News Archives | Surrey Cardiovascular Clinic

The SCVC Blog

Cardiovascular care news and articles from our expert team

Does curcumin reduce inflammation and possibly lower raised LP (a)?

Research indicates that approximately 20% of the global population has elevated Lp(a), making it a prevalent, yet under-recognised, CVD risk factor. Despite its clinical significance, the management of elevated Lp(a) remains challenging. Standard lipid-lowering therapies, including statins, have little to no effect on Lp(a) and may even slightly increase its levels. However, emerging therapies such as PCSK9 inhibitors and innovative supplements like curcumin are shedding light on potential strategies to mitigate this risk.

Nourishing Life: Integrating Yang Sheng (養生) into Modern Preventive Medicine

An article by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist. As cardiologists, our primary focus is often on diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiovascular diseases, which is essential to healthcare. However, heart health involves more than just addressing immediate conditions—it also includes promoting […]

Promotions and discount schemes

SCVC Offers and promotions listed by launch date 25/9/2024 £500 cashback scheme offered nationwide to the first 100 patients in the UK undergoing a Cardiac CT (CTCA) with CaRi Heartscore. This test, which comprises a contrast CT coronary angiogram and […]

SCVC NEWS – The Surrey Cardiovascular Newsletter

In 2023 the leadership team at SCVC decided that with an estimated 25,000 patients registered since 2006, it was time for us to issue newsletters and notify GPs and patients about our educational webinar events.

Why an Annual Health Screen can now be a ‘Win Win’ for both Employers and Employees

Annual health screenings are a valuable investment in employee well-being, offering significant benefits for both employees and employers. The HMRC’s tax exemption makes these screenings financially attractive, allowing companies to offer meaningful health benefits cost-effectively. Advanced medical technologies, such as AI-driven CT scans, enhance early detection capabilities, providing further value.

Five Reasons Why a Cardiologist Might Recommend a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to their Patient

Continuous glucose monitoring offers a valuable tool for anyone concerned with their long-term health, especially those with a family history of diabetes or other cardiovascular risk factors. Whether through self-monitoring or professional analysis such as our metabolic health assessment, CGMs can provide actionable insights that help individuals manage their glucose levels more effectively, ultimately contributing to a healthier, longer life. By understanding and managing your glucotype, optimising your diet and exercise, and taking steps to prevent prediabetes and diabetes, you can potentially avoid serious health conditions in the future.

Effective Annual Health Screening for Your Directors and Employees

Annual health screenings represent a valuable investment in employee well-being, offering significant benefits for both employees and employers. If you are a company or HR director you may be interested in the UK tax breaks around annual health check, which may give you and your employees access to our cutting edge health screening programs without its costs being viewed by HMRC as benefit in kind.

Preventing a Heart Attack: What Can Be Done?

While predicting a heart attack with absolute certainty may still be beyond our reach, the ability to identify patients at high risk is a significant step forward. The latest techniques used to find people at risk are summarised in a […]

Imagine if you could predict a heart attack

The idea of predicting a heart attack may have once seemed like science fiction, but it is rapidly becoming a reality. With the advent of advanced imaging techniques and artificial intelligence, we are now able to detect the early signs of coronary heart disease and intervene before a heart attack occurs. This represents a major shift in the way we approach cardiovascular care, moving from a reactive model to a proactive one.

My glucose spikes: so what?

There is a wealth of evidence linking pre-diabetes, raised HbA1c, and full-blown type 2 diabetes to increasing cardiovascular risk. Lesser degrees of a pre diabetic metabolism could therefore have an important role in causing long-term atherosclerosis.

Interpreting Your Own CGM Data: A Guide for Non-Diabetics and Health Enthusiasts

Whether you are diabetic or simply health-conscious, understanding how to interpret CGM data can significantly enhance your approach to diet and lifestyle management. By recognising your body's unique responses to different foods and activities, you can make informed decisions that promote better metabolic health and overall well-being.

Is coronary artery calcification good or bad?

Recognition that significant coronary artery disease exists without calcification led to the wider user of contrast-enhanced CT scans to detect both calcified and noncalcified plaques. Even more advanced scans identify not only the non calcified plaques, but also areas of inflammation (using data processing to measure FAI), that a non-contrast CT (such as a CAC scan) would otherwise miss. Sequential CAC to follow up disease progression quickly established that an increase in CAC with age was inevitable in most patients and not linked to clinical course, so is not widely practiced.