Heart Disease Prevention | Austin, TX

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for over 17 million deaths annually. But evaluation of your heart health for disease prevention can be overwhelming and confusing. It is important to get guidance from a knowledgeable doctor who can look at your entire biochemical picture and help you make informed decisions.

Advanced diagnostic testing can reveal much about your heart health – and understanding the nuances of your test results – can be critical to living a long, healthy, and active life. Functional medicine doctor Ruthie Harper, MD in Austin, TX helps you gain a total understanding of your heart health so you can make informed decisions about your well-being.

For many years, it was believed that consuming foods high in cholesterol could increase the risk of heart disease. But while cholesterol has gotten a bad rap, it is essential to human health and maintaining balanced, healthy cholesterol levels is key to cardiovascular disease prevention. The true underlying causes of heart disease are primarily metabolic disease and insulin resistance. Metabolic disease leads to a variety of metabolic and inflammatory disorders, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated ApoB and excess body weight, all of which are risk factors for the development of heart disease.

If you live in Central Texas or the greater Austin, TX area, schedule a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Ruthie Harper – and take the first step to protecting your health, preventing heart disease, and feeling your best!

Heart Disease Prevention
Austin, TX

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for over 17 million deaths annually. But evaluation of your heart health for disease prevention can be overwhelming and confusing. It is important to get guidance from a knowledgeable doctor who can look at your entire biochemical picture and help you make informed decisions.

Advanced diagnostic testing can reveal much about your heart health – and understanding the nuances of your test results – can be critical to living a long, healthy, and active life. Functional medicine doctor Ruthie Harper, MD in Austin, TX helps you gain a total understanding of your heart health so you can make informed decisions about your well-being.

For many years, it was believed that consuming foods high in cholesterol could increase the risk of heart disease. But while cholesterol has gotten a bad rap, it is essential to human health and maintaining balanced, healthy cholesterol levels is key to cardiovascular disease prevention. The true underlying causes of heart disease are primarily metabolic disease and insulin resistance. Metabolic disease leads to a variety of metabolic and inflammatory disorders, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated ApoB and excess body weight, all of which are risk factors for the development of heart disease.

If you live in Central Texas or the greater Austin, TX area, schedule a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Ruthie Harper – and take the first step to protecting your health, preventing heart disease, and feeling your best!

Heart Disease Testing

Level 1 Heart Disease Testing

C-Reactive Protein: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) elevated when inflammation is present somewhere in the body. Studies have shown that very low levels of inflammation in the blood vessels over a long period can cause heart disease. When this test detects moderately elevated CRP, it reveals the inflammation associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

Hemoglobin A1c: This test is used to help figure out who may have diabetes either now or in the future by measuring blood sugar levels over the past 90 days. High levels may indicate prediabetes or diabetes.

Insulin: Insulin is a hormone that is vital for regulating blood sugar. This test measures the effects of insulin in your system. Constant high levels of insulin increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions.

Glucose: Glucose testing measures sugar levels in the blood. High glucose levels may mean you are not responding to the insulin your pancreas is making, so sugar is not getting to the cells where it is needed.

Vitamin D: Low levels of Vitamin D are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure. Vitamin D levels may be low for many reasons, such as not enough sun exposure, not eating a balanced diet and obesity.

Apo-B: This test measures the levels of ApoB, a type of apolipoprotein that clogs arteries. High levels are linked to a greater risk of heart disease.

Lp(a): Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a protein that transports cholesterol in the blood. High levels of Lp(a) can increase the likelihood of plaques or blood clots forming in the arteries which increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Levels of Lp(a) are strongly determined by your genetics and to date there is no prescription medication which lowers Lp(a), making lifestyle factors the most powerful tool to lower it and protect against cardiovascular disease.

Level 2 Heart Disease Testing

Omega-3 and -6 Fatty acids, plasma: This test assesses the ratio of unhealthy fats to healthy fats in your blood, such as omega-3s and 6s. Though 1:1 ratio is considered the healthiest possible ratio, many doctors recommend a goal ratio close to 2.5:1. People who have lower omega- omega-6 ratios have a decreased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs): F2-IsoPs are formed from a type of fatty acid found in certain foods. When too many are present, F2-IsoPs can cause internal stress, which can lead to the development of heart disease, diabetes, and/or cancer. Because F2-IsoPs level can be high at the beginning stages of the disease process, they can provide an early warning sign to your doctor about your risk for disease.

Oxidized LDL (OxLDL): LDL (the bad cholesterol) can be oxidized, or damaged, in the blood stream. Oxidized LDL is even more likely than regular LDL to invade and damage the walls of your blood vessels, which leads to heart disease. Understanding your OxLDL levels can help your doctor determine if you are a s higher risk for heart attack or heart disease.

ADMA/SDMA: Too much ADMA/SDMA can make it hard for your body to produce nitric oxide, which it needs to keep the cells that line your blood vessels healthy. If your levels are high, it can be a sign of a problem with the health of your blood vessels. Studies have shown that people with elevated levels of ADMA/SDMA have a higher risk of heart attacks, stroke and severe kidney problems.

