ENCORE: Heart Disease Early Detection, Part 1

Albert Barrette, Managing Director of Inner Imaging in New York City, is a pioneer in diagnostic radiology. He was an early proponent of EBT (Electron Beam Tomography) for early detection of heart disease. What is calcium scoring? Why is it more sensitive than a stress test? Why is it that traditional risk factors (family history, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, etc.) are poor predictors of heart disease risk? Why do a large percentage of patients who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol? And, why, paradoxically, are some patients with multiple risk factors free of coronary calcium? Does a “zero” score on the EBT test guarantee freedom from heart risk? Who should get screened, and at what age? Why don’t all doctors recommend this test? Why do only some states mandate insurance reimbursement for it? Do you need a prescription to get a scan? How much radiation does it expose you to? Click HERE for part 2.