Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology Main Points
The Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology is the first of its kind in Austin.
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women.
Heart disease silently progresses over decades.
For about half of all patients, the first sign of heart disease is death.
At least 80% of all heart disease is preventable.
Heart disease is both preventable and reversible.
Preventive cardiology is the practice of preventing and reversing heart disease.
Preventive cardiology incorporates traditional practices, including medication, as well as
nutrition, exercise and mental health.
Preventive cardiology saves money. One out of every six healthcare dollars is spent on
cardiovascular disease.
Sample Interview/Article Questions:
What is “preventive” cardiology?
We can’t prevent 80% of all cancer. We can’t prevent 80% of all car accidents. But, according to the World Health Organization, we can prevent at least 80% of all heart disease and stroke. Preventive cardiology is how we achieve this goal.
Why do you practice preventive cardiology?
Osteopathic philosophy taught me that the body has it is own inherent ability to heal itself, and my role is to aid the body through this process. Cardiology taught me that heart disease is both preventable and reversible. I began to notice that modern medicine focuses most of its time and effort attending to those who are seriously ill, usually in the weeks and months preceding death or following a life-threatening cardiac event. I found that too little was being done to prevent disease; most of the attention was paid to treating disease that had been progressing for years. It made me see that more could be done.
How do you prevent heart disease?
It requires a proactive approach. Heart disease is hard to diagnose until it becomes severe. We have relied on an analysis of risk factors in large population samples. But testing has evolved. For example, we can measure endothelial function — the endothelium is where heart disease begins — with a new, FDA-approved device, offered only at the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology. Armed with the information from this and other tests, we can create a tailored plan for each patient, consisting of medication, supplementation, nutrition, counseling and fitness.
Why did you open the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology?
I believe that the traditional approach, focused primarily on responding to cardiac events once they occur, needs to change. Because traditional health care does too little to encourage the meaningful changes in patients’ lives that I knew were possible, I decided to open the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology. This will allow me time with each of my patients to produce measurable results in the prevention and reversal of heart disease.
What makes your practice unique?
We are the first practice in Austin — and among the first in Texas — to offer non-invasive endothelial analysis using the EndoPAT. Our practice is comprehensive and holistic. Each patient receives a complete, tailored plan that addresses individual needs and preferences. We believe that good healthcare does not stop at the prescription pad; that the practice of medicine should not be separate from the practice of life.
What are your credentials?
Dr. Arashvand, DO graduated with honors from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas in 2003, then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006, and her cardiology fellowship from Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography, and a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Cardiology. Her primary specialties are preventive cardiology, lipids, metabolism, and heart disease in women.
Go Red For Women Main Points
Heart disease is a woman’s disease. Abut the same number of women and men die of heart disease per year.
“Go Red For Women” is the American Heart Association’s annual campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in women.
Most of us are aware that heart disease is a problem, but very few of us are aware of how much heart disease we have already developed.
A new, technologically advanced, non-invasive test can recognize the early stages of heart disease.
The Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology is the first Austin clinic to offer this test.
The best way to “Go Red for Women” is to get tested.
Sample Interview/Article Questions:
What is the “Go Red For Women” movement? Why should I care?
Traditionally, heart disease has been thought of as a man's disease. But about the same number of men as women die of heart disease each year. Women are more likely to die from their first heart attack. And the symptoms of a heart attack can be different for men then for women, leading to misdiagnosis. This campaign works to help women recognize the risk for heart disease and improve outcomes.
What can I do to get involved?
The best first step is to understand your risk for a heart attack or stroke. The Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology is offering, for the first time in Austin, a new, non-invasive test that can measure “endothelial dysfunction” — an early warning sign that can predict a heart attack years in advance. For many women, the first sign of heart disease is death. Getting tested is the first step in prevention.
Is Go Red For Women happening in Austin?
The 2017 Austin Go Red for Women Summit will be held on Friday, February 24, the the JW Marriott on 110 E. 2nd St.
EndoPAT / Endothelial Dysfunction Main Points
Heart disease begins in the endothelium — the inner lining of the arteries and the heart.
New technology allows us to recognize endothelial dysfunction through a simple, non-invasive test.
This test of can warn of a heart attack or a stroke years ahead of time.
The Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology is the first clinic in Austin — and only the fifth in Texas — to offer this new test.
Sample Interview/Article Questions:
What is the endothelium?
The endothelium is the inner layer of all blood vessels and the heart. It is where atherosclerosis begins.
What is endothelial dysfunction?
The first step in heart disease is damage to the endothelium. As it progresses, the endothelium becomes less pliable, which leads to hardening of the arteries. The EndoPAT allows us to see this dysfunction — the earliest detectable stage of cardiovascular disease — with a simple, non- invasive test.
What’s wrong with the way we’ve recognized heart disease in the past?
Current tests only show advanced heart disease or calculate risks, which apply to an average of patients and may not apply to an individual. For example, a 2009 study found that nearly 75% of those hospitalized for a heart attack did not have high cholesterol levels. A stress test can only reveal arterial obstruction once it has become severe — 80% or higher. Risk factors alone can’t tell you anything about the progression of disease in any one particular patient. This new test can help us understand how much damage already exists.
How does the EndoPAT work?
The EndoPAT tests the health (elasticity) of the blood vessels in your body, including your heart and brain. This test allows us to see inflammation in the vessels, and we now know that inflammation is a big part of the heart disease picture.
Is it FDA approved? How do we know that the results are accurate?
Yes. The EndoPAT was approved by the FDA in 2003 and its use is becoming increasingly common around the U.S. and the world. The first trials were conducted at the Mayo Clinic, which formed the basis for FDA approval. Numerous additional trials confirming the validity of these results have been performed. The EndoPAT has been used in more than 100 research studies.
Why is this test important?
When heart disease is predicted using risk factor analysis, it tells us nothing about the health of an individual patient. This test is the difference between understanding what is actually going on in your body versus predicting what might be going on in your body.
If the result is bad, what do I do?
It is never too late to begin reversing the course of heart disease. Diet, exercise, medication, supplementation and mental health all play a role in the treatment and prevention of all forms of heart disease. At the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology, we utilize every available tool to address patient health.
How is the test performed?
The index fingers of each hand are placed in sensors. A blood pressure cuff is inflated around one arm. (The cuff is the same kind commonly used to measure blood pressure at doctor’s offices, pharmacies and clinics.) After five minutes, the cuff is released, and the blood flow from each arm is measured. The difference between the two readings tells us how well your endothelium functions.
Is the test expensive? Is it covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans do cover the test. The Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology is offering the test for only $180, so even if your insurance does not cover this test, it is still affordable.