Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.

Podcast Episode Summary

Introduction

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts this episode focused on advanced imaging technologies used to visualize arterial plaque. With heart disease claiming a life every 20 minutes in Australia, Bishop aims to educate listeners on how modern medical imaging can detect and understand plaque characteristics before cardiac events occur.

Key Takeaways:

• Cardiac CT imaging is a non-invasive, external technology that effectively visualizes plaque in arteries before a person experiences a heart attack or cardiac event.

• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) uses high-frequency sound waves advanced down a thin wire to obtain detailed images of plaque from inside the artery.

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an alternative technology that uses light instead of ultrasound to examine arteries and plaque characteristics with similar precision.

• Both IVUS and OCT allow cardiologists to visualize plaque composition, fibrous caps, calcification, and stability features to determine rupture risk.

• The "magic number" for LDL cholesterol is 1.4 millimoles per litre—achieving this level triggers plaque regression in over 50% of patients, as demonstrated by landmark studies (ASTEROID and Glargov).

• These invasive imaging technologies are primarily used clinically to guide stent placement and in research settings, not for routine screening of healthy individuals.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated with IVUS and OCT to improve interpretation and analysis of arterial imaging data.

• Most heart attacks in Australia could be prevented with proper knowledge and prevention strategies regarding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol management.