Best Strategies
1. If you have any symptoms like chest pain or shortness
of breath, see a doctor immediately even if your score is zero.
2. Consider your results in the context of all of
your risk factors (global risk factor evaluation). If for example,
you have no risk factors, but a very high calcium score, certain
blood tests could be useful to search for damaging particles in
blood like homocysteine or lipoprotein (a) to help determine the
cause of "unexplained coronary calcification". We can alert you
to laboratories that perform such "next generation" tests.
3. Bring your results to your doctor as he/she is
in the best position to understand your entire medical situation.
In most cases, if you have moderate or more extensive plaque or
more plaque than 75% of others your age, you should be considered
for treatment with plaque stabilizing medications (statins) even
if your cholesterol is average. If you have a complex cholesterol
abnormality, there are lipid specialists who would be glad to consult.
4. If you are self-referred and wish a personalized
consultation with one of our doctors to review your results, call
us. It can even be prearranged to coincide with the date of your heartscan. We highly recommend that you consider undergoing a global
risk factor evaluation with our medical assistant and physician
(Healthscan report--hyperlink) and bring in your last cholesterol
labs (within 6 months). If you would like us to do a complete lipoprotein
test (cholesterol analysis), please arrange and arrive in a 10 hour
fasted state. By comparing your healthscan report (given to you
as you leave) with your heartscan results (reviewed images by our
doctor), you will leave our center with a solid understanding of
your risk situation and general recommendations based upon score.
5. If you have a positive score, consider daily aspirin
(baby or adult) if tolerated. Some people are resistant to the "anti-platelet"
effects of aspirin. We can arrange a simple urine test with Colorado
Coagulation Consultants to see if you are "aspirin-resistant".
6. If you have severe plaque (over 400) especially
if you are under 65, it is advised that you visit with a preventive-oriented
cardiologist who understands our EBCT test. In many cases, a stress
imaging procedure will be appropriate to search for hidden narrowing.
If you do not have chest pain, it is more likely than not that your
stress test will be normal. A normal stress test in a patient with
extensive plaque still means you are at higher risk and need medications
like statins and/or ACE inhibitors.
7. If you have more plaque than average (especially
if greater than 75% for age), ask your doctor to consider getting
your LDL cholesterol below 100 by a statin medication. Also inquire
about ACE inhibitors (the HOPE study).
8. Follow American Heart Association guidelines for
a low fat diet, get adequate regular exercise and avoid tobacco
exposure regardless of calcium score. Include fish in your diet
(and/or fish oil supplements), and a moderate alcohol intake (1-2
glasses wine per day) especially if HDL cholesterol is low.
9. Increase the fiber in your diet to that recommended
by new NCEP guidelines. Consider Rexall's Bioslife 2 as a simple
way to add about 10 grams of fiber to your diet. You can order by
internet at (www.rexall.com/coloradoheart or call toll free at 1-888-227-3925
and use ID # 369122WH). It will lower your cholesterol, lower your
blood sugar, keep your appetite in check and possibly lower your
risks for colon cancer. Ask us about it.
10. Consider the best physician-directed program for
micronutrients-antioxidants. It is Premier Micronutrient Corporation's
coronary prevention protocols customized to your calcium score and
risks. We are a clinical
data site for this company-please call and register with Boni or Valerie.
Remember: It is very helpful to look at your results
in the context of all of your risk factors and relevant laboratory
data…the Healthscan report (link to our healthscan section) is highly
recommended at our center, so that we can compare your heartscan
results to risk factor evaluation generated by traditional means.
Ask about the healthscan report and onsite physician consultation
at our center. In the physician's section of the website, there
is more technical recommendations and guidelines information
