He made his brothers get their arteries checked. Each had advanced heart disease.
Updated on: December 13, 2025 / 8:28 AM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- Kevin Murray, who had bypass surgery in 2003, encouraged his brother Patrick to get a cardiac CT scan due to a family history of heart disease.
- Patrick's scan revealed significant arterial blockages, leading to emergency open-heart surgery.
- All four of Kevin's brothers were subsequently diagnosed with advanced heart disease and required surgery.
- Dr. Mark Russo highlights family history as a major risk factor and recommends discussing monitoring with a doctor.
- Dr. Alberto Morales uses the Arineta's SpotLight cardiovascular CT scanner, which images the heart in seconds and is noninvasive.
- The cardiac CT scan, similar to a mammogram for the heart, allows for early detection of disease by visualizing blockages and calcium scores.
- About 80% of patients seen by Dr. Morales have no symptoms but are diagnosed with heart disease via the CT scan.
- Treatment for detected heart disease includes medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes preventative procedures.
- The Murray brothers are grateful for the technology that identified their conditions and allowed for successful treatment.
- Kevin Murray advocates for cardiac CT scans and educates his son and nephews about their genetic risks.