Are You As Healthy As You Think?

Too often, seemingly healthy people suffer a devastating heart attack or stroke. Two new screening tests may help better identify those at risk of cardio vascular emergencies:


• The PLAC Test measures blood levels of an enzyme called Lp-PLA2 that, when elevated, may trigger an inflammatory response inside an artery and set the stage for plaque rupture. Clots from ruptured plaque cause more heart at tacks than do narrowed arteries. In clinical testing, having elevated Lp-PLA2 levels doubled one’s risk of heart attack. People with an elevated Lp-PLA2 com bined with high blood pressure were about seven times more likely to have a stroke than those without the risk factors.

• The ArterioVision ultrasound exam measures the thickness of two inner layers of the carotid artery, the major blood vessel that provides blood to the brain. Studies suggest that the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) test may detect early signs of atherosclerosis and vascular disease not evident on conventional testing.


For more information about the PLAC Test, visit plactest.com . 


For more information about ArterioVision, visit i-mti.com .

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January 15, 2009