How a $49 heart scan saved a sandwich shop owner’s life

Howie Duncan, a 69 year old who co-owns and operates Suburpia, a Milwaukee sub sandwich shop whose origins date back more than 50 years.

As a colon cancer survivor, Duncan began getting annual checkups from his primary care provider at Aurora Medical Center – Burlington. At his checkup in April 2024, he saw a sign for a $49 heart scan. On a whim, he decided to take it.

The heart scan runs a calcium test that reveals a patient’s risk of heart disease. If you are high risk, you will likely receive early medical intervention to reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

Not only did Duncan’s results show high cholesterol, but his calcium score was off the charts. Normal to moderate results range between 0 and 300. Duncan’s calcium score came back at 1,583.

He was immediately referred to Dr. Robert Richmond and the cardiology team at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center. There, further tests showed a 90% blockage in Duncan’s heart. Since the blockage was so significant, his team determined stents would not be effective, and bypass surgery was needed to relieve the strain on Duncan’s ailing heart.

Just days after the initial heart scan, Duncan underwent successful coronary bypass surgery performed by Dr. William Fischer. After five days of recovery, Duncan went home. He’s back in the kitchen at his restaurants, has since taken a European vacation and is back to full health.

“Heart scans are an essential tool for early detection of heart disease, potential heart attack and other life-threatening cardiac conditions,” Dr. Fischer says. “To see Howie make a full recovery and get back to doing the things he loves is a testament to our team’s lifesaving work.”

Thankful for a second chance at life, Duncan is now also an advocate for heart health awareness.

“I tell everybody who will listen to go in and do the heart scan,” says Duncan. “I just added 25 years to my life, and now I can live a long life with my wife.”

There are many proactive steps you can take to improve your heart health. Diet, exercise, sleep, managing stress and avoiding tobacco and alcohol all reduce the risk of heart disease and its risk factors.

Heart scans are recommended for patients who are at least 35 years old, haven’t been previously diagnosed with heart disease and don’t have a pacemaker. In addition, you must have at least two of the following risk factors:

• Male over the age 45
• Female over the age 55
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Smoking history
• Are physically inactive

Learn more about $49 heart scan in Illinois or Wisconsin. Or take a free online quiz to learn your heart disease risk.