PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE NEWS!

HEARTaware is an assessment program offered by Piedmont Heart Institute http://www.piedmontheart.org/. The program is the most comprehensive approach we have seen in the Atlanta metro area for determining whether or not an individual has risks for heart disease. Based on the outcome of the assessment Piedmont offers the following tests to obtain measurements of heart disease. They include :

• CT CORONARY CALCIUM SCAN: The patient will receive a Computed Tomography coronary calcium scan with Piedmont's Aquilion ONE Dynamic Volume CT Scanner along with review and interpretation by a cardiologist; Price: $125.00



• CARDIOVASCULAR CONSULTATION AND ADVANCED LIPID TESTS WITH GENETIC SCREENING: Genetic testing will be performed for DNA markers for cholesterol, inflammation, high blood pressure and blood clotting; Price: $425.00



• BOTH TESTS COMBINED: Combination of the two services above; Price: $550.00

Having experienced 3 stents along with multiple visits to the emergency room at the very beginning of my experience I cannot stress the importance of what Piedmont has done in developing, packaging and then marketing the above services. This is the only aggressive, in the market advertising that we have seen for spreading the message that early detection of heart disease is available, these are the tests for it and by the way here is the cost!

For information visit www.piedmontheart.org. I cannot stress enough the importance of being tested particularly if you have family history of heart disease. I wish with all my heart I had been tested at 30. Early detection of heart disease is very important.