Coronary heart disease is the single major cause of death in the United States. But experts say that heart attack prevention is as easy as A-B-C – Avoid tobacco, Become more active and Choose good nutrition.

Board-certified cardiologist Dr. Herbert Ladley will discuss simple lifestyle changes to improve your heart health during a lunchtime talk Friday, Feb. 27, at the Everett and Carolyn Coolidge Volunteer Conference Center at Takoma Regional Hospital.

A heart-healthy lunch by local caterer Deidra Haruff will be served at 11:30 a.m., and Dr. Ladley’s presentation begins at noon.

Dr. Ladley is president of Cardiovascular Associates and serves as medical director of cardiac services at Holston Valley Medical Center.

“Tennessee has the second highest mortality rate for cardiovascular disease in the United States,” Dr. Ladley said. “This is because of our heavy tobacco use and obesity due to diet.”

Dr. Ladley also will discuss the latest technology in heart disease identification and prevention, including cardiac calcium scoring. Calcium scoring uses a special X-ray test called computed tomography to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the arteries of the heart. The test can check for heart disease in the early stages and determine how severe it is.

A fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Ladley graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed his internship and residency at the University of Florida. He also completed a cardiology fellowship at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Dr. Ladley is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.

Dr. Ladley’s Greeneville office is located in Suite 201 on the second floor of the Takoma Medical Office Building at the corner of East Vann Road and Takoma Avenue. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-322-4124.

The cost is $6, which includes lunch. Parking is now readily available on both sides of the conference center, located at the corner of Takoma Avenue and Coolidge Street.. To register, please call 798-8110. Seating is limited.