HEALTH AND BEAUTY CLOSE-UP-2 October 2008-iCardio Services Offers HeartSmartIMTplus Risk Screening to Its Cardiovascular Imaging Services(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com

Dr. Joshua Penn, M.D. FACC, managing partner of iCardio Services headquartered in Los Angeles, has

Penn feels HeartSmart, when combined with other diagnostic tools, can drastically reduce the need for angioplasties, angiograms, and heart bypass, and help find a patient's cardiovascular 'watch points' before the disease is advanced.

"Primary care physicians want to join in on the technological revolution happening in ultrasound and diagnostic imaging," said Penn. "Their patients are better educated than ever, and want to know more. They're not content to wait until they're sick . . . they want a complete picture of their heart health now. They recognize that the Framingham Risk Score or stress tests, similar to those NBC journalist Tim Russert had before his unfortunate death, are good but not enough, even with medication and exercise. While no test reveals an imminent heart attack, HeartSmartIMTplus assesses the presence and progressiveness of heart disease in its earliest stages."

"With iCardio and HeartSmartIMTplus," continues Penn, "physicians can provide a higher quality of service that enhances the caliber and depth of their practice, provides quicker, more direct results, and adds diagnostic imaging revenue to their practice. Now, we can bring this valuable test to the primary care office for the convenience of both patient and physician."

HeartSmartIMTplus goes beyond calcium scoring and details soft plaque, often the cause of strokes and heart attacks. Physicians can give patients a clearer picture and an actual grade report of their heart health, then suggest appropriate actions for lifestyle changes and/or medications to slow, stop or reverse the progression of heart disease.

The IMT test is recognized by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography as a technique for early detection of cardiovascular disease.

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