Exploring coronary artery calcium with Dr. Arthur Agatston
You probably know his name best from his famous South Beach Diet, which he developed.
But US cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston is also internationally recognized as a pioneer in cardiovascular disease prevention and as the co-creator of the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score.
The CAC score measures the amount of calcium plaque laid down in the coronary arteries as seen on a CT scan. Then it uses that score to estimate a person’s future risks of a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.
Dr. Agatston did an in depth presentation on coronary calcium and how to understand its risk for a low-carb audience at the Low Carb Denver 2020 conference in March of this year. Dr Agatston has recently embraced the low-carb and keto diet and due to his South Beach fame he was a big draw at the event.
Speaking remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Agatston’s presentation is highly medical and scientifically dense, and yet there are good nuggets there for all in the low-carb community, especially the fact that the diet seems to prevent the progression of calcium plaques.
Says Dr. Agatston: “I think it’s so important that we integrate imaging and advanced blood testing with low-carb dieting. It’s becoming so big and so important.”
The video of his presentation is free for all Diet Doctor Plus members. If you are not yet a member you can sign up for a free month trial to view the full presentation and download the transcript pdf. Watch the full presentation here
I have been LC for one year now and have reduced my fasting insulin from a high of 69 in 2012 to my most recent core of 16 last month. I am hopeful that I am moving towards better health through the lifestyle changes I have made in the last year. I thought I was only dealing with reversing T2D and did not realize the connection between high insulin and CVD.
This was a very hopeful presentation. It let me know that I am doing all that I can at this point in my health journey. Again, thank you. Without Diet Doctor and all the pod-cast presenters I would be lost and clueless about how to help myself.