Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of death in the world, but it is modifiable and preventable.

 

Risk evaluation requires more than just measuring your cholesterol levels. We need to look at your personal history and family history. I'll also need to conduct a physical exam and run some lab tests.

 

If you're at risk, we'll go over the best intervention methods, the pros and cons of various medications, and any lifestyle modifications that may be necessary.

 

Cardiac risk evaluations may include:

• Comprehensive laboratory tests  for cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, insulin, Apolipoprotein B, and Apolipoprotein A1

• Screening for disorders that might increase your risk, especially clotting and diseases of the thyroid, liver and kidneys

• Advanced lipid testing -- Lp(a), LDL-P, LDL small dense/subclass, HDL subclass, inflammatory markers, genetic testing, cholesterol absorption markers, omega markers

• Carotid duplex, Carotid IMT (intima media thickening)

• Treadmill and exercise tolerance test

• Echocardiogram

• Exercise echocardiogram

• Myocardial perfusion studies (Thallium/rest/exercise/PET)

• Peripheral vascular disease testing (abdominal aortic aneurism screen, arterial duplex, renal duplex, ankle-brachial ratio)

• Coronary CT calcium score

• 64-slice CT coronary angiogram

• Cardiac MRI imaging