| Are you critically ill --- like President Clinton was --- and don't know it? | ||
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Cardiac Arrest: Dramatic approach reveals
hidden killer A health series that popped the numbers and is credited
with saving the life of at least one man aired on WDIV-TV, Detroit. |
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| Medical reporter Lila Lazarus was given a list of risk factors to help spot people with potential heart problems. | Her opening line: "Hi, I'm Lila from Channel 4. I'm here to save your life."
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People with certain risk factors for heart disease were taken to a top
hospital for sophisticated medical tests. Many people have no idea they are in danger. The concept for the project was developed after former president Bill Clinton was suddenly diagnosed with a 90 percent blockage inside his heart, and underwent bypass surgery. |
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| Bert tells her he's in good health, but he'll cooperate and be tested. | Vice President of News Neil Goldstein wondered how many other people were walking around unaware of serious medical problems. | |
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"Mr. Clinton has access to the best doctors in the world. What about
people who haven't been to the doctor recently or who don't think about their health ---
the average person?" says Goldstein. How many other people are in serious trouble, but don't know it? |
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| Actually he scored high on several risk factors. | Goldstein wanted to create a project that would be both interesting and informative for viewers. | |
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The news executive tells The Rundown, "I am always very interested in taking hard news subjects or serious lifestyle issues and putting a visual spin on them. If you go on the air and tell people, 'Now we're going to tell you all about your heart...' they will grab the remote, because it sounds so boring." | |
| Testing showed he had serious problems | Hospital partner was recruited | |
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The station partnered with a suburban hospital. Goldstein has had success
with this approach before in Detroit and other markets. A brand new piece of medical equipment was available. William Beaumont Hospital, in Royal Oak, had just started using a special CT scanner that is dedicated exclusively to cardiac care. |
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| The sophisticated CT scanner revealed the extent of threats that had gone undetected. | Subscribers, please continue at our online story archives. Thank you. | |
The Rundown (ISSN:0035-9912) has been
published weekly (50 times a year) since 1981. |
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