Beyond the Basics: 8 Advanced Heart Tests That May Save Your Life
Heart disease remains America's number one killer, making routine blood pressure and cholesterol screenings essential for everyone. While traditional screenings offer a helpful snapshot, they don't always reveal the complete picture of your cardiovascular health.
For example, results from standard tests may look fine, but you may still have risk factors like a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes. And there’s this:
Nearly half of all people who experience heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels.
This is why advanced heart health screenings are important. Sophisticated screenings, such as those offered in the MDVIP Wellness Program, help detect issues associated with inflammation, cholesterol particle sizes and specific proteins that raise the risk of heart disease. Results help doctors uncover hidden problems that standard screenings often miss, enabling them to address concerns that may be key to preventing a heart attack or stroke. Here are eight advanced screenings that can make a difference in your health.
Advanced Tests Worth Understanding
There are many advanced screenings and tests available. However, let’s focus on a handful of the advanced heart health screenings your doctor may order.
Inflammation and Enzyme Markers
Inflammation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it helps fight germs, protecting your body from infections. It also cleans up wound-related debris, which helps your body heal after an injury.
However, sometimes your body becomes inflamed without an explanation. When it is, it can lead to chronic conditions. If your doctor suspects you have chronic inflammation or are at risk for an inflammation-related condition, they may order one or more of the following tests.
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP): detects inflammation caused by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein produced in the liver. If your results are positive, your doctor may order additional tests to rule out heart disease, autoimmune conditions and/or severe bacterial infection, such as sepsis. Take your hsCRP test results seriously. A higher reading suggests that you could have an intermediate risk of a cardiac event. Doctors rely on this test to help them identify patients with a 10 to 20 percent chance of a heart attack within the next decade. And if you’re a heart attack survivor, your doctor may find this test valuable for monitoring your risk for another one.
Myeloperoxidase (MPO): detects inflammation caused by MPO, an enzyme released by white blood cells in response to bacterial and fungal infections, inflammatory diseases and arterial damage. While MPO can help the immune system, it can also attack healthy cholesterol particles, causing them to adhere to the inner lining of blood vessel walls, form plaques and trigger inflammation. MPO tests help find inflammatory markers that can identify up to 40 percent more people at risk for heart attack or stroke, including those with normal cholesterol levels.
Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase Activity (Lp-PLA2): detects inflammation caused by Lp-PLA2, an enzyme produced by cells throughout your body, including blood vessels. It has a connection with low-density lipoproteins (better known as LDLs or bad cholesterol) and breaks down inflamed cholesterol plaques in blood vessel walls. Experts believe that higher Lp-PLA2 activity levels promote plaque formation, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. Monitoring Lp-PLA2 levels helps track inflammation in the body, particularly in relation to the heart and blood vessels.
The Apolipoprotein Family
You already know that it’s important to stay current with your routine cholesterol screenings. Measurements such as total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, HDL to LDL ratio and triglycerides help monitor your risk of heart disease and potential damage to blood vessels. However, apolipoproteins – a group of proteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body — are not included in standard cholesterol panels but are an important indicator of cardiovascular health. Here’s a breakdown of the apolipoprotein group:
Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1): measures the primary protein in "good" cholesterol (HDL). Low levels suggest higher heart disease risk and may be more predictive than standard cholesterol tests, especially for people with a family history of heart problems.
Apolipoprotein B (Apo B): measures the primary protein in "bad" cholesterol (LDL). This test is considered more accurate than standard cholesterol measurements because each Apo B particle carries exactly one bad lipoprotein molecule. Raised levels indicate increased risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a): measures an especially sticky type of bad cholesterol that accumulates on arterial walls, forming dangerous plaques. High Lp(a) levels are linked to coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and irregular heart rhythms. Doctors recommend this test for people under 65 who've had heart attacks, have a family history of early heart disease or whose cholesterol hasn't responded to statins.
Cholesterol Particle Size and Number Tests
LDL Particle Number (LDL-P): measures the size and density of LDL particles. Not all cholesterol particles were created the same. Small, dense LDL particles more easily embed themselves in arterial walls and circulate longer than large particles. You can have high numbers of these dangerous small particles even when your overall cholesterol appears healthy. This test is especially valuable if you have early-onset heart disease in your family, but your cholesterol is not significantly higher than normal.
Lipofraction NMR: measures both the number and size of LDL particles plus insulin resistance scores. It provides a more complete cardiovascular and metabolic risk assessment than standard screenings, making it useful for people with family history, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, borderline results or unexplained cardiovascular risk.
Taking Action
If you have risk factors for heart disease, but normal standard test results, don't assume you're in the clear. These advanced tests can uncover hidden dangers and provide the information your doctor needs to create a targeted prevention plan.
This is why physicians affiliated with MDVIP offer the MDVIP Wellness Program. This battery of advanced screenings for heart disease, such as these, plus tests for heart-health related issues, including diabetes, weight management, nutrition and fitness, sleep quality and sexual health. MDVIP-affiliated physicians like me use the results from these screenings to develop a personalized wellness program for each patient.
It’s also important to establish a strong relationship with your primary care physician. They need to understand your lifestyle and daily stresses, as well as your personal and family history. This is one reason why MDVIP-affiliated practices are much smaller than traditional primary care practices. Unhurried visits enable doctors to get to know you and your health history.
If you don’t have a primary care physician, consider joining an MDVIP-affiliated practice. MDVIP-affiliated physicians have more time to help you in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Find a physician near you and begin your partnership in health »