CCTA and Cleerly

Patients are surprised and dismayed to learn that until very recently, there has been no equivalent technology to the mammogram (for breast cancer) for diagnosing cardiovascular disease. That is, there was no reliable way to image the diseased tissue in the coronary arteries that ruptured and caused heart attacks and strokes. Now that method exists, as of August 2022. Our office is referring to that test. Up to now, we have used a blood test using seven biomarkers that is very advanced is an accurate measure of risk, and generally correlates to the new imaging.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Do you know the story of the tortoise and the hare? The hare runs faster and takes a nap on the way, so it’s the tortoise who plugs away and ends up winning the race, even though the hare made a mad dash at the end. We glorify surgeons who perform bypasses around diseased arteries to keep blood flowing. But that is a last-ditch solution to save a patient and the risk is that it doesn’t work or that the damage is so great that disability and decline are inevitable. Prevention is a slow and steady process. But it works if it is started soon enough, if the focus is accurate, and the patient follows through. Don’t count on being saved at the last minute.

We are excited to announce that HeartCare is now offering Cleerly heart testing. Cleerly is an AI-enabled software that uses CT scans of your heart to identify the plaque volume and types of plaque in your arteries. This analysis can help us understand your unique risk of heart attack or coronary artery disease.

Cleerly is a safe, noninvasive procedure that we recommend for understanding your heart disease risk. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and often presents with few or no symptoms. Cleerly is one of the few tests we’ve found that can help us assess our patients’ heart health and help us develop personalized treatment plans to help prevent future heart attacks.

Since 2022 we have done over 160 tests. The test is completed within an hour, with the actual testing done in about 20 minutes.

Talk to us today to learn if Cleerly is a good fit for you or a member of your family.

The best way to contact us is to call us at 213-483-7766. Speak to either Monica or Bianca. You can also email us at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Michael J. Wong MD and the team at HeartCare.