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HEART ATTACK AND STROKE PREVENTION CENTER AIMS TO HELP 100 PATIENTS IN 2013 Spokane clinic looks at factors in innovative ways to get a good look at Judd’s artery walls with a special ultrasound test called a Carotid Intima Media Thickness test (IMT). Conventional tests looks only at blood flowing through the artery. The Center’s Dr. Jeff Emery explains the significance of the IMT. “The importance of looking at the artery wall and not just blood flow is it allows us to identify if you are at future risk of a heart attack or
we can develop a very comprehensive treatment model to stabilize that process and to prevent further plaque development down the road.” IMT testing has had the backing of the Most people know that cardiovascular American Heart Association for more than disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. We a decade. But it’s generally not covered know some key disease risk factors and how by insurance (costs, less than $200), a to avoid them. Exercise, eat healthy, don’t frustration for Doneen who says it’s a smoke, and keep your cholesterol and blood valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment pressure low. plans offered at the center. So we make an effort to be Health care providers there use physically active, consume more the patented Bale/Doneen Method fruits, vegetables, and whole grains of identifying and preventing and monitor our cholesterol and blood heart attack and stroke risk which pressure regularly. goes beyond the current standard Amy Doneen, nurse practitioner of care. Doneen is considered and medical director of Spokane’s an international leader in the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention prevention of heart attacks and Center says the current standard strokes and speaks to medical of care is based on a risk factor providers around the world. paradigm that considers our age, During February, American our gender, our smoking status, our Heart Month, Doneen and cholesterol, our blood pressure and we Emery kicked off the “100 Hearts are thrown into a calculation. Campaign with a goal of saving “If our calculation tells us we are 100 new lives in 2013. OK, the assumption is we are. But the Patients are encouraged to reality is that calculation misses the refer one person they care about majority of young, healthy, fit women for an evaluation this year. As a who may be at tremendous risk,” thank-you for their help in sharing Doneen said. the message about prevention This includes women like 34 methods, patients get a $150 check. year-old Mandy Judd of Spokane, a The center is also offering free Amy Doneen, director of the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center, uses personal trainer who exercises, eats 20-minute evaluations with a doctor a variety of methods, including genetic testing, to predict -- and prevent -- the well, and doesn’t smoke, so her stats or nurse practitioner to determine likelihood of a stroke or cardiac event. look good. if IMT testing and other diagnosis Judd was shocked to learn her stroke. This is not just a calculated risk but or treatment may help save your life. arteries were 12 years older than her an actual risk.” “In the last 10 years I’ve yet to have biological age. IMT can identify the presence of plaque anyone call me and say ‘Amy I think I’m “I’m really into prevention. But for in the artery walls plus a thickening of the developing fatty streaks in the wall of whatever reason, I think you just get in artery walls which serves as an indicator my artery.’ But they do say, ‘I’ve had a your head that you’re in your early 30s of future risk of plaque development and heart attack or stroke or I have no kidney and you aren’t really thinking about heart cardiovascular events. function.’ I wish I’d seen them much attack and stroke.” says Judd. “You can “Once we identify plaque we look for earlier.” says Doneen. look very fit and very healthy and not know the root causes for why that plaque has Judd is forever thankful that her risk what is going on inside your body.” developed or why the artery wall is not was identified early. Medical providers at the Heart Attack healthy in appearance,” Emery said. “Then and Stroke Prevention Center were able
Story by Julie Humphreys LiveWELL Correspondent Photo by Courtney Dunham