It is interesting to note that people seem to take offense at advice particularly regarding medical or supplement usage even though the advice is based on your experiences. They do it as if they understand more than you do even though they themselves have only recently been impacted by the same experience. I believe we are all guilty of this! There have been numerous times I have offered outstanding advice, based on my own experience which would "cut" through the "fog" and get to what I believe are the pillars of detecting heart disease. Basically, what has worked for me!
I believe St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta and their involvement with Dr. Superko combines the best diagnostic and analysis tests in the area. The two tests include the Cardiac 64 slice CT Scan and the Submolecular Cholesterol Blood Analysis including Lp(a). Supplements which seem to work include fish oil and CoQ10. They have been shown to improve the reduction of inflammation in the arteries and reducing the muscular impacts of statin prescription usage. I read somewhere that Canada required a CoQ10 supplementation label to be added to all prescription statin bottles?
The reason I believe the two tests are so important is based on my own experience. I originally had the old CT scan (16 slice) which detected a large calcified plaque in left marginal branch. I had already passed a regular stress test. The CT scan prompted a thallium stress test which showed blood flow. Because of the CT results along with a cardiologist who actually listened to me; Dr. Frohwein at St. Joseph I had a catherization which found the 99% occlusion in the artery. The submolecular testing was not done til years later which detected issues with blood that required different medications but one blood level Lp(a) particularly increased my chances of disease progression by 30X. Subsequent blocked arteries spurred the detailed testing.
So, what does it take for the health care community and insurance providers to approve Cardiac CT scans and submolecular testing as protocol for cardiac diagnostic along with covering the procedures? Would'nt the aggressive treatment of the disease in the long run save them money? The payment of a $2K test which may decrease the probability of paying for a $40K stent along with a myriad of medications seems to me to make great business sense. The insurance companies can qualify the patient based on family history, initial blood profile, etc. thus reducing the risks that the test is being performed on someone with no or low probability of heart disease. But it would also catch the ones with the developing disease at an early age and greatly impact the progression of it. If every person with family history of the disease had the Cardiac CT scan along with submolecular testing done at age 30 I believe it would impact the progression of the disease and the economy. If I had known the information at 30 I definitely would have changed my lifestyle, diet.
Heart Disease impacting an individual during their highest earning years of life puts strains on the persons family, society and the economy as a whole. No one can say they have worked at a greater pace or degree after a blocked artery than before. By detecting the disease earlier I believe it would not only impact the lives and families of the individuals but society and the economy as a whole!
The tests are out there; they are available but all I hear is "My insurance company will not cover the testing!" INSURANCE COMPANIES PLEASE LISTEN AND APPROVE THIS TESTING! PRESCRIPTION STATIN MANUFACTURERS, INSURANCE COMPANIES AND CARDIAC COMMUNITY PLEASE ISSUE PROTOCOLS FOR CT SCREENING AND SUBMOLECULAR TESTING AT 30 YEARS OLD!
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