Life-saving new technology could treat patients at ‘high risk’ of heart attacks

One Australian suffers a heart attack every ten minutes, but new technology could identify those at high risk before it's too late.

The procedure is being trialled by researchers, who hope it will help save lives.

Susan Martin has been experiencing chest pain on and off for years.

The 64-year-old is considered at high risk of a heart attack.

“My mother and father died of heart problems, many, many years ago,” she said.

Most heart attacks occur when there’s a sudden blockage of an artery, caused by plaque build-up rupturing, stopping the supply of blood.

Using a CT scanner, researchers at Monash Heart are monitoring patients like Ms Martin to see whether plaque in their blood vessels causes a heart attack.

Specifically, the researchers are after the types of plaque more likely to cause a rupture resulting in a blockage.

Around 55,000 Australians suffer a heart attack each year.

If the new research can identify those at high risk it means they can be treated early, potentially saving 9000 lives annually.

“It will allow a group of people identified at high risk to be assessed to see what their chances of having a heart attack are in the very near future,” Julie-Anne Mitchell from the Heart Foundation said.

More than 4000 patients with chest pain will be monitored over the next four years.