The Advanced Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Program
An American suffers a heart attack every 26 seconds. A stroke occurs every 40 seconds. In 50% of people who experience sudden death due to heart disease, it is the first sign there is a problem. They die without warning.
Our program approach
Our approach to heart attack and stroke prevention is taught by the founders of the Institute of Arteriology, Drs. Brad Bale and Amy Doneen. It incorporates all of the best current evidence-based medicine in the field of preventive cardiology. Advanced radiologic, endocrine, cholesterol, inflammatory marker, and genetic testing are used to develop a very personalized plan to optimally reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Approximately 50% of those who suffer heart attacks only have low to moderately elevated cholesterol. About 20% don’t have any of the top 4 risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, or diabetes).
Plaque begins to form years or even decades before an event occurs. A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings looked at 36-59 year olds with only one cardiovascular risk factor. It found that 34% had plaque!
Heart attacks and most strokes are caused by rupture of an arterial plaque. Sometimes an event occurs in the presence of very little plaque. You may not be as healthy as you feel.
Once disease is discovered, our cardiology and surgical colleagues do a wonderful job prolonging survival through bypass surgery, stents, internal defibrillators, and other modern treatments. They help people live longer, more productive lives.
Unfortunately, the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in the United States has actually increased despite improved treatments. Why? We are failing in the area of disease prevention. We need to proactively improve our prevention of plaque buildup, heart attacks, and strokes.
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The approach we offer at Lindenhaus was developed by world renowned heart specialists Drs. Brad Bale and Amy Doneen.
The method is evidence-based, set in a foundation of strong, peer-reviewed research and has been accepted on a national level. Ongoing research is gathered and described in The Institute of Arteriology.
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The success of the method comes from developing a very detailed, methodical approach to identify early disease, search for the various root causes, and aggressively treat the culprits.
The method far exceeds “standard of care” treatments that have proven to be inadequate. It strives to achieve “optimal care” for the individual.
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Cardiovascular disease prevention is best accomplished in the office of a family physician, internist, or even pediatrician. Vascular disease occurs in all organ systems and is closely linked to dementia, inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes/insulin resistance, periodontal disease, and sleep apnea. Optimal treatment involves considering other existing conditions like osteopenia, kidney disease, GI disease, and others.
Our goal is to prevent you from ever needing to see a cardiologist. However, if significant disease is found, we will refer you to a specialist. If you currently see a cardiologist, you still need them and any recommendations we have will be coordinated with them.
This program is the ultimate in proactive care. The cutting edge method of preventing heart attacks and strokes is proven successful, scientifically solid, nationally recognized, and we are absolutely convinced it works!
The Preventative Cardiology Process
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A stress test is not good enough. A vessel must be about 70% blocked to cause an abnormal stress test. 85% of heart attacks occur in plaques smaller than this.
Early, yet dangerous plaque can be difficult to find. We will search for arterial plaque in multiple locations and treat aggressively if any is present. When it comes to our health, we must assume that we are guilty until proven innocent. If plaque is found in one location, we must assume it exists in the arteries of our heart and neck, placing us at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Some plaque contains calcium. Calcified plaque can sometimes be seen on a chest x-ray or mammogram. We can look for calcified plaque in the heart through a coronary calcium score. This will find plaque much sooner than a stress test.
Unfortunately, the most dangerous plaque is soft, meaning it does not contain calcium and won’t show up on these tests. One study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings showed that half of those with documented plaque had a calcium score of zero!
Carotid IMT Ultrasound is the newest screening test available and can pick up dangerous soft plaque. Until recently, it was only available as a research tool. It is now available to the public, but in very few places. Quality of the test is critical, so we send our scans to companies nationally recognized as best in class at reading these images. They are unsurpassed in both quality and quality control.
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Once any disease if discovered, the root causes must be found and treated appropriately. Just looking at your blood pressure and a basic cholesterol panel is not good enough. You can’t blindly blame it on your smoking, obesity, or lack of exercise.
A look at your genetics
Your genetic makeup will help prioritize what lifestyle recommendations are important to adopt, help decide which medications and supplements to use, how soon to start a treatment such as a statin, how aggressively to treat insulin resistance, and whether aspirin may be needed, even in a young person.
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After reviewing your results, a completely personalized treatment plan will be suggested based on your specific abnormalities and genetics. Recommendations will include medications, supplements, and lifestyle changes. Many lifestyle changes are easy, some are difficult; all are important. Together we will develop an individualized plan for success that works best for you. Your personality and lifestyle will be considered.
After treatment is initiated, your biomarkers will be followed closely and treatment adjusted as needed. The endpoint of treatment is when all fire is out and existing risk is optimally treated. CIMT will be followed to look for plaque stabilization and improvement of wall thickness.
This method is data driven. It will “right size” treatment, which avoids under or overtreatment with medication and supplements. Once damage is present, drugs may be necessary to prevent heart attacks and stroke. We can objectively follow whether lifestyle changes being implemented are working.
When it comes to your vascular health, we will err on the side of caution. Many people have had a heart attack or stroke waiting for lifestyle changes to be effective. In this method, we will first put your fire out and get your risk factors controlled. We may then discontinue treatment once lifestyle changes have proven to be effective.