Lp-PLA2: High levels of Lp-PLA2 in the blood can be a sign of inflammation inside the blood vessel walls – which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Myeloperoxidase: This test reveals the levels of MPO enzymes. They are present when your blood vessels are inflamed from damage due to high cholesterol and plaque buildup. The MPO test can help your doctor determine if you have inflammation in your blood vessels that may add to your risk of a heart attack. High MPO levels indicate a higher risk.

Heart Scan (done through Austin Heart): A heart scan, also known as a coronary calcium scan, is a specialized X-ray test that provides pictures of your heart that can help your doctor detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries. Plaque inside the arteries of your heart can grow and restrict blood flow to the muscles of the heart or may burst triggering a blood clot that flows downstream to cause a heart attack. Measuring calcified plaque with a heart scan may allow your doctor to identify possible coronary artery disease long before you have signs and symptoms, making it a useful preventative and prognostic indicator of cardiac risk.

CIMT (carotid intima-media thickness): The carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT) is used to diagnose the extent of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease that may put individuals at risk for heart attack or stroke. The test measures the thickness and health of the inner two layers of the carotid artery—the intima and media—and alerts physicians to any abnormalities when patients are still asymptomatic. CIMT testing determines the “age” of the carotid arteries and is valuable because many patients may not be experiencing symptoms of atherosclerosis, while still developing subtle changes in artery thickness or unstable plaque within the artery wall. Armed with this information, physicians may develop an aggressive and individualized medical approach to their treatment and care. Early detection allows the opportunity for a more aggressive approach to managing the risk factors associated with future risk of heart disease or stroke. Risk factors for increased carotid intima-media thickness and unstable plaque include aging, elevated high lipoprotein levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Level 3 Heart Disease Testing

9p21 Genotype: This test determines the risk levels for certain types of heart disease. If you are a9p21 carrier, you may have a higher risk of a heart attack before the age of 60 if you are female and age 50 if you are male or abdominal aortic aneurysm, blocked coronary arteries, or a heart attack at any age.

Microalbumin: This test detects the levels of the very small (micro) elevations of albumin in your urine. Albumin is a protein normally found in your blood, but not normally in urine. If microalbumin is present in your urine, it may signify that your kidneys and arteries are damaged. Your doctor may want to check your microalbumin level if you have heart attack risk factors: smoking, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol levels.

KIF6 Genotype: People who carry the KIF6 gene may have higher risk of heart disease events. (such as heart attacks)

CYP2C19: The CYP2C19 Genotype test evaluates how well your body processes the medication clopidogrel (Plavix). If you are a poor or intermediate metabolizer, Plavix may be less effective at preventing blood clots.

LPA-Aspirin Genotype: This test can give insight into your risk of heart disease, as well as your response to aspirin. If you are an LPA- aspirin carrier, you may have higher risk of heart disease events (such as heart attack). However, low-dose aspirin may help reduce your risk.

4q25-AF: The 4q25-AF Genotype test evaluates your risk of atrial fibrillation (AF [irregular heartbeat]) and your risk of stroke caused by AF. If you are a 4q25-AF carrier, you may have a higher risk of AF and stroke caused by AF.

LPA-Intron 25 Genotype: If you are an LPA-Intron 25 carrier, you may have a higher risk of heart disease.

ApoE Genotype: The Apo-E Genotype test assesses your risk of heart disease, as well as your response to different amounts of dietary fats. There are six Apo-E genotypes. If you have 3⁄4 or 4/4 genotype, you may have a higher risk of heart disease.

Prevencio HART CVE Test: This is a highly accurate, simple blood test which helps detect your 1-year risk for heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death- the #1 cause of death in the United States. Researchers used artificial intelligence to select important heart proteins and combine them into a scoring system to provide each patient with their own risk score. HART CVE proved to be more accurate (86%) than other available tests, including genetic and coronary artery calcium scores (60%). We will receive your HART results in 2 weeks and will personalize a treatment plan for you based on the risk category identified. We may prescribe new supplements or medications or adjust these to address cholesterol or high blood pressure, prescribe a new nutrition plan for you, suggest additional heart tests to learn more about your heart, and check improvements or changes in your heart by monitoring the HART CVE test once or twice a year.

Cleerly CT: Cleerly allows for the identification and quantification of all forms of plaque. Although the heart saver CT can detect and quantify atherosclerosis and is valuable in informing treatment decisions in asymptomatic adults, this scan cannot detect and quantify low-density, non-calcified unstable plaque which is more likely than the hardened and calcified plaque seen on the heart saver CT’s to rupture and cause a blood clot to form. Simply put, a heart saver CT score of zero does not exclude the presence of high-risk plaque. Cleerly’s model of personalized cardiovascular care leverages the AI-enabled analysis of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images to identify, characterize, and quantify plaque buildup. Several studies have concluded that CCTA shows coronary atherosclerosis in 41% to 53% of patients with a heart saver CT score of zero. The Western Denmark Health Study further found that 31% of major adverse cardiac events occur in patients with a heart saver CT score of zero.
The healthcare system misses more than half of patients who appear to be the picture of health but suffer a heart attack because they have a buildup of non-calcified plaque that a traditional heart saver CT scan misses. Cleerly identifies patients at a high risk of coronary artery disease sooner than the traditional heart saver CT scan. This can help physicians prevent heart attacks and reduce the number of preventable but costly hospitalizations and readmissions that healthcare organizations experience every year.