Simple Measures to Detect Heart Disease

Physicians may be able to prevent heart attacks in middle-aged women with a few simple tests that researchers are currently evaluating, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting on November 11, 2003. University of Pennsylvania researchers identified the following tests that can be used to monitor women and alert physicians when they need to take action to prevent a heart attack:

• Insulin resistance can be measured by testing blood levels of insulin, glucose, and andiponectin
• Blood samples can also be used to measure levels of low-density lipoprotein particles, which can lead to the formation of coronary calcium deposits
• Coronary calcium deposits can be detected using a quick and noninvasive scan called electron beam tomography.