1 out of every 3 deaths is caused by coronary heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Take action against the risk for CVD—by addressing inflammation. Measuring inflammatory biomarkers in addition to lipid levels can point to a range of treatments, depending on the inflammation panel results.
There are many different Quest Cardio IQ tests
that you can order on your behalf. You and your doctor can then
use the results to better understand your heart health and come up with
the best treatment plan for you. Learn more about each type of Quest Cardio IQ test by choosing a link below. Lipid Panel LDL-C: Martin-Hopkins Calculation Lipoprotein Subfractionation NMR Lipoprofile: Advanvced Lipid Panel Inflammation Biomarkers: Microalbumin CRP Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Fibrinogen
Metabolic Markers: Hemoglobin A1c Glucose Insulin Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids, Plasma Vitamin D25-OH
Lipid Panels Lipids are directly linked to the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Lipid panels measure the levels of HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. LDL-C: Martin-Hopkins Calculation The
Martin-Hopkins Calculation for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) gives doctors
more accurate information with which to manage heart health, and fasting
is not required. Quest Diagnostics is the first U.S. diagnostic
laboratory to measure all LDL-C with this new assessment method. Read more. Lipoprotein Subfractionation Lipoproteins
carry fats and cholesterol. Lipoprotein Subfraction measures the levels
and types of lipoproteins in the blood to uncover risks that are linked
to heart disease. -
Lipid Subfractionation by Ion Mobility This
test separates, counts, and measures the particles that make up LDL-C
and HDL-C. A high number of small and medium LDL particles indicates an
increased risk of heart disease. A low number of large HDL particles
indicates an increased risk of heart disease. These
numbers can potentially be improved by lifestyle changes, in conjunction
with certain medications such as statins, niacin, or fibrates. Apolipoproteins Apolipoproteins
bind lipids (or fats) together to carry them through the blood system.
Some of the lipids carried by apolipoproteins include cholesterol and
triglycerides, which makes this test helpful in determining heart
disease risk. -
ApoB This test
measures the levels of ApoB, a type of apolipoprotein that clogs
arteries. High levels of ApoB are linked to a greater risk of heart
disease. The level can be decreased by eating a healthy diet, exercising more, losing weight, and taking certain medications. -
Lp(a) This
test determines your blood levels of Lp(a), a combination of
apolipoproteins and a lipoprotein. High levels are linked to heart
disease and stroke. These levels may be influenced by genetics. Diet and exercise don’t seem to help lower them, but certain medications do. Inflammatory markers in cardiovascular health: a quick overview
40 years ago Drs. Ross and Glomset published their groundbreaking “response-to-injury” hypothesis, bringing to light the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their work revealed that atherosclerosis is initiated through injury and propagated through inflammation. Several studies have since supported the hypothesis that inflammation is a driver of atherosclerosis.
- Despite these findings, the medical community has generally continued to rely on lipid testing to monitor elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
- Yet, roughly 50% of heart attacks and strokes occur in patients with “normal” cholesterol levels.
- Injury, or the infiltration of LDL particles into the arterial wall, is only part of the CVD story—and as the statistic to the right indicates, assessing only lipids may fail to fully identify a patient’s risk for adverse cardiac events.
When
the inner lining of your arteries become damaged by diabetes, smoking,
high blood pressure, and lifestyle habits, the cholesterol in your blood
enters the artery walls more easily. This causes injury to the artery
walls and they become inflamed. Inflammation biomarkers examine
the severity of atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disease in which
cholesterol, fats, and other substances in your arteries build up over
time to form plaque. -
Microalbumin This
test detects the levels of the very small (micro) elevations of albumin
in your urine. Albumin is a protein normally found in your blood, but
not normally found in urine. If microalbumin is present in your urine,
it may signify that your kidneys and arteries are damaged. Your
doctor may want to check your microalbumin level if you have risk
factors for heart attack, such as smoking, high blood pressure, high
blood sugar, or high cholesterol levels. Changes to your
diet and exercise can help lower your microalbumin levels. If you smoke,
your doctor can help with programs or products to help you quit. -
hsCRP (C-Reactive Protein) C-reactive
protein (CRP) is made by the liver when inflammation is present
somewhere in your body. A regular CRP test is often used to help your
doctor find out if you have an infection. A “high sensitivity,” or “hs,”
version of the CRP blood test measures extremely low levels of CRP
that usual tests can miss. Studies have shown that very low
levels of inflammation in the blood vessels over a long period of time
can be a warning sign of more advanced stage of heart disease. When this
high-sensitivity test detects moderately elevated CRP, it reveals the
inflammation associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery
disease. hsCRP can be elevated when you have an
infection, so be sure any known infection is treated and cured. If you
smoke, stop. Certain medications and heart-healthy foods have
anti-inflammatory benefits as well. -
Fibrinogen A
Fibrinogren test looks at the levels of this protein in your blood.
Fibrinogen is a part of the blood’s clotting process that can be
elevated due to inflammation. Continually high levels of fibrinogen are
linked to increased risk of heart disease. Fibrinogen levels can be lowered by stopping smoking and losing excessive body fat.
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