The Healthy Heart Program©
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. However, it is preventable. The Healthy Heart Program at Van Zant Medical Group, S.C., can identify a patient’s risk long before he/she has symptoms so heart disease can be prevented or reversed.
How Do We Do This?
The Healthy Heart Program uses CIMT testing to measure heart attack and stroke risk by evaluating plaque and inflammation directly in the blood vessels.
Inflammation in the vessel lining traps bad cholesterol (LDL), which triggers an immune response, leading to plaque buildup.
CIMT allows us to see both the thickness of the vessel lining and any plaque that has formed. More importantly, it helps identify unstable plaques, known as soft or mixed plaques, which are more likely to rupture and cause dangerous blood clots.
When a plaque ruptures in the heart, it results in a heart attack, and in the brain, it leads to a stroke. By using CIMT, we can detect these high-risk plaques early and help prevent serious cardiovascular events.
Unique Components of The Healthy Heart Program©
- Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT testing)
- Advanced lipid testing and cardiac genetic testing through Quest’s Cleveland Heart Labs
- Oral health assessment through Oravital Labs
- The Healthy Life Program©, a comprehensive lifestyle support program.
What Else Does The Healthy Heart Program© Offer?
If we detect a thickened intima media or plaque, we’ll create a personalized plan to prevent heart attacks or strokes by addressing the causes and helping to reverse the damage.
Science has shown us that many things contribute to why we develop plaque in our arteries. Some of them seem obvious:
- High blood pressure
- Elevated blood sugar
- High cholesterol
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
But science has also shown us that these things also make blood vessel walls thick and plaque develop:
- poor sleep quality
- carriage of certain bacteria in the mouth
- Vitamin D deficiency
- poor digestive health
- specific inherited genes
THE PROVIDERS AT VAN ZANT MEDICAL GROUP, S.C. ARE TRAINED TO IDENTIFY YOUR SPECIFIC RISKS AND CREATE A PROGRAM TO HELP YOU PREVENT A HEART ATTACK AND STROKE.
We are certified in the BaleDoneen Method, a revolutionary approach that identifies heart attack and stroke risks and creates a plan to reverse cardiovascular disease. Our Healthy Life Program also supports lifestyle changes to help you achieve Healthy Heart Status. Call today to start with a CIMT test!