Early Detection, Early Cure

Losing a loved one to an unexpected medical condition is never easy for any of us. When it is a death that might have prevented as a result of pre-emptive health screening, however, the tragedy is magnified tenfold.

Lou Weiss, Executive Director of Longevity, Inc. in Dana Point, California, is a staunch advocate of the belief that early detection has the capacity to save lives. Weiss, who will be participating as a community partner in the first annual “Wild at Heart” Marathon to be held at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl on Saturday, November 3rd, took time from his busy schedule to explain why the mobile unit of Longevity, Inc. is literally a “lifesaver on wheels”.

Q: By way of introduction, what was the inciting incident that led you to pursue a path dedicated to early detection screening?

A: Eighteen years ago I suffered the personal tragedy of losing my wife to cancer. My beloved Naomi was 38 years old – we had been married for 19 years and were teenage sweethearts. Naomi ate well and exercised regularly. The one major omission from our wellness program was early detection. We did not take early detection seriously or personally. We knew that early detection was of value, but we believed it was valuable for older people and those who did not have healthy lifestyles. I learned through this personal catastrophe that early detection is relevant for everyone, regardless of their age. It is absolutely correct to say that early detection and enhanced awareness such as that offered by Longevity, Inc. makes a big difference.

Q: What are the specific services that Longevity, Inc. currently offers to its clients?

A: Longevity offers a wonderful array of three screenings for the early detection of cardiovascular disease. These screenings are tremendously valuable and they are not part of a routine annual physical exam. These screenings are not covered by insurance (unless there are symptoms).

1. The Echocardiogram is an ultrasound look inside the heart. This screening can detect a broad array of defects to the heart muscle as well as to the valves leading to and from the heart. (Some confuse this screening with an Electrocardiogram [EKG]. They are very different screenings. They both have major value.)

2. The Carotid Ultrasound is an ultrasound look inside the carotid artery. This screening is recognized as the best early detection for stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the US. According to medical authorities, Carotid Ultrasound can detect 80% of strokes before they strike.

3. Peripheral Vascular Screening utilizes Doppler technology to detect artery blockage in the main arteries coming from the heart in the upper and lower extremities. This screening is valuable in the early detection of coronary attacks as well as strokes.

Longevity also offers some very valuable screenings for the early detection of specific cancers (principally abdominal cancers).

Q: Who is eligible to participate?

A; Historically, Longevity has only been able to offer our services to the employees of major employers. Through “Wild At Heart”, we are now able to offer our potentially life saving services to the public. We are eager to find other pathways to be able to continue to offer these services to the general public.

Q: Does participation/screening have to be in the context of working at a job or can individuals give Longevity Inc a call?

A: As part of the newest chapter in Longevity’s mission, we have begun to encourage the public to call us at 888-55-HEART. We will find a nearby location (often at a city hall, school district, or college) where the public can participate in the Longevity screenings.

Q: What's involved in the screening process? How long does an appointment take? How long before the results are available?

A: The entire screening process takes an hour or less. Some of our screenings involve preparation which can include four hours of fasting. Appointments are always advised.

Q: Is this screening covered by insurance?

A: If your doctor sends you for ultrasound studies as a result of specific symptoms, they could be covered by insurance. However, screenings like Longevity’s are hopefully performed before there are significant symptoms. For that reason, these screenings are not usually covered by insurance. However, Longevity has arranged to offer these potentially life saving screenings at such a modest price, that our prices are sometimes less than your insurance co-pay. The costs are also often reimbursable under flexible savings plans or health savings accounts.

Q: On average, how many screenings does Longevity, Inc. do per year?

A: Currently, Longevity has the capacity to screen approximately 6,000 participants a year with the average participant having five screenings for a total of 30,000 screenings. Due to demand, we are expecting our capacity to at least double during 2008. It is essential to us that every screening that we do be conducted at the highest levels of medical efficacy. Accordingly, it is critical that all of our medical staff (our ultrasound sonographers) are not only accredited, but that they are fully trained to the high standards of Longevity.

Q: Any favorite stories on how Longevity Inc has made a difference?

A: My favorite stories are about people who are alive today solely because they participated in the Longevity program. However, sometimes a clean bill of health is also special.

There is a school teacher, for instance, who received a screening as a birthday gift from her husband when she turned 40. She thought that this was a sick joke on her husband’s part to try to make her feel old as she turned the big 4-0. As she came into the screening environment she shared her displeasure with our staff. During her screenings we found a major tumor in one of her kidneys. It was too late to save that kidney, but her cancer was caught before it spread to other organs. Her surgeon told her that she was within weeks of the cancer spreading to other organs at which time her prospects for survival would have been poor at best. This was the birthday gift that saved the life of this 40 year old.

While being examined, another participant was discovered with an abdominal aorta that was on the verge of an aneurysm. The Longevity screening absolutely saved his life. He subsequently met the person who brought the Longevity screenings to their place of employment (the Port of Los Angeles). The person whose life was saved was wearing a new “very cool” jacket. The other person complimented the jacket, at which time our survivor took off the jacket and handed it to him. The astonished recipient said “I can’t take your jacket,” to which the response came “You are the one who brought Longevity here, my jacket is the least that I owe you.”

There was also a senior engineer at a leading organization in Pasadena who shared that he was incredibly anxious before he went to his Longevity screenings. His anxiety was so high that he picked up the phone several times to cancel his appointment but never made that call. During his screening he invoked the memory of his beloved departed father for strength and support. This engineer had experienced some symptoms and was expecting the worst. We found some minor and totally treatable abnormalities. He called me to share that our screenings “lifted the weight of the world from his shoulders.

These are scores of similar stories!

Q: How will you be participating in the “Wild at Heart” Marathon?

A: We will be offering select screenings at the “Wild At Heart” event. Moreover, Ariel Penn, the founder of the event is my personal hero! Ariel translated her own experience with cardiovascular disease to a calling that will undoubtedly save numerous lives. We, at Longevity, are committed to supporting Ariel’s efforts.

Q: Anything else you'd like us to know?

A: Longevity offers a number of educational and screening programs. We welcome all interested persons and organizations to contact us at 888-55-HEART or visit our website at www.EDSL.com. EDSL stands for Early Detection Saves Lives!

Author Note: For more information on “Wild at Heart”, readers are invited to visit the marathon’s website at www.heartmarathon.com. Prior American Chronicle/California Chronicle interviews on this unique event can also be found at the following links:

Will Your Heart be the Death of You?”

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=37764

Taking the Future to Heart”

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=41247