My dad, 64, had quadruple bypass surgery this week.

70% to 80% blockage in all four arteries.

The surgery was successful, and he’s recovering nicely, thank God. He should be out of the hospital tomorrow.

I (Chris Reilly) have gained a newfound appreciation for doctors and medical staff. They’re true lifesavers, and we’re so lucky this was fixed before my dad had a major heart attack.

• We’re also lucky it was caught thanks to something called a “coronary calcium CT scan”...

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Stephen McBride wrote about it in these pages a couple years ago, urging RiskHedge readers over the age of 35 to get one.

It’s a non-invasive scan of your chest, which takes roughly 15 minutes and costs 100–200 bucks. After my dad’s bloodwork came back, his doctor told him to get one right away.

Cholesterol scores don’t look inside your arteries. As Stephen said, “Don’t be fooled into thinking cholesterol is the magic number that says whether your heart is fine.”

Half of people who suffer a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels and don’t have any prior symptoms.

A coronary calcium CT scan measures the plaque buildup in your arteries. The more plaque you have, the higher your odds of a heart attack.

A score of more than 400 is considered high-risk, indicating extensive plaque accumulation.

• My dad’s score was 1,200.

From there, it was time to get serious. He had a stress test, and then a cardiac catheterization not long after.

It was determined the blockage was too much for stents to be put in. He needed the surgery, and soon. He got admitted to the hospital on Friday, they monitored him over the weekend, and the surgery was Monday.

It was stressful, but my dad handled it like a champ and his positive attitude helped keep my mom relatively calm too during the whole process.

Proud of you, dad

The crazy thing is...

• My dad had no symptoms and exercises regularly.

But genetics play a role.

My grandfather died on the golf course at 69 from a major heart attack. We never got the autopsy, but we suspect it was because of the same issue.

Knowing all this now, I called up my doctor this week and scheduled a calcium CT scan for myself.

Even though I’m relatively young (38), I want some peace of mind. Or to talk to a cardiologist and get on a plan if my score is higher than 0.

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the world. It’s largely preventable and treatable.

And calcium CT scans have been around for decades, but doctors are only starting to use them now. My dad’s doctor said the technology is now better than ever.

• Don’t put it off. Especially if you have a history of heart issues in your family.

When Stephen first wrote about this test, I sort of tuned it out. “Nice thought, but it doesn’t affect me.”

But now that it probably save my dad’s life, it changed everything.

I’m glad I made the call. Your health really is your wealth. And you’re blessed to have hundreds of little problems, because it means you’re healthy. When you’re not healthy, you have ONE problem. The biggest problem.

This is a rare issue of The Jolt that doesn’t contain anything about markets or investing. I’m hoping that spreading my dad’s story can save a life or two among RiskHedge readers and your families and friends.

Chris Reilly Executive Editor, RiskHedge

PS: Stephen recently talked with the founder and CEO of AstroForge, an aerospace company developing the technology required to extract platinum-group metals from asteroids.

If it succeeds in what it’s trying to do, it could create an entirely new source of critical resources… and potentially launch a new age of human abundance.

You’ll have to hear this discussion for yourself in this episode of Stephen’s new “Optimists Make Money” podcast. Listen here and subscribe on YouTube if you like what you hear.