In 1985, Dr. Gould developed a non-invasive way to manage coronary heart disease that overcomes many of the drawbacks of traditional therapies. That initial program has evolved through several stages in both diet and pharmocologic treatment in keeping with scientific advances. With the advent of PET, Dr. Gould and his team are able to diagnose heart disease with 96 to 98 percent accuracy, permitting treatment even before symptoms appear. The diagnosis of atherosclerosis by PET is remarkably accurate. In one way it is better than the arteriogram because it can identify effects of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis that are not detectable by coronary arteriography, which, for diffuse disease, has an accuracy of about only 21 percent.
PET reduces expenses and risk by avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures.
Finally, follow-up PET scans definitively indicate whether there is progression or regression of coronary heart disease, determining if more vigorous treatment is needed. The event rate in my clinic patients is reduced to or even lower than the general population of comparable age and sex. Dr. Gould says components of the program are individually planned for each patient, depending on his or her time constraints, work demands, lifestyle and personal preferences, thereby increasing compliance. Successful reversal of cardiovascular disease requires the emotional commitment to manage one's own health, understand the fundamentals, and abide by them, by incorporating the major therapeutic steps. There is no single, fixed or rigid regimen, diet or method to which individuals must conform.