What makes the Electron Beam Tomography (EBT™) scan a valuable test?
EBT™
provides the following benefits:
Identifies individuals at high risk for
Coronary Artery Disease
(CAD).
Serves as a guide for you and your doctor to manage and control high cholesterol.
Allows for a non-invasive, clinical evaluation of atypical chest pain.
Provides tangible evidence of heart disease to motivate patients to participate in a preventive care
program.
Enables your physician to track the progression of CAD.
What strategies are recommended to reduce cardiac risk factors?
A preventive care plan includes the following strategies:
Stop Smoking
As a smoker your life expectancy is seven years less than that of a non-smoker. Smokers also have a twelve times greater risk of heart disease than their non-smoking counterparts. There are immediate benefits of quitting, such as a reduction in blood pressure and improved circulation. After one year of not smoking, your additional risk for heart disease is half of what it was while smoking.
Monitor your Blood Pressure
The higher your blood pressure, the harder it is for your heart to pump effectively. High blood pressure harms your arteries, weakens your heart and causes it to overwork. An optimal blood pressure reading is 120/80. In general, a diagnosis of high blood pressure is made if your resting blood pressure is consistently 140/90, or higher, according to the 1997 report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection and Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Keeping your blood pressure under control can reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney disease.
Watch Your Cholesterol
Have a blood cholesterol (also called lipids) test performed to determine your levels. Knowing these numbers is an important part of the prevention process. Excess cholesterol and fat in the blood eventually contribute to a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries. Reducing your cholesterol levels can have a direct impact on your risk for heart disease.
What the numbers mean:
LDL cholesterol,
often referred to as the "bad" cholesterol, can build up in your blood vessels and form plaque. If you have two or more of the above mentioned risk factors, then your LDL "bad" cholesterol should be less than 130mg/dl. If you are already diagnosed with CAD, your LDL should be less than 100mg/dl.
HDL cholesterol,
often referred to as the "good" cholesterol, can help remove bad cholesterol from your blood and can help reduce your risk for heart disease. Your HDL should be greater than 35mg/dl, although greater than 45mg/dl is optimal. Smokers and people with sedentary lifestyles often lack enough HDL to protect their hearts, which increases their risk for disease.
LDL and HDL Word Game:
To remember which is the good or bad cholesterol, think of HDL as the "healthy" cholesterol and LDL as the "lousy" cholesterol. Total cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dl. Triglycerides, which come from fats and sugars in the diet, should be below 200mg/dl as well. All of these numbers are results of a blood test called a "cholesterol or lipid profile" prescribed by your physician.
Control Diabetes
Elevated blood glucose levels damage the arteries and increase the risk for heart attack. Most diabetics die from cardiac complications of their disease. Having a family history of diabetes and being overweight can lead to the development of diabetes. Screening for diabetes can be done as a part of fasting blood work. Your fasting blood sugar should be between 80 and 120mg/dl. Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that should not be taken lightly. Early intervention and control of elevated blood sugars can reduce your risk for heart disease, kidney disease, infections and blindness.
Maintain a Normal Weight
Excess weight has an impact on your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and your overall risk for heart disease. Carrying around that extra weight has a tremendous effect on the functioning of your heart. Set realistic goals for weight loss. Gradual weight loss through proper eating and exercise is the healthiest approach. Watching your diet and adding exercise will encourage weight loss. Instead of making a weight loss goal, make a lifestyle goal to change your habits.
Exercise
Heart healthy exercise is not the same as just being active. The role of heart healthy aerobic exercise is to condition the heart so that it can function more efficiently while consuming less oxygen. Starting an exercise program should focus on a 30-minute aerobic workout most days of the week. Examples of aerobic exercise are brisk walking, cycling, jogging and dancing. The key is finding something that you actually enjoy. Start slow, and build up to your optimum exercise level. Monitoring your pulse rate before, during and after activity is a good way to evaluate yourself. It is important, however, to consult with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
Manage Stress
Stress management is another step towards reducing your risk of heart disease. The body responds to stress by increasing blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar. There have been studies that show consistent negative stress can weaken your immune system. Although completely ridding your life of stress may not be possible, changing your response to stress may be a more achievable goal. Stress management techniques, such as exercise, meditation, relaxation breathing, yoga or simply participating in an activity that you enjoy (such as reading, writing in a journal, listening to music, taking a bath, having a massage) can all have a positive effect on your emotional state and reduce your stress level.
Should I take my regular medications on the day of the scan?
Yes. Take your medications as you usually would. You do not have to make any adjustments or withhold any medications prior to an
EBT™,
which is non-invasive and does not require any fasting, needles or injections.
Does an Electron Beam Tomography (EBT™) scan replace stress testing?
Depending on the results of your
EBT™,
a stress test
may be the next step for further evaluation.
EBT™
detects the presence and amount of calcium in the coronary arteries, a measurement that enables physicians to determine the amount of plaque build-up that has accumulated. A stress test identifies whether there is evidence of clogged or blocked blood flow in the coronary arteries. If an
EBT™
detects an extensive amount of plaque, then you and your physician can discuss the most appropriate follow-up and plan of care.
Does EBT™ replace a Cardiac Catheterization or an Angiogram?
EBT™
does not replace cardiac catheterization
or an angiogram,
which are invasive procedures that are generally performed in advanced cases of
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
or following a cardiac event. These procedures provide detailed diagnostic information about the blood flow through the coronary arteries and enables physicians to treat certain defects and conditions.
Will the EBT™ give me information about the functioning of my heart valves?
The best evaluation of heart valve function is an echocardiogram
(an ultrasound of the heart). Please discuss the need for this type of test with your physician and, if necessary, you can contact the Heart Center at (201) 996-3800 for information about scheduling an appointment.
Identifies individuals at high risk for