The Test That Could Save Your Life
We find heart disease 10-15 years before your first symptom — when it's still reversible.
of women who die from heart attacks had NO warning signs
of heart attacks occur in people with "normal" cholesterol
of at-risk patients are MISSED by standard screening
The first symptom of heart disease is often a heart attack — or death. Standard care waits for symptoms. We don't. Using advanced imaging and testing, we find and treat arterial disease years before it strikes.
Book Your ConsultationWhy "Normal" Checkups Aren't Enough
Standard Care Waits Too Long
Your doctor checks your blood pressure and cholesterol once a year. If the numbers look okay, you're "fine." But here's the reality:
- • 50% of men and 64% of women who die suddenly from heart disease had NO previous symptoms
- • The first symptom is often a heart attack — or death
- • By the time you have symptoms, damage is often done
Waiting for symptoms is waiting for disaster.
Risk Calculators Are Wrong
The standard risk calculators your doctor uses (based on the 1948 Framingham study) MISS 86% of at-risk patients.
Real example: A 42-year-old patient was given a 1.4% risk score. 30 days later — massive "widow-maker" heart attack.
These calculators ignore:
- • Family history details
- • Genetic markers (like Lp(a))
- • Female-specific risk factors
- • Arterial imaging
We don't guess at risk. We LOOK at your arteries.
99% of Plaque Is Invisible to Standard Tests
Here's what most people don't know: dangerous arterial plaque grows OUTWARD into the artery wall before it grows inward to block blood flow.
Standard tests (stress tests, cardiac CT) only look at blood FLOW. They miss the 99% of plaque that isn't obstructing yet.
That's why "healthy" people have heart attacks. The plaque was there — standard tests just couldn't see it.
CIMT imaging sees the arterial WALL, where the plaque actually lives.
Your Doctor Skips the Important Tests
LDL cholesterol is one of the WORST predictors of heart attack risk. Yet it's what every doctor measures.
Tests most doctors NEVER run:
- • Lp(a) — "the mass murderer" that TRIPLES your risk (20% of heart attack victims have elevated Lp(a))
- • ApoB — far better than LDL for predicting heart attacks
- • hs-CRP — inflammation marker (can't have a heart attack without inflammation)
- • Fasting insulin — 70% of heart attacks are caused by insulin resistance
These tests cost $20-50 each. They could save your life.
True Cardiovascular Prevention
The BaleDoneen Method: Find disease early. Treat root causes. Prevent events.
We Look at Your Arteries
CIMT (Carotid Intima-Media Thickness) ultrasound:
- • 15 minutes, completely painless, no radiation
- • Looks at the arterial WALL — not just blood flow
- • Finds plaque 10-15 years before symptoms
- • Provides your "arterial age" vs chronological age
- • Can be repeated to track improvement
What we see:
- • Early plaque formation
- • Arterial thickening
- • "Soft" unstable plaque (the most dangerous kind)
- • Disease progression or regression over time
We Test What Matters
Our cardiovascular panel goes far beyond standard cholesterol:
Lipid Testing:
- • Lp(a) — genetic marker, triples risk
- • ApoB — actual atherogenic particle count
- • ApoA — reverse cholesterol transport
- • LDL particle number and size
Inflammation Markers:
- • hs-CRP — systemic inflammation
- • Homocysteine — vascular inflammation
- • Fibrinogen — clotting tendency
Metabolic Markers:
- • Fasting insulin — insulin resistance
- • OGTT — gold standard for prediabetes
- • Genetic markers (MTHFR, ApoE, 9p21)
We Treat the Cause
Finding disease is only half the battle. We address WHY it developed:
Root causes we target:
- • Insulin resistance — the hidden driver
- • Chronic inflammation — "fire in the arteries"
- • Oxidative stress
- • Oral infections (84% of stroke clots contain oral bacteria DNA)
- • Genetic factors requiring specific treatment
- • Hormone imbalances affecting vascular health
Our treatment approach:
- • Personalized lipid management
- • Inflammation reduction
- • Metabolic optimization
- • Hormone optimization for vascular protection
Johns Hopkins research showed this approach RAPIDLY SHRINKS plaque.
Is Cardiovascular Prevention Right for You?
You don't need to wait for a heart attack to take prevention seriously. If any of these apply, you should be screened:
Family History
- ✓ Parent or sibling with heart disease
- ✓ Family history of heart attack or stroke
- ✓ Family history of sudden cardiac death
- ✓ Multiple relatives with high cholesterol or blood pressure
Personal Risk Factors
- ✓ High blood pressure (even if controlled)
- ✓ High cholesterol
- ✓ Diabetes or prediabetes
- ✓ Overweight, especially abdominal fat
- ✓ History of smoking
Warning Signs (Often Ignored)
- ✓ Erectile dysfunction (first sign in men)
- ✓ PCOS (increases risk in women)
- ✓ Two or more miscarriages (75% higher risk)
- ✓ Migraines with aura (doubles stroke risk)
- ✓ Sleep apnea or gum disease
"Healthy" But Concerned
- ✓ You eat well and exercise but want to verify arterial health
- ✓ You've seen "healthy" friends have heart attacks
- ✓ You want to know your ACTUAL risk
- ✓ You believe in being proactive about health
Not sure if you need screening?
Book a call to discuss →About the BaleDoneen Method
The BaleDoneen Method was developed by Drs. Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen, pioneers in cardiovascular disease prevention. Their approach has been validated by peer-reviewed research, including studies at Johns Hopkins.
Key principles:
- 1. DETECT disease early — using arterial imaging and advanced labs
- 2. Identify ROOT CAUSES — inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, infections
- 3. PERSONALIZE treatment — based on your specific biology and risk factors
- 4. TRACK progress — repeat imaging to confirm disease is stabilizing or reversing
- 5. PREVENT events — the goal is zero heart attacks and strokes
The results speak for themselves: the BaleDoneen Method has offered a written guarantee since 2008. Despite treating hundreds of high-risk patients, they've given only 3 refunds — and all three patients continued treatment with them anyway.
Alexis Ammons, DNP is a proud graduate of the BaleDoneen Preceptorship, bringing this advanced cardiovascular prevention expertise to NOVA Wellness & Prevention.
The Heart-Hormone Connection
Here's something most providers miss: your hormones directly affect your cardiovascular health.
For Women
- • Estrogen is cardioprotective — declining estrogen at menopause increases heart disease risk
- • Properly timed hormone therapy can protect arterial health
- • PCOS dramatically increases cardiovascular risk (we treat the root cause)
For Men
- • Low testosterone is associated with HIGHER cardiovascular risk
- • Erectile dysfunction is often the first sign of arterial disease
- • Optimized hormones support healthy arterial function
At NOVA, we integrate cardiovascular prevention WITH hormone optimization. Most providers only do one or the other. We do both — because your heart and your hormones are connected.
Don't Wait for Symptoms
By the time you feel something, damage may already be done. Find out where you really stand.