Category: Brandpoint

2018-04-09T08:01:00

(BPT) – A Simple Blood Test Can Help Doctors Determine Your Current Likelihood of Having a Blockage in Your Heart Arteries

Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as a blockage in the heart arteries, has many telltale signs. Chest discomfort. Heartburn. Tightness or pressure in the throat, jaw, shoulder, abdomen, back or arm. Yet all these signs can signal other issues going on inside the patient. Too much spicy food, stress, a pulled muscle. The list can grow rather long. Determining the cause of these symptoms can be tricky business. So how do you and your doctor correctly identify the cause of your specific symptoms? It can be as easy as a simple blood test.

Understanding the results of the blood test is just as easy as getting the blood test done. This simple blood test is scored on a scale of 1-40. Those with low scores, defined as ≤ 15, can be safely assessed as having symptoms unlikely to be caused by CAD, whereas patients with higher scores have a higher likelihood of CAD. Patients with low scores can be spared invasive and potentially risky cardiac tests and procedures, while those with higher scores can receive additional testing necessary to achieve their proper diagnosis and treatment.

Recently, the results of the registry study, called PRESET,¹ looked at how effective the test does what it was designed to do. This simple blood test minimized unnecessary cardiology referrals and additional cardiac testing for low-risk patients. This means reducing patient exposure to radiation from a nuclear stress test or coronary CT scan, decreased likelihood of skin rashes where electrodes are placed for echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, exercise stress tests and more, reduced risk of dye reactions or risk associated with surgical heart procedures such as possible injury to the artery, kidney damage, bleeding complications, and more. These patients can get reliable information without the risks of the traditional tests.

The test (known as the Corus^® CAD blood test) incorporates age, sex and gene expression measurements into a single score that indicates a person’s current likelihood of obstructive CAD. Unlike a genetic test, which provides information about a patient’s future risk of disease, this test provides the current likelihood of blockage in his or her heart artery. It’s much safer for the patient and has the benefit of saving the healthcare system money by reducing unnecessary tests and procedures.

Recently, the American Heart Association highlighted the Corus CAD test in a new 2017 Scientific Statement² about how precision medicine can be used to diagnose and predict cardiovascular disorders. The AHA’s statement confirms that this simple blood test has been proven valid and useful in clinical studies. If you are concerned about the symptoms of obstructive CAD, talk with your doctor.

For more information about the Corus CAD blood test, visit www.corusCAD.com.

Fast Facts

• One in seven deaths among Americans is caused by CAD³
• Traditional tests carry various risks
• A simple blood test called Corus CAD helps doctors identify patients who are at low risk so that unnecessary and potentially harmful cardiac tests can be avoided, as well as those at high risk so appropriate next steps can be taken

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¹ Ladapo JA, Budoff M, Sharp D, et al. Clinical Utility of a Precision Medicine Test Evaluating Outpatients with Suspected Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease. Am J Med. 2017;130(4):482.e11-482.e17.

² Musunuru K, Ingelsson E, Fornage M, et al. The Expressed Genome in Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke: Refinement, Diagnosis, and Prediction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2017;10(4):e1-e25.

³ Benjamin EJ, Blaha MJ, Chiuve SE, et al. On Behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2017 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135(10):e146-e603.

2018-04-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – Whether it’s scrubbing through grime to reveal a sparkling surface, cleaning dust bunnies from under appliances or organizing your pantry, there’s something oddly satisfying about a deep clean.

According to a recent survey conducted on behalf of Clorox, lots of people get the good vibes flowing when it’s cleaning day. Seventy-one percent say it makes them feel relaxed, while 57 percent say they feel accomplished.

Of the most oddly satisfying places to clean in the house, 34 percent say they find their bliss after cleaning the countertops, while a clean microwave lends that special feeling to another 30 percent.

To reach that spring cleaning joy, try some of these not-so-obvious cleaning jobs that will transform the look and feel of your space into a springtime sanctuary.

Grout: Over time, mold and mildew buildup can make your bathroom grout look dingy, but with the right approach, the grout stains will disappear. Start by wetting the tile with a cloth. Then, dip a sponge into a gallon bucket of water with 3/4 cup of bleach and wipe down the tile. Wait five minutes for disinfecting, rinse and viola! Your tiles will shine, offset by the clean lines of white grout.

Microwave: We don’t like to think about it, but a lot of hard-to-remove food residue accumulates in our microwaves and we rarely spend the time to give it a thorough clean. Microwave a cup of water and in five minutes the steam will help loosen the stains. A Clorox Disinfecting Wipe will take care of those extra stubborn messes.

Dust: In addition to moving aside the beds, appliances and other heavy pieces of furniture to get those dust bunnies, make sure you’re tackling the not-so-obvious places. Use the vacuum’s brush attachment to clear your HVAC register vents and don’t forget to dust the tops of fan blades!

Windows: Those panes have taken quite a beating over the months. It’s time to get a soft sponge and a bucket of warm, soapy water to defeat the smudges and layers of dirt, and then wipe them clean with a squeegee. You’ll love how sparkling clean glass transforms the room.

Outdoor surfaces: Right outside your back door is a golden opportunity for a deep clean. Rent or borrow a pressure washer, and once it’s set up, you can enjoy watching the blast of water and degreaser effortlessly turn your concrete walkways and driveway into bright clean surfaces — like a magic wand. To easily remove the mold and mildew off your deck and patio furniture, add 3/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water and swipe away the stains from seasons past.

Try these tips and enjoy basking in the satisfaction of a deep-cleaned house. To find the tools you need for the job, visit Clorox.com/satisfyingspringclean/.