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In a recent story reported by ABC7 Eyewitness News, there are three new studies on heart health that reveal clues doctors may have previously overlooked, which indicate a seemingly healthy person may be headed towards heart disease or stroke. These clues, according to researchers, can be found in mammograms, blood-sugar tests, and common daytime dozing. Los Angeles Cardiologist, Dr. Mason H. Weiss, MD of Apex Cardiology said in the interview, “It would seem that those three different findings would have nothing to do with each other, but in fact all these describe things that have an association with heart disease or stroke.”

In the first study, viewing the mammograms of 200 stroke patients, it was found that 56 percent of them had calcium deposits in breast tissue. This lead researchers to the conclusion that women with artery buildup in their mammograms a have a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. “The radiologists typically don’t report that because it’s so-called a ‘non-finding’ for breast cancer, but it may be a significant finding for women who have early heart disease,” said Dr. Weiss.

In the second study, 1,700 patients in their mid-60s were measured for blood-sugar and insulin levels after fasting. Those with higher scores had twice the risk of stroke over the next seven years compared to those with lower scores. The blood sugar test used in the study, called homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), measures a ratio of blood sugar and insulin levels. High scores can indicate a patient is borderline diabetic. Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

A third study documented the daytime dozing patterns of 2,000 people in their mid-70s. Researchers found the odds of having a stroke were nearly 5 times greater among heavy dozers compared to those who rarely nodded off. Doctors say the heavy dozers likely suffered from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders that triggered dangerous fluctuations in their blood pressure. “I think what they’re trying to do over here is focus on the stroke risk, and the fact is there is some simple things that are out there that they’re glossing over that we should be paying more attention to these things,” said Dr. Weiss.

Dr. Weiss suggests that people take advantage of the latest technology which has been helping find heart disease earlier in patients, and even saving lives in some cases. A CT scan can help detect early heart disease. The newest technology at Apex Cardiology, the 64 slice cardiovascular CT features the industry’s fastest speed and highest resolution scanner. Don’t become another statistic, be aware of the risks you may be facing for heart disease and ask your doctor for more information on scheduling a heart scan. It could very well save your life.

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