THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026 Page 17 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ They Fought for This Country. They Shouldn’t Have to Leave It to Heal By Aaron Seibert V eterans with severe PTSD and depression are increasingly traveling overseas for treatments they cannot legally access in the United States. After exhausting medications and conventional treatments, many are traveling to clinics in countries like Mexico to pursue psychedelic-assisted treatments. Others are seeking underground providers outside any regulated medical system. That should concern everyone — not because these treatments are necessarily unsafe, but because veterans are being pushed outside the safeguards of the American healthcare system to access them. If promising medicines exist, the United States has a responsibility to study them and, if they prove safe and effective, make them available through a regulated system here at home. Today, too many veterans have nowhere safe to turn. Seventeen veterans die by suicide each day in the UnitGUEST COMMENTARY | SEE Page 19 1. On July 17, 1994, what country won its fourth World Cup: Brazil, Italy or Spain? 2. What is a geoduck? 3. On July 18, 1776, from the Town House balcony, was Boston’s first public reading of the Declaration of Independence; what is that building now? 4. In what sport would you fi nd a bicycle kick? Should You Get a Heart Calcium Scan? Dear Savvy Senior, I just turned 58 and heart disease runs in my family. My cholesterol has been creeping up, and I’ve been hearing about a scan that can show your actual heart risk. Is that something I should look into? --Heart Worried Dear Worried, You’re smart to think about this now. For years, cholesterol numbers have been the main way to estimate heart disease risk. But there’s another tool gaining attention that can off er a more direct look: a coronary artery calcium scan, or CAC scan. This quick, noninvasive test looks for actual plaque buildup in your heart’s arteries, not just the risk of developing it. Here’s why that matters. High cholesterol suggests you might develop heart disease someday. But calcium in your arteries means some disease is already present. The higher your calcium score, the greater your risk of a future heart attack or stroke. That makes this test especially useful for people like you with a family history and borderline numbers. How it works A CAC scan is a specialized CT scan that takes about 10 minutes and doesn’t require needles or dyes. You simply lie on a table while the scanner takes images of your heart. It uses a small amount of radiation, similar to a mammogram. The result is a calcium score that refl ects how much plaque is in your arteries: • A score of zero means no detectable plaque. • A score from 1 to 100 indicates mild plaque. • A score from 100 to 299 suggests moderate buildup. • A score of 300 or higher points to more serious disease. This number gives you and your doctor something concrete to work with. Instead of guessing about your risk, you can make more confident decisions about whether to start a statin or focus on lifestyle changes alone. Who needs it Not everyone needs a CAC scan. It’s most helpful for adults over 40 who have some risk factors, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, but aren’t clearly high or low risk. If your risk level is uncertain or you’re hesitant about taking a statin, the scan can help break the tie. It can also be a strong wake-up call. Many people who see plaque on their scan are more motivated to take medication, improve their diet, lose weight, and stay active. Getting one CAC scans are widely available at hospitals and imaging centers that off er CT services. You’ll usually need a doctor’s order, but some centers off er self-pay screenings you can schedule yourself. The scan typically costs about $75 to $200 out of pocket and usually isn’t something you need to repeat very often. Results are often available quickly, sometimes within a day or two. A couple of caveats: A score of zero doesn’t mean you have no risk, and the test isn’t meant for diagnosing symptoms like chest pain. It’s just one piece of the puzzle and should be considered along with your overall health picture. Given your age, family history, and slightly elevated cholesterol, a CAC scan could be a very useful next step. It’s worth having a conversation with your doctor to see if it makes sense for you. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5, Norman, OK 7070. 5. What gambling mecca had Thunderbird Downs racetrack? 6. Reportedly, what kind of weather can cause train tracks to bend? 7. On July 19, 1900, Paris Metro rapid transit began — its entrances and signs were influenced by what artistic style? 8. Guinness World Records reported a 2026 record for what that is silver, 2 feet tall and weighs over 173 lbs.? 9. July 20 is International Chess Day; what is a fool’s mate? 10. The Massachusetts fl ag has blue, white and what other color? 11. What is the diff erence between hootchiekootchie and the hokey pokey? 12. From what country is Efren Reyes, who is considered the GOAT of the game of pool? 13. On July 21, 1943, was the U.S. debut of the musical film “Stormy Weather” with what song that begins with “No one to talk with / All by myself”? 14. Why was the term Air Force One created to mean a plane carrying a U.S. president? 15. Nunavut includes the most northernly point of what continent? 16. What team has been called Americans, Pilgrims, Plymouth Rocks, Puritans and Somersets? 17. On July 22, 2024, the USPS issued a stamp honoring what “Jeopardy!” host? 18. Where did the 2026 Tour de France bicycle race start: Barcelona, Nice or Paris? 19. What are lobster eggs called? 20. On July 23, 1903, what company sold their fi rst car? Answers 1. Brazil 2. A giant North American clam 3. The Old State House (Royal proclamations had been given from the balcony.) 4. Soccer (also called scissors kick or overhead kick) 5. Las Vegas 6. Extreme heat 7. Art Nouveau 8. World’s Heaviest Silver Coin — created in honor of the USA semiquincentennial 9. The fastest possible checkmate from the start of the game (two moves) 10. Gold 11. The former is a provocative dance once common at carnivals; the latter is a nursery rhyme/circle dance. 12. Philippines 13. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” 14. In 1953 a plane with the president had the same air traffi c control call sign as a commercial plane entering the same airspace, so a new presidential call sign was created. 15. North America (Murchison Promontory in Nunavut territory, Canada) 16. Red Sox 17. Alex Trebek 18. Barcelona 19. Roe 20. Ford (A Model A was delivered to a Chicago dentist.)
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