CardioScan Healthy Heart Picture

A cardioscan is one of the latest advances of medical technology that many cardiologist are employing today in order to get a better idea of what is going on inside the blood pumping muscle that works so hard to keep us all alive.

There is no longer any need to wait until that fateful day that you land flat on your back in the middle of a busy emergency room, writhing in pain and terrified that you are in the midst of a full blown heart attack! No need to worry that you simply must sit and wait for the “big one” to drop you to your knees. No need at all, since medical technology has left many a cardiologist dancing in the hospital hallway because they can now help their patients by intervening sooner, even before there are major symptoms of heart disease… they can intervene after obtaining a cardioscan to take a look at the anatomy of the heart and particularly after they look at the calcium score of the heart. The heart’s calcium score, determined through the cardioscan, is calculated by the amount of heart plaque that has built up in the vessels of your heart.

Fortunately, a cardioscan is much less invasive than one of the traditional methods of looking at the heart’s vessels, such as a cardiac catheterization. In the much utilized cardiac cath, your cardiologist can thoroughly examine your heart’s valves, arteries, and chambers by using a contrast dye and a catheter inserted into your groin or arm. Because the heart scan is a much less invasive procedure, it makes it much more likely that patients are willing to undergo the testing procedure.

Recently I was given the honor of sitting down for a conversation with Dr. Steven P. Marso. Dr. Marso is a world renowned Cardiologist and was kind enough to share his thoughts on prevention, healthy living, and taking small steps to get your life back on track. Check out the full interview here, Dr. Steven P. Marso Interview.

The cardioscan is a screening heart scan that is used to detect calcium deposits found in atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries of the heart. Research indicates that the caclium score has a strong predictive value for evaluating the risk for future coronary artery disease. Cardiologist appreciate the heart scan method because it is one of the most effective ways to detect coronary calcification from atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, even before symptoms develop.

Think about it this way… the higher the calcium score, the more coronary calcium is present in your heart’s vessels… and the more heart calcium found in the vessels means more coronary atherosclerosis… and the more coronary atherosclerosis that is present, the higher the possibility is that you will develop a significant narrowing somewhere in the coronary system and, of course, this leads us to the saddest news of all… and that is… a higher calcium score, leads to more hardening of the arteries and ultimately an increased risk of future cardiovascular problems.

Wouldn’t you want to reduce or even avoid that increased risk and intervene earlier if the technology is there to help you? I certainly would!

One of the most powerful benefits of the cardioscan is that this test is one of the better options for finding small blockages in coronary arteries. It is also a pro at quickly detecting congenital abnormalities and other issues with the heart’s anatomy. The scan allows your health care team to take a look at your heart in any dimension, including a three-dimensional view. And one of the most encouraging benefits is that the cardioscan is over 95% accurate… now, that’s an impressive rating.

However, it is important to remember that the cardioscan is in no way an absolute predictor for future cardiac events, including life-threatening ones. It is not a crystal ball that can tell you that you will or will not have a heart attack in the years to come. Invent a medical technology that works at 100%, my friend, and you can retire tomorrow and spend your leisure time on a yacht in the middle of your choice of majestic seas. So for now, I feel pretty good about 95% accuracy.

Once your painless cardioscan is completed, a full report is sent to your primary care physician. This report will tell your physician the number and density of calcified coronary plaques in your coronary arteries and your total calcium score. By looking at this report and then reviewing your other cardiac risk factors, your physician may have other suggestions for you to implement, such as lifestyle changes, like increasing your exercise, eating a more heart healthy diet, and quitting smoking. Your doctor may also suggest certain medications or even additional cardiac testing.

A cardioscan can most certainly give you a leg up when you are looking to achieve your healthiest life. The more information you have about your heart health can help you to intervene and change your lifestyle now instead of waiting till you are holed up in an ER with a team of physicians and nurses leaning over you shaking their heads.

Talk with your health care provider and then make an informed decision… a cardioscan may be the right decision for you.

Hair Restoration Treatment Complications and Problems

As technology has consistently improved over the past several years, hair restoration has become more and more common. It has also become much more affordable and is more sought out by patients who previously were willing to simply accept thinning hair and baldness. What a nice change! So while hair restoration continues to get a lot of positive press there also continues to be some hair restoration problems. Read more

Hypnotherapy for Weight loss

A major problem in present day America is the problem of overeating. Across the nation, and many other counties in the world obesity rates have sky-rocketed due to the lack of self-control it takes to in order to uphold a healthy diet and lifestyle. Many people look into fad diets, hoping that the weight will fall off, effortlessly.

A special alternative to these fad diets lies in the powerful force of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy helps you to keep a healthy diet by avoiding overeating which in turn, deflects the negative effects that come with overeating. There are many tips to understanding and using hypnotherapy.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine - Acupuncture Treatment

What was once only a part of European health care has now intertwined itself into the Western health system as well. This is known as holistic therapy for pain relief.

Holistic therapies are traditional approaches to the relief of pain that were created by the Chinese and have been around for approximately two to three thousand years.

It is believed that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around even longer, roughly in the area of 5,000 years old! Based on more than one technique, Traditional Chinese Medicine also makes use of herbal remedies in order to balance out the body’s internal vital energy. Read more

Gastric Bypass Surgery

These days, more people are opting for surgery to improve looks and lifestyle. They may have a nose job or a nip and tuck of a more private nature. Recently, gastric bypass surgery has come into the public eye with celebrities coming forward and talking openly about their problems with morbid obesity.

Not anyone will qualify for a gastric bypass. You need to have at least a body mass index of 40 or more, or be severely disabled by your weight. You must have been obese for the last 5 years or more, over 18 years old and less than 65. As with any surgery, gastric bypass isn’t without risk. Infections, stomach leakages and even blood clots can result. Since the weight after surgery tends to drop quickly, there is a chance of developing gallstones.

Most people who get a gastric bypass can go back to day-to-day living in about 4 weeks. Most will start losing weight right away and continue for up to 12 months or more. Unfortunately, with this procedure, the part of the intestines that readily absorbs vitamins and minerals is removed. Since, iron and vitamin B12 deficiency may occur, a special diet and supplements is helpful.

Critics of this course of action cite that the patient never deals with any emotional reasons for eating. Nevertheless, for people who have run out of alternative ways and treatments for weight loss, gastric bypass can be a life-saving blessing. Coupled with an understanding of what triggers overeating, a person can be back living a healthy lifestyle is less time than most programs would take.