American Heart Month aims to spread awareness of women and heart disease

More than five times as many women are diagnosed with heart disease each year than with breast cancer. American Heart Month in February aims to spread awareness of women and heart disease, and one Alabama company has found the quickest way to a woman's heart might be through her gynecologist.

A growing number of gynecologists around the nation are turning to Atherotech Inc., developers of the VAP Cholesterol Test, for its advanced lipid profile. The blood test gives physicians a better understanding of a woman's risk of heart attack and stroke. Combining the VAP Test with a Pap test — which detects early changes of the cervix before they become cancer — makes an easy-to-remember combination for two of the most important preventive health tests for women.

"It seems a bit unusual at first, but if there's one check up most women don't skip, it's their annual OB/GYN visit," said Michael Cobble, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Atherotech Inc. "Women may naturally feel more comfortable discussing health issues with an OB/GYN, and this opens the door to other conversations such as cholesterol levels and heart disease risk."

Monitoring cholesterol levels is key to early intervention and prevention of heart disease. Studies have shown that most adult women see their gynecologists once a year for an annual women's wellness visit, but often pass on a primary care physician visit, potentially missing out on other preventive health services such as cholesterol testing and immunizations.

"A woman's annual gynecologic examination is often the only routine preventive care they receive," said Steven Foley, M.D. "I first realized the VAP with a Pap was a perfect fit for my practice several years ago and have been using it ever since."

The Colorado Springs, Colo., gynecologist now uses the VAP Test to more accurately assess heart disease risk and to evaluate patients for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes and infertility. Foley explained that the VAP Test plays a role in the diagnosis of PCOS because, as an expanded cholesterol test, it measures a range of cholesterol subclasses not measured by the routine cholesterol test.

The VAP Test reports 22 separate components of blood compared to just four in the standard cholesterol test (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides) at no additional cost. This advanced lipid panel does not require fasting and includes a measurement of the patient's Lp(a), an important risk factor much discussed in recent publications, as part of its standard panel.

The American Heart Association recommends cholesterol screening starting at the age of 20. Foley routinely uses the VAP Test on patients over the age of 45 who come in for an annual exam and who have not had a cholesterol test within the past 12 months. He also initially tests all patients one time between the ages of 30-45.

SOURCE Atherotech Inc.