Physician Biography & Brief Interview; Practice Overview

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Arashvand’s education and experience coalesced into a simple, profound understanding: “Osteopathic philosophy taught me that the body has it is own inherent ability to heal itself, and my role is to aid the body through this process. Cardiology taught me that heart disease is both preventable and reversible.” This approach forms the foundation for treatment at the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology.

While completing her cardiology fellowship, Dr. Arashvand began to notice that modern medicine focuses most of its time and effort attending to those who are seriously ill, usually in the weeks and months preceding death or following a life-threatening cardiac event. (A 2002 study found that expenditures in the last year of life constituted 22% of all medical expenses.) “I found that too little was being done to prevent disease; most of the attention was paid to treating disease that had been progressing for years. It made me see that more could be done.” She began to pursue preventive cardiology, rather than the more traditional reactive approach.

A New Paradigm

Heart disease is a gradual progression. It can take decades for disease to escalate to the point that it manifests in a heart attack or stroke. But once it does, the effect is either permanent damage to the heart or brain or, in many cases, death. This doesn’t have to happen — heart disease is reversible. At least 80% of all coronary artery disease can be eliminated through prevention, saving 200,000 lives annually. It’s this fundamental understanding that drives Dr. Arashvand and motivates her work.

She believes that the traditional approach, focused primarily on responding to cardiac events once they occur, needs to change. “I came to the revelation that heart disease is reversible: not only preventable but reversible. Because traditional health care does too little to encourage the meaningful changes in patients’ lives that I knew were possible, I decided to open the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology. This will allow me time with each of my patients to produce measurable results in the prevention and reversal of heart disease.”

Dr. Arashvand’s practice is an innovative addition to the Austin medical scene. She is the first physician in Austin and among the first in Texas to offer non-invasive endothelial analysis using the EndoPAT. Her practice is comprehensive and holistic. Each patient receives a complete, tailored plan that addresses individual needs and preferences. Her practice isn’t focused on metrics and statistics; it’s a practice of relationships. “I am excited to provide this level of care to my patients and look forward to being an asset in their lives.”

If you are interested in learning more about your real risk for heart disease and how to make changes in your life that can transform your health, contact the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology, where the practice of medicine meets the practice of life.

Credentials

Dr. Arashvand, DO graduated with honors from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas in 2003, then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006, and her cardiology fellowship from Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography, and a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Cardiology. Her primary specialties are preventive cardiology, lipids, metabolism, and heart disease in women.

Addressing a Systemic Problem

Modern cardiology is largely reactive. A patient visits a family doctor for a routine physical or unrelated condition and discovers she has a poor lipid profile or high blood pressure. If the results are significant, she’ll probably get a prescription. But patients don’t usually see a cardiologist until their symptoms are severe or they have experienced some kind of cardiac event.

At this point, heart disease already exists and has been progressing for some time. Since heart disease is both preventable and reversible, why allow it to become a problem before creating a plan to address it? Translating this approach to infectious disease, it would be like allowing an infection to spread and endanger a patient’s life before providing antibiotics.

If we began to address heart disease earlier in the process, accurately assessing risk and crafting individualized programs that address the needs and unique challenges posed by each patient, how would things change? According to the CDC, it would prevent more than 200,000 deaths each year from heart disease and stroke. And we’re not just talking about the elderly — 60% of those deaths occur in people who are under 65.

Our Solution

There are better methods to assess coronary risk factors and allow for earlier intervention much sooner in a person’s life. Once we better understand individual risk we can create lifestyle modifications that greatly reduce the chance of heart disease and stroke.

Proper treatment and prevention of heart disease requires treating each person as a whole person -— their needs and wants, their family and work situations, even their feelings and beliefs must be considered. We craft programs that include every potential avenue to better health: what you do, what you eat, what you take and how you think.

At the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology, we see each patient as unique. We take the time to understand how your past created your current conditions, and we work with you to define a future that encompasses your preferences, goals and needs. Your journey to cardiovascular health does not have to follow a path you forge alone — we’ll be with you each step of the way.

If you are interested in learning more about your real risk for heart disease and how to make changes in your life that can transform your health, contact the Texas Center for Preventive Cardiology, where the practice of medicine meets the practice of life.