks the first symptom happens to be the heart attack itself so preventive care is extremely important"

Diaz says his mobile buses have provided a million cardiac screenings nationwide but getting them to remote areas has been key.

"Putting it in a mobile environment we can go to your local drugstore, local supermarket and make the tests available to you right there"

The entire process takes between 10 and 15 minutes and its crucial that those who have smoking or cardiac history in their family get checked out as soon as possible.

92 year old Alfred Perkins Rogers says he lived a healthy life and never thought he would suffer with a heart condition.

"I as a physician missed angina in my own body for some six weeks, I had been having stomach pain no chest pain"

He ended up needing a triple bypass and says heart attacks can strike at any moment.

"What we did was road bicycle and then we went swimming and then went to dinner, that’s when I collapsed but i have no recollection of the swimming at all"

Tests performed on the mobile units include ones for arterial  disease and aortic aneurysms.

Erlanger added health insurance does not cover what they say are reasonable charges for the screenings but added some fees are recoverable from a health savings account.