This year there will be 2 million heart attacks and strokes. Few people realize two facts about this disheartening statistic: 75% of these are first-ever events. No prior warning, no chance to avoid them and a significant risk of death More important is the fact that almost all of these tragedies are avoidable. Simple lifestyle changes and sometimes medicines can greatly reduce the chance that this will ever happen in a person’s lifetime. The problem is identifying people as at risk before they become patients. For over three decades we have been using simple screening CT scans (Coronary Calcium Score) and vascular ultrasound to diagnose subclinical atherosclerosis in people so that they will recognize they are at risk and can get the help they need to before a future stroke or heart attack. We now advocate a nutritional therapy program consisting of a whole food plant based diet as the centerpiece of our treatment approach.