Innovative program for women's heart disease.Even before exhibiting classic symptoms, many women already have heart disease, which eventually results in the death of one in three American women. The Providence Heart and Vascular Institute now offers women in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys a comprehensive panel of tests. The Women's Cardiac Risk Screening Program includes the following-- * Blood pressure screening * Fasting lipid profile lipid profile, n a series of tests used to gauge a person's risk for coro-nary heart conditions. Blood levels examined in a lipid profile include those for total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. to assess cholesterol levels * Homocysteine Homocysteine Definition Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in blood plasma. High levels of homocysteine in the blood are believed to increase the chance of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis. level analysis * High-sensitivity C-reactive protein C-Reactive Protein Definition C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver and found in the blood. Purpose C-reactive protein is not normally found in the blood of healthy people. (CRP C-reactive protein (CRP) A protein present in blood serum in various abnormal states, like inflammation. Mentioned in: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease CRP, n.pr See C-reactive protein. ) analysis * Fasting glucose (blood sugar) test * Treadmill test with electrocardiology study * Ultrasound screening for vascular disease * Body fat analysis * Meeting with a board-certified cardiologist to review screening results and recommend a course of action, if needed. This panel of blood and diagnostic tests will be far more effective at identifying risk for developing heart disease than most cardiac risk screening programs, according to Cynthia Thaik, MD, a cardiologist on staff at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is a hospital in Burbank, California, USA. The hospital has 455 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services. It's adress is: 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91505. . Dr. Thaik specializes in congestive heart failure congestive heart failure, inability of the heart to expel sufficient blood to keep pace with the metabolic demands of the body. In the healthy individual the heart can tolerate large increases of workload for a considerable length of time. and women's health. "Fifty percent of patients with heart disease are not picked up by simply reviewing medical history and looking at routine risk factors such as blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels," says Dr. Thaik. "This program incorporates the most-advanced scientific knowledge regarding cardiovascular disease to focus on specific markers of risk, which will help us more effectively identify women who need treatment before they experience symptoms." Classic symptoms of heart disease include sweating, shortness of breath Shortness of Breath Definition Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the patient's level of physical activity. and chest pain or discomfort that spreads to the arms, neck, back or jaw. Symptoms in women, however, are often excused for less life-threatening problems, such as indigestion, dizziness, vomiting and unexplained fatigue. Women over 40 and women of color have an even greater risk for developing the disease. Dr. Thaik emphasizes that all women should be proactive about their health, particularly when it comes to heart disease. "Heart disease is often misdiagnosed or overlooked in women," she says. "For many women, the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack. Women are less likely than men to survive a heart attack, and women have higher rates of sudden cardiac death Sudden Cardiac Death Definition Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected death due to heart problems, which occurs within one hour from the start of any cardiac-related symptoms. SCD is sometimes called cardiac arrest. . By the time someone develops symptoms, it's often too late." This article was provided by the Providence Heart Institute. For more information or to schedule an appointment for the Women's Cardiac Risk Screening Program, call 818-847-4550. For a referral to a board-certified heart or vascular specialist or primary care physician, call 1-888-HEALING. |
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