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MARCH 2004

Latest Preventive Tests for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment at Beth Israel
by Gina Pozadas

Continuing their commitment to early detection of cardiovascular disease, the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the Heart Institute at Beth Israel offers cutting-edge screenings that identify new risk factors as key to assess the risk of developing heart disease, which remains the nation's number one killer. The EBT heart scan and advanced cholesterol testing, used to test those with an intermediate risk level, can predict and prevent up to 95% of heart attacks and are often covered by health insurance.

In 30 seconds, the EBT heart scan measures risk by examining the level of calcium plaque buildup in the arteries. If found in large quantities, calcium plaque buildup can cause blockage and result in a rupture of the coronary artery. EBT is the most powerful predictor of heart attacks because it is the only screening that tests for the plaque in the arteries that causes an attack. Often, the scan will find even the most physically fit person can be walking around with a 90% clogged artery.

High cholesterol is one of the most well known risk factors for heart disease. Yet many people who have a heart attack have cholesterol levels within the normal range. Some cardiologists estimate that as many as 25--30 million Americans have cholesterol levels that are considered normal or even low–but are nonetheless at such high risk that they must drastically change their lifestyle immediately or seek medical treatment. New groundbreaking cholesterol screenings go beyond measuring the total number of HDL and LDL levels. Advanced cholesterol testing examines the complex molecular make-of cholesterol levels. There are 7 types of LDL and 5 types of HDL–conventional tests do not measure these potentially lethal forms of cholesterol
subclasses.

"Every possible contributor to risk needs to be aggressively treated," stated Dr. Harvey Hecht, Director of Preventive Cardiology at the Heart Institute at Beth Israel. "Risk assessment should combine the EBT scan for calcified coronary plaque, followed by the advanced blood testing to fully identify everything that needs to be treated."#

For further information about these and other diagnostic tests, please call The Center For Preventive Cardiology at the Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center, (212) 777-8900.

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