Maryvale Cardiology - Cardiologists, Phoenix, Avondale, AZ - Heart and Arterial Disease Preventin Clinic

Heart and Arterial Disease Prevention Clinic

Cardiovascular disease continues to be our nation's #1 killer. Heart attacks are only a part of the problem, a "tip of the iceberg." Cardiovascular disease is a progressive disease that may remain silent for many years until its effects become evident. The consequences of cardiovascular disease are serious. These include death, disability, and a constant financial burden due to the high health care costs involved in its diagnosis and treatment. We have created this clinic to help people become knowledgeable of the importance of an early detective of the disease and to detect and treat, and reduce or eliminate the deleterious consequences of cardiovascular disease.

The prevention program includes:

Assessment of cardiac risk factors
Measurement of blood liquids and blood glucose
Nutritional and exercise counseling
Smoking cessation counseling
Assessment of coronary arteries calcium content C "the calcium score"
A novel method to discover coronary artery disease

Who should be evaluated?

Males 45 years old or older
Females 55 years old or older
People with family history of premature coronary artery disease
Current or past cigarette smoker
Individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes, or elevated cholesterol
People with body weight 20/more than ideal body weight.
Sedentary lifestyle

Prevention Clinic

First Heart Attack Risk Test (PDF)
Men: First Stroke Risk Test (PDF)
Women: First Stroke Risk Test (PDF)
Calcium Score
Cardiovascular Disease: Reducing the Risk

Do You Know Your Calcium Score?

Cholesterol plaques built up in the coronary arteries attract calcium. The more calcium deposits are found in the lining of the arteries, the more at risk a person is for having significant blockages in the coronary arteries. This test is a type of CT scan which gives out a calcium score based on the amount of calcium accumulated in the coronary arteries. A Calcium Score of 100 and below is considered low risk, of 101 to 400 is considered moderate risk, while anything over 400 is considered high risk. Learning your calcium score is an essential step in understanding heart health, and determining heart disease. Knowing the calcium score enables a doctor to then design an appropriate treatment program. Many patients are being undertreated because their risk is just based on the traditional risk factors, not the calcium score.

You should speak with your physician about the advantages and disadvantages of a CT calcium score to determine if the exam is right for you. For more information regarding a calcium score, please see the links below.

Useful Links :
Calcium Score Information from the Mayo Clinic
Calcium Score and coronary Artery Disease from the National Institutes of Health

Cardiovascular Disease: Reducing the Risk

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have guidelines for women to reduce their risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

Cigarette smoking:
Women should completely stop smoking and avoid passive smoking (secondhand smoke).
Physical activity:
Women should get 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week. For those with recent cardiovascular events or procedures, participation in cardiac rehab, a physician-guided home exercise program, or a comprehensive secondary pre-vention program is recommended.
Nutrition:
In general, women should consume less than 30 percent of their calories from fat and 8 to 10 percent from saturated fat, and they should consume no more than 300 mg of cholesterol a day. Women with CHD or significantly elevated cholesterol should get 7 percent or less of their calories from saturated fat and consume no more than 200 mg of cholesterol a day. Women should take in 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day from food. Salt (sodium chloride) intake should be limited to 6 gm a day. Women with high blood pressure may require even further restrictions in salt intake.
Weight management:
A target body mass index (BMI) is 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. The desirable waist circumference is less than 88 cm, or 35 inches, in women with a BMI of 25 to 34.9 kg/m2. Note: A BMI of 25 kg/m2 equals 110 percent of a desirable body weight.
Blood pressure:
A blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or less is desirable. Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.
Treatment of diabetes:
Maintain blood sugar of approxi-mately 100 to 110 mg/dl.
Lipid control:
In women, elevated triglycerides and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are significant risk factors. In younger women with a family history of CHD, elevated Lp(a) levels may predict a high risk for accelerated atherosclerosis, even in the presence of normal total cholesterol levels. Note: Lp(a) is a type of lipoprotein