Functional Medicine Testing for Heart Health
Happy Valentine’s Day! Just as the theme of the holiday suggests, it’s all about the heart. With heart disease being the number one cause of health related deaths in the United States, the role of prevention cannot be underscored enough. Along with diet, lifestyle and addressing nutritional deficiencies, both routine and advanced cardiovascular testing (available via functional medicine providers) can help
Routine Heart Health Panels:
Total Cholesterol: Total serum cholesterol analysis is useful in the diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, hepatic and thyroid diseases, as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
LDL Cholesterol: This is low density lipoprotein is the “bad” cholesterol. Even within the normal range of total cholesterol concentrations, an increase in LDL cholesterol can produce an associated increased risk for cardiovascular disease. LDL cholesterol binds to receptor sites on macrophages in blood vessel walls inciting several changes to the blood wall which enhance atherosclerotic plaque development.
HDL: HDL (the “healthy” or “good” cholesterol) is inversely related to the risk for cardiovascular disease. It increases following regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, as well as treatment using oral estrogen.
Triglycerides (TAG’s): Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in your blood. Your body makes triglycerides or gets them from the foods you eat. Your body needs some triglycerides for good health. However, high triglycerides in your blood can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. Research suggests that excess calories, alcohol or sugar are converted to TAG’s and stored in the body.
LDL to HDL Ratio: A measure of LDL vs. HLD lipids in the blood. LDL is often considered “bad” cholesterol and HDL is “good” cholesterol. Since LDL is associated with arterial wall damage and HDL is considered protective, it is best to have a lower LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio.
Some Markers on Advanced Cardiovascular Panels:
Homocysteine: A marker that looks risk factors for heart attack or stroke. It may be useful for someone who has a family history of coronary artery disease but no other known risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, or obesity. It may additionally be an early indicator of Vitamin B12 and Folate deficiency, even before those tests show abnormal results.
sdLDL: Small dense low-density lipoprotein transports cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the body. The smaller the particles, the more likely it is that they will get “stuck” in the artery wall, thus forming a build-up. A high result may indicate that a patient is at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Lp (a): Elevated Lp(a) is an inherited condition that increases the risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and vascular disease. Lp(a) is very resistant to treatment and it is important to aggressively treat all associated atherogenic lipoprotein abnormalities.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that the liver makes when there is inflammation in the body. While inflammation is a way for the body to protect itself from injuries or infections, and inflammation, excessive inflammation has been linked to heart disease as well as various other chronic illnesses
Omega 3 to Omega 6 Ratio: Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with a double bond (C=C) at the third carbon atom from the end of the carbon chain. The American Heart Association and the European Society for Cardiology recommend dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. In contrast to omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids (eg, arachidonic acid [AA]) and their metabolites are more proinflammatory than anti-inflammatory.
Wishing you all the best in health this Valentine’s Day.
Sources:
https://www.vibrant-america.com/cardiovascular-health/
https://www.clevelandheartlab.com/providers/the-science/
