Combat cardiovascular disease by focusing on PREVENTION
While routine lipid screening plays an important role in cardiovascular risk assessment it does not provide a complete picture of your health. In fact, nearly 50% of all heart attacks and strokes occur in patients with ‘normal’ cholesterol levels. Recent evidence goes beyond lipids to suggest that inflammation within the artery wall is the primary contributor to this residual risk for heart attack and stroke. Inflammation contributes to both vulnerable plaque formation and to plaque rupture.
Inflammation can be easily measured with advanced testing that assesses a patient’s inflammatory state and cardiovascular risk. Monitoring their inflammatory status may allow you to catch the beginning, or even treat advanced stages of inflammation, in an effort to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Are you at higher risk for heart disease?
The American Heart Association (AHA) has identified the following risk factors for developing heart disease.
- Age – Your risk increases as you get older.
- Gender – Men are at higher risk if over 45 years of age and women if over 55 years of age.
- Family History – Your risk is higher if members of your family have had cardiovascular disease (heart attack, bypass surgery, a stent, or stroke) at a young age; before age 55 years for men or before age 65 years for women.
- High Blood Pressure – Know your blood pressure. Ideally it should be less than 120/80 mm Hg when you are at rest, although somewhat higher levels are often OK with your doctor when you’re older.
- High Blood Cholesterol – Your risk for heart attack is lower if your LDL-cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL and your non-HDL-cholesterol is less than 130 mg/dL.
- Physical Inactivity – Sitting for long periods of time increases your risk. Even moving around for 5-10 minute periods throughout the day can lower heart attack risk.
- Obesity and Overweight – Risk for disease is related to those extra pounds around your waist line. Losing 5-10% of your body weight reduces health risk.
- Smoking – Research has shown that every 5 cigarettes a day smoked increases heart attack risk. Quitting smoking reduces heart attack risk immediately.
- Diabetes – It is very important to KNOW your blood sugar level. Normal blood sugar levels are under 100 mg/dL.
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LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS:
Cardio IQ Lipofraction Testing (see sample report) Lp(a)-P Homocysteine Myeloperoxidase ABS Hemoglobin A1c Fasting glucose (blood sugar) Fasting insulin level Liver function assessment Renal (kidney) function assessment Electrolytes Sex hormone levels- testosterone, estrogen Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) Vitamin D Vitamin B12 Complete blood count with platelets Thyroid function panel |
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT:
Vital signs:
Biometric analysis to measure:
Body mass index (BMI) calculation |
CardioIQ lipofraction (sample report)
