It is All in the Blood
If your doctor sends you for a lipoprotein panel blood test, they`re looking for clues in your blood regarding your cardiovascular health. A lipoprotein panel looks for specific things such as ``bad cholesterol`` (see our blog on cholesterol for definitions); if there are high levels of this, you are at an increased risk of a heart attack.
This type of blood test also determines how far along your atherosclerosis is. Atherosclerosis begins fairly early in life, with indicators occurring in a person`s 20s. Depending on your diet, lifestyle and exercise habits, atherosclerosis continues at various rates until it peaks in middle age. This is also known as hardening of the arteries and can also become a risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD) or claudication (cramping and or/ muscle pain). Your risk of developing plaque depends on the following risk factors: smoking, diet, triglycerides, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Though this is not the only tool your health professional uses to determine your risk for heart disease, it is an important one. If you have any of the risk factors listed above or a history of heart disease in your family, your doctor may ask for this test once a year to carefully monitor you. To learn more talk to your doctor and visit:www.heart.org
