Screening for Heart Disease: Which Tests? When? By Howard Levy, M.D. - Posted Wed, Feb 20, 2008, 7:02 pm PST

1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:23 am PST

I"m scheduled for a heart scan in March. Now I wonder if it will provide useful information or simply scare me!

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:25 am PST

This article says a whole lotta nuthin'

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:27 am PST

There are many more truly helpful tests out there as screens for heart disease, among one of the most helpful; is a C-reactive protein test. Ask your doctor. This article was useless.

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:27 am PST

This is also great help for those that are or will experience numerous medical conditions. I fall into this this topic.

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:27 am PST

What about lifeline screenings? What is covered and what ages need to do these? Thanks.

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:28 am PST

Finding coronary calcium in the absence of symptoms actually is useful. It detects the presence of coronary disease and would indicate the need for appropriate treatment including aspirin and stains in addition to risk factor modification. other than that point I agree with most of the above.

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:28 am PST

great advice

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:28 am PST

It is a trustworthy advice , especially comuing from specialized phsycians from a famous Medical center - John Hopkins Univ.ill do according to this advice.

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:29 am PST

thanks -- this was very helpful

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:30 am PST

what I say is "tomorow I'll go to check". Thanks, It's good advice.

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:32 am PST

very informational. I'm 35 and health risks for myself are high and are going higher with each year.

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:36 am PST

Dr. Levy either misses the point on Coronary CT Testing or doesn't understand the test. Coronary Calcium scoring is largely a test of the past. Coronary CTA is not done to look for calcified plaque. It's performed to look for soft plaque - the plaque that matters. A coronary CTA is the only test that will give you an accurate assessment of the amount and location of soft plaque. In this respect, it is better than an angiogram. Stress testing is only positive if you have a significant stenosis. However, a coronary CTA will let you know if you have a high risk regardless of whether you currently have a significant narrowing in your coronaries.

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:37 am PST

First, why all the expensive electronic equipment to test with? Primary prevention is not detection or diagnosis of existing symptoms. Prevention is not allowing symptoms to appear. Modifiable risk factors....why not explain what those are in the body of the article? Risk factors that are modifiable are to eliminate all processed foods, eliminate chlorinated sources of foods and drinks, elimination of sugars, reducing simple carbohydrates, elimination of escessive calcium intake, getting proper exercise, getting sunlight without sunscreen which blocks Vit D production, eating high fiber content foods. This would have been more attractive rather than hearing how wonderful technology is and then stating that you do not recommend screening. Placing more article time on the real nature of health and wellness would have been more appealing.

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:37 am PST

Do you need a pacemaker?? http://www.heartlibrary.com/heart-library-ronnie-blackmon.aspx?flashmov=RBlackmon_GSAPPROVED_012408&currPage=PS

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 9:38 am PST

looks like House.....

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