's Blogs

good advice, industry carries out preventative maintenance, why do people not get the same opportunities.

I hope you'll have a nice bedside manner, Joel. Congratulations! xoxo

Thanks doc!

we have a resident doctor now!  so proud of you cody. seriously. hey, i have a rash on my penis. what do you think? :)

uggghhhhhh.... for fucks sake..... why did dad call us?

Should you have a coronary artery calcium scan?

Very good question.  The answer is if you're over 40, then probably YES!  So what is it and what does it do?  Well, its where you go into the hospital and they do a CT scan of your heart checking for the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries.  It costs around a hundred bucks (usually out of pocket), takes about 15 minutes to do, you don't need to fast or get an IV or anything.  You go in and you're in and out.  Afterwards they give you a score ranging anywhere from 0 to over a thousand, the score determining the amount or the degree to which you have coronary artery disease.  

Why do it?  Well, after 40, its very hard to determine the risk you face in having a life threatening heart attack.  You go to your primary care provider for a check up and they assess the factors for you that suggest disease, such as family history, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc., but that doesn't tell you the degree to which you actually have disease.  

I already know I have coronary heart disease or I've already had a heart attack.  Should I have it anyways?  No.  Your risk is already established.  No need to prove what you already know.

I'm over 40, perfectly healthy and i eat clean and exercise several times a week.  Should I have one?  Why YES you should.  Up to 20% of the population has genetic factors that significantly increase your risks, such as elevated homocystine or elevated lipoprotein-A.  

I'm 25 and perfectly healthy.  Should I have one?  Probably not unless you have a strong family history, are diabetic, or have some other compelling reason.

What if my score comes back and its not so good?  At least you know and can intervene with diet, exercise, and lifestyle modification to intervene before you have what could potentially be a fatal stoke or heart attack.  Furthermore, if high enough, your doctor may recommend advanced studies, such as a stress test or a heart cath.

Thanks everyone!!!  The more you know!