Device for the Early Detection of Heart Disease

Thursday, November 08, 2007 by: Katherine East
Tags: heart disease, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) A miniature Ultrasound Machine that can detect whether you may be at risk for heart disease was released on the markets this last week.

This nifty little gadget weighs less than 2 pounds and can take an image of the neck arteries and show if they are clogged with plaque or thickened. It's suggested that if they are clogged, then the chances are pretty high that the heart arteries are as well. Too thick arteries are a sign of higher risk for heart attack so doctors can send patients for further testing and put them on preventative treatments such as cholesterol lowering drugs.

Many doctors feel that this mini ultrasound device meets the need to identify people who have no symptoms of heart problems but have risk of heart disease. Recent medical journals and publications paid for by drug manufacturers like Pfizer (who sell Lipitor) contain articles encouraging wider heart disease screening. They say that early detection and treatment could save lives.

Of course cholesterol drug manufacturers are heavily promoting this quick and easy "peace of mind" test because the more people who are informed that they are at risk for future heart disease, the more cholesterol lowering pills will be sold. Once again a classic example of how screening and treatment has overtaken prevention in the medical field. Statin drugs (cholesterol lowering) are the fastest growing prescription drugs but the health risks of the side effects are rather alarming.

Coming Soon To A Family Practice Doctor Or Shopping Mall Near You

It would seem that these pocket-sized, ultrasound devices are being marketed directly to consumers. There have even been reports of adverts for artery screenings to be taking place in shopping centers. This is worrying because of the accuracy of the testing and incorrect diagnosis could lead to false alarms with a lot of unnecessary further tests as well as treatments for something that may never have threatened the patient's life.

Physicians participating in a study of whether family practice doctors can be trained in a weekend to accurately perform these ultrasound screenings feel that the tests would be more likely to encourage patients to make lifestyle changes because they can see plaque in their arteries. What a pity they don't send the doctors on a weekend course of how to lower your cholesterol naturally through diet. 

About the author

Katherine Oosthuis is completing a Diploma in Nutritional Therapy. She researches and writes for a health and nutrition website Detox For Life . Her passion is to make research available to those who are looking to improve their well-being and revolutionise their health through better nutrition and alternative medicines.