Preventative Cardiovascular Program
Advanced Cardiac Screening
Early detection of the cardiovascular risk standard physicals routinely miss.
Heart attacks are the leading cause of duty-related fatalities among first responders — and the majority are preventable with early detection. The Advanced Cardiac Screening Wheel is Astra Healthcare’s protocol, developed by Dr. Samuel Unzek, delivering targeted diagnostic tests that assess cardiovascular risk standard physicals routinely miss.
Normal results are returned to the member as a written report. Abnormal results trigger a direct cardiology referral. The member is supported throughout and never left to figure it out alone.
Why Screen Earlier
Due to the elevated cardiovascular risk first responders experience through occupational exposure, shift work, and chronic stress, the program recommends screening earlier than current general-population guidelines.
Investment & Protocols
| Age Group | Protocol | Cadence | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 4-Test Protocol | Every 3 Years | $750 per member |
| 35 & Above | 5-Test Protocol | Every 3 Years | $2,000 per member |
The Screening Wheel — What Each Test Detects
| Test | What It Detects & Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Cardiac Lab Panel (Both Protocols) | Comprehensive blood panel: lipid profile, hsCRP (inflammation), HbA1c (blood sugar), Apolipoprotein B, and Lp(a) — a hereditary cardiac risk factor missed by standard physicals. Establishes the metabolic baseline guiding every clinical decision. |
| Echocardiogram (Both Protocols) | Real-time cardiac ultrasound revealing chamber size, wall thickness, valve function, and ejection fraction. Identifies structural disease including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in active-duty personnel. |
| Carotid Artery Ultrasound (Both Protocols) | Detects plaque buildup and measures intima-media thickness — an early indicator of systemic cardiovascular disease and stroke risk, especially important given chronic exposure to inflammatory occupational triggers. |
| 12-Lead EKG (Both Protocols) | Maps the heart’s electrical activity across 12 electrode positions at rest. Detects arrhythmias, conduction defects, prior silent heart attacks, and structural changes — often asymptomatic yet dramatically elevating sudden cardiac event risk. |
| Circle Plaque Analysis (Ages 35+) | Advanced imaging that identifies and quantifies both calcified and soft plaque in the coronary arteries. Soft plaque — prone to rupture — is frequently missed by standard calcium scoring alone. |
A Complete Cardiovascular Picture
The Screening Wheel addresses every facet of cardiovascular health — electrical activity (EKG), structure (echocardiogram), vasculature (carotid ultrasound), plaque burden (circle plaque analysis), and metabolic baseline (cardiac lab panel). Together they give a comprehensive picture no single test provides.
To schedule, email Yari at [email protected] or call 480-462-2716.
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