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Is heart disease entirely preventable?

Certain forms of heart disease could be close to 100% preventable today, yet it remains the leading cause of death among both men and women in our country. As an example, currently, sophisticated imaging, blood and saliva testing can measure many newly-identified risk biomarkers for heart disease, years - even decades - before plague begins to develop in a person’s arteries. In addition, advanced CT scans, called CT coronary calcium scans or CT coronary angiograms, can detect calcified plaque deposits in arteries well before they progress to potential blockages. Another 3-minute sophisticated test (done in the office) will show the degree of abnormalities of the blood vessels and can identify other hormonal abnormalities that could trigger heart disease. These and other cutting-edge screenings now provide such early indicators of a person’s predisposition for heart disease, that the disease itself can usually be prevented. What’s more, early prevention can usually be accomplished exclusively with natural tools, such as: diet, exercise, supplements and lifestyle adjustments. Dr. Bereliani is among a very small number of leading cardiologists who not only use state of-the-art testing, but are also able to interpret the results and utilize them to design individualized prevention programs.

What is the greatest misconception about heart disease?

There are several. However, one of the greatest misconceptions is that passing a basic cholesterol panel with "good numbers" or a standard EKG-Treadmill test, means you are not at risk for a heart attack. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a national study conducted by UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine found that 75% of all patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels that, based on current national guidelines, indicated that they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event. Similarly, an EKG-Treadmill test (also know as a stress test) only detects artery blockages that are greater than 70% and the sensitivity of this test is only about 60 to 70%! In reality, the majority of heart attack patients have one or more smaller blockages. Despite this well-known information, standard cholesterol panels and stress tests, remain the most used diagnostic tools for assessing heart attack risk. Dr. Bereliani uses much more advanced cholesterol testing (types, subtypes, etc), along with other substances that can equally affect the health of the arteries of the heart.

The second misconception is that cholesterol alone is the cause of heart disease and heart attack. Although high cholesterol levels undoubtedly increase the risk of heart attack and blockage, it is not the only cause or even the most important cause. New research is beginning to show that the most important cause or the most important underlying cause of coronary artery disease could actually be an insulin-resistance state (not necessarily diabetes).

What are some of the hidden or lesser known causes of heart disease?

Most of us are well aware that high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and being overweight increase the potential for developing heart disease and suffering a heart attack or stroke. Experts, however, now also know and are able to test for many other risk factors, several of which have nothing to do with diet and exercise. Examples of these include but not limited to:

• Heavy Metal toxicities

• Certain Vitamin / nutrient deficiencies

• Hormone imbalances

• Vascular inflammation

What is unique about Dr. Bereliani’s approach to preventive medicine?

Committed to remaining on the cutting-edge of technology, research and treatment options, Dr. Bereliani utilizes the most advanced testing and screening tools available to identify each patient’s unique set of risk biomarkers and genetics. Armed with this sophisticated information, a complete medical history and thorough physical examination, he then designs a highly-individualized wellness plan. Each patient’s plan is unique, encompassing Dr. Bereliani’s wide knowledge of conventional Western Medicine, evidence-based functional medicine, and orthomolecular medicine, a practice that seeks to maintain health through the aid of nutritional supplementation. Preventing serious illness, including heart disease, cancer and cognitive aging issues, has been Dr. Bereliani’s career-long passion. Still, as one of the most experienced cardiologist in the greater Los Angeles area, he is also frequently referred the most complex cases of heart disease by his peers. In these, and other instances where necessary, Dr. Bereliani uses the full scope of appropriate medications and surgical procedures.

What are examples of some of the leading-edge screenings that Dr. Bereliani utilizes?

Never before has medicine enjoyed a greater number of effective tools for pinpointing patients’ risk factors for certain diseases so far in advance of any issues or symptoms. Here is just a sampling:

• Maxpulse Device Testing. This is a simple non-invasive, FDA-approved test that uses a finger clip device to evaluate arterial elasticity and stiffness. The blood’s pulse wave is tracked from the time it leaves the heart and travels through the blood vessels down to the finger. Arterial stiffness is a major cardiovascular risk factor.

• APOE Genetic Testing. This blood test can identify certain genes that may increase an individual’s risk of developing both heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

• Cholesterol particle measurement. This blood test measures the size, not just the amount, of LDL cholesterol particles. Small, dense particles are 40% more likely than large ones, to become oxidized, break off and form clots.

What are some of the tools used in Dr. Bereliani’s individualized prevention plans?

With a detailed view of each patient’s physical and emotional health, Dr. Bereliani designs customized prevention plans drawing on his own expertise, as well as, that of his hand-picked colleagues, who include a certified dietician, fitness trainer, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. Whether your plan calls for medical-grade nutritional supplements or help in quitting smoking, the Beverly Hills Institute for Cardiology & Preventive Medicine is uniquely equipped to insure that you succeed.

What is health optimization?

According to the most recent statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), life expectancy in our country is 78.8 years. Not only could that number be higher with proper preventive medicine, more importantly the quality of life for most can remain optimal into their senior years. Thanks to the technology, research and experience of today’s cutting-edge medicine, most individuals should be able to live a top quality of life well into advanced age. At the Beverly Hills Institute of Cardiology & Preventive Medicine, enabling patients to enjoy the best possible life at every age has been Dr. Bereliani’s career-long passion. Many of the most prevalent age-related liabilities, including fatigue, decreased libido, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancer and type 2 diabetes, can often be prevented through early diagnosis of risk factors and customized prevention plans.

What is Dr. Bereliani’s approach to Health Optimization?

Dr. Bereliani gets to know each patient incredibly well, inside and out, from taking a complete medical history, conducting a thorough physical examination and utilizing the latest diagnostic tests to identify genetic and other biomarker risk factors for a wide array of common diseases and conditions. From this detailed blueprint of each patient’s physical and emotional health, Dr. Bereliani designs customized prevention plans. In doing so, he draws on his own expertise, as well as, that of his hand-picked colleagues, who include a certified dietician, fitness trainer, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist therapist. Whether your plan calls for medical-grade nutritional supplements or help in quitting smoking, the Beverly Hills Institute for Cardiology & Preventive Medicine, in uniquely equipped to ensure that you succeed.

What makes Dr. Bereliani uniquely qualified to help patients achieve optimal health?

A top-rated physician with over 15 years of research and clinical experience, Dr. Bereliani is among a very few traditionally-trained cardiologist worldwide who also possess the unique combination of expertise in functional medicine and orthomolecular medicine, a practice that seeks to maintain health through the aid of nutritional supplementation. His passion for health optimization and preventive medicine began early on. During his residency at UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Bereliani focused on cardiac imaging and nuclear cardiology, where he won the prestigious "Top Physician" award for 3 straight years. In his clinical practice, every patient who has followed Dr. Bereliani’s recommendations has benefitted from improved health and wellness. Dr. Bereliani believes that under the guidance and care of the right physician, and given the technology and our current knowledge about cardiovascular disease, no one should suffer a heart attack or stroke up until at least their 100th birthday!