Heart Wellness

Find out how you can predict the future health of your heart.

If you could look into a crystal ball and see your future, would you make changes to ensure nothing but happiness and good health? Some might say that predicting the future is impossible, but when it comes to your heart health, the impossible has become a reality! A new technology has emerged that can now predict your risk of heart attack or stroke with startling accuracy.

This technology is so powerful that it can determine whether you will suffer from a coronary event within the next year. If you had this information ahead of time, wouldn’t you do things differently to ensure a very different outcome?
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the number one killer of men and women; one in three Americans is living with a form of CVD and many aren’t even aware that they have the disease.

Atherosclerosis is the most common of the cardiovascular conditions and lies at the root of most of the major diseases affiliated with the heart. Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the inside walls of the arteries. This plaque buildup is comprised of cholesterol and other fatty substances, cellular waste products and calcium.

Over time, the plaque begins to calcify (harden) and can result in a partial or total blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the muscles of the heart. This condition is called Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and is the most common underlying cause of heart attack.

The buildup of arterial plaque also poses the risk of rupturing, resulting in a blood clot. Heart attacks occur when a clot in the coronary artery blocks the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of the heart muscle. Often the blockage leads to cardiac arrhythmia, an abnormally high or abnormally low heart rate that causes a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death.

High cholesterol; high blood pressure; diets high in fat and sugar and low in fiber; diabetes; stress; sedentary lifestyle; exposure to environmental toxins; heavy metals in the body; gum disease; the presence of micro-organisms; and genetic predisposition are all risk factors for CVD. Crucial markers in your blood, such as fibrinogen, homocysteine, c-reactive protein, and triglycerides, can also be used as further indicators of CVD risk. Collectively, this information can help your physician to determine your CVD risk level. If your risk level is moderate or high or you are over the age of 40, then a Coronary Calcium Screening should be ordered.

The Coronary Calcium Screening is conducted using a 64-slice CT-Scanner that takes images of the heart. In less than 10 minutes, a detailed three-dimensional picture emerges, showing if the coronary arteries have calcified and to what degree. The computer then assigns a score associated with your risk of developing a heart attack within the next year. A score of zero indicates no calcification and an extremely low risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. A score of 10 to 400 indicates a 12% risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next year and a score over 400 indicates a 50% risk of heart attack or stroke within the next year. A higher score correlates with a higher plaque burden (atherosclerosis).

Whether you have CVD or not, there are steps that you can take every day to protect your heart health. Eating meals and snacks that are low in cholesterol and carbohydrates can lower your cholesterol levels and make a positive impact on your heart. Replace these heart damaging foods with leafy green vegetables, which are high in cardio-protective antioxidants, and foods high in omega-3s and omega-6s like fish and nuts. Avoid refined sugar, white flour, overcooked food, homogenized milk, chlorinated water, transfatty acids, and fried foods, and limit your daily intake of caffeine and alcohol.

Since the standard American diet tends to fall short in vital nutrients, taking daily supplements can greatly benefit your heart health. A greens-based multivitamin, along with vitamins A, C, E, and selenium, which are packed with antioxidants, are all vital for your health. Add in a fish oil concentrate, high in essential fatty acids, trace minerals such as chromium, zinc, copper, manganese, and vitamin B complex (which includes B-6, B-12 and folic acid) as well.

Enjoy 30 minutes of physical activity every day. A brisk walk or a bike ride through the park can have a big effect on both your waistline and your heart. Minimize the stress in your life. While you might find this to be the most challenging step, your healthy heart depends on it! When your body is under stress, powerful hormones are released that, over time, can weaken your immune system and result in heart disease. It is vital that you find a way to manage stress successfully.

It’s not often that you are able to look into the future and make changes to avert disaster. A diagnosis of cardiovascular disease could be just the opportunity you need to change your future. Heart disease is a frightening prospect and a serious concern for both men and women, but treatments exist that can improve the quality of your life and extend the days that you have with your friends and family. Speak with your doctor today and find out what your risk factor for heart attack and stroke is. It could be your second chance at life.

Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D., is the medical director of South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine in Irvine. She can be reached at (949) 680-1880 or www.scmedicalcenter.com.

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