Valley Health System has announced the launch of a Lipids and Cardiometabolic Disease Program, led by Waqas Malick.
The initiative will be focused on preventing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Malick explained how such conditions are preventable with the right treatment.
“Coronary heart disease and stroke are largely preventable conditions,” he said. “Our program empowers patients to take proactive steps to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. By partnering with each patient’s primary care provider, cardiologist, or endocrinologist, we develop a customized treatment plan tailored to their individual needs.”
Cardiometabolic disease encompasses a group of conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These include high blood pressure (hypertension); high cholesterol, including LDL, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a); insulin resistance and diabetes; and obesity. Lipids, which play an essential role in biological processes, are key targets for cardiovascular prevention and treatment.
As part of the program, patients undergo a comprehensive risk-factor assessment. Based on the findings, they may be prescribed medications to manage risk factors and receive guidance on lifestyle modifications.
In addition to traditional treatment approaches, the program offers therapeutics that help control cardiovascular risk. These new therapies include RNA interference therapies, which use synthetic, double-stranded RNA molecules to prevent the production of disease-causing proteins.
Valley welcomed Dr. Malick this fall. He takes a holistic approach to patient care, encouraging individuals to make sustainable lifestyle changes to prevent heart attacks and strokes. He specializes in cardiovascular disease prevention, familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disorder that causes high LDL levels), elevated lipoprotein(a), hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides), coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis, and statin intolerance.
