Where is my risk coming from? What are the sources of my risk?

A risk factor is anything that increases your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death. Over 20 risk factors cause MI and stroke. Some people have genes that increase their risk. But the great news is that over 99% of the time cardiovascular risk genes can be neutralized! How? By neutralizing the risk factors that those genes magnify.

The “heart attack gene” multiplies the power of all the other risk factors. But what is 3 times zero? It’s a big fat zero.

So when we neutralize each and every risk factor, we rob that gene of it’s power.

That’s the exciting thing we do at CardioSound! We identify every single modify-able risk factor (we check over 20 causes of high risk). Then we neutralize them one at a time.

Why You Should Request an Evaluation

50% of heart attack victims have a normal cholesterol (1). For most people, treating one risk factor simply doesn’t work.

Dr. Hight’s mentor, Dr. Robert Superko, author of the book Before the Heart Attacks, loves to ask doctors: "Why do we stop when we diagnose coronary artery disease? We should be asking ourselves, “What are the diseases behind the artery disease?”

If you have high risk, you need a full risk factor evaluation, We’re here to help.

We run an extensive series of blood and other tests. Our tests can be done in all 50 states. Then patients come to Atlanta for an ultrasound study and a face-to-face meeting to review our findings. We hear this all the time: “That’s the most thorough doctor’s visit I’ve ever had!”

Once you know what’s causing your risk to be high, then you’ll know precisely what to do about it.

And you’ll have that sense of confidence which comes only from having a program that works. When you see the plaque in your arteries improving, you’ll know you came to the right place!

For more information (including how to schedule a consultation):

For more information about our evaluation process, please complete this form:

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Active and Passive Risk Factors

Having one or more active heart attack risk factors may increase your risk of artery disease. These are forces that actively contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. Other risk factors are passive markers for arterial inflammation but won’t accelerate it. The following are active risk factors and disease accelerators:

Smoking
High Cholesterol
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
High Blood Pressure
Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Dental and Periodontal Disease
Genetics and Family History
Lipoprotein (a)

Although the following risk factors are associated with increased risk, they won’t accelerate your risk of artery disease. These are some of the most recognizable passive markers for arterial inflammation:

Previous Heart Attack
Previous Stroke
Cardio-CRP
Coronary Artery Calcium Score
Calcium in any artery seen on CT or MRI or X-rays or mammograms (like carotid artery calcium seen on dental X-rays).
Thick Ear Lobes or a Diagonal Ear Lobe Crease

Can stress cause heart disease? Stress causes the release of adrenaline, which may contribute to conditions that make an unstable, vulnerable plaque rupture. Additionally, stress can have an indirect effect on heart disease, manifested by stress-eating, or by postponing physical activity or medical care.

Knowing Your Risk Factors Isn’t Enough

Risk calculators are based on the idea that we can use your risk factors to calculate your 10-year risk. Knowing your risk factors is essential. But risk factors can never answer the question: "Do I have artery disease?" Artery tests can.