Basketball fans and NBA professionals were shocked at the sudden passing of Sean Rooks, 46, from a heart attack June 7.  He played for the Lakers as well as six other teams, and was recently interviewing for coaching positions.

Basketball fans and NBA professionals were shocked at the sudden passing of Sean Rooks, 46, from a heart attack June 7.  He played for the Lakers as well as six other teams, and was recently interviewing for coaching positions.

It’s another person on a list of NBA alumni who have succumbed to heart disease at relatively young ages, including Moses Malone, 60; Darryl Dawkins, 58; Jack Haley, 51; Anthony Mason, 48; and Caldwell Jones, 63.

Early detection may have prevented such tragedies.  Coronary artery calcium scoring, a noninvasive 10 minute test, now easily affordable ($150), can detect heart disease better than an EKG and cholesterol testing.  A relatively new blood test measuring cardiovascular inflammatory factors is also highly predictive of who is at risk for a heart attack.

A recently released documentary, “The Widowmaker,” vividly describes how the coronary calcium test can detect the disease.  It is available on Netflix.

If you are 40 or older, man or woman, consider these two tests.  

Photo© In Memoriam: Sean Rooks | NBA.com