February is American Heart month. Despite advances in treatment, coronary heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans in both men and women.

There are over 1.5 million heart attacks per year and at least one-third of patients will die before reaching the hospital, often because if the heart muscle is starved for blood, the heart goes into a dangerous rhythm that leads rapidly to death.

That is why, every year at this time, everyone is reminded about cardiovascular disease, specifically coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Patients must understand their individual risk for developing this disease and...