Risk Factors

Risk factors increase your chance of developing cardiovascular disease. Looking only at your risk factors, a doctor can give you an educated estimate of your odds of having a heart attack – but can’t say for certain whether or not you have cardiovascular disease.

With EBT screening, however, doctors can actually see and measure the plaque building up in coronary arteries – even at the earliest stages of the disease. They can then use this information, as well as the presence of other risk factors, to determine steps to help prevent a future heart attack.

Some risks factors can't be changed, such as:

Age
Gender
Family history of heart disease

Other risk factors can be controlled through lifestyle changes or treatment:

Smoking/tobacco use
Lack of exercise
Stress
High blood pressure
Overweight
High cholesterol
Diabetes

Early Detection: The SHAPE Guideline

Based on EBT results and other risk factors, physicians can prescribe both medication and lifestyle changes to help prevent a future heart attack.