The Importance of Screening Your Inflammation Level

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Blood pressure screenings and cholesterol blood tests are usually used to identify your risk of developing heart disease. This is nothing new – heart disease has been identified as a major public health problem for the past 80 years. 
 

What is new is how we’re trying to prevent it. Since about half of heart attacks in the United States occur in people with normal cholesterol levels, we’re focusing on more than just cholesterol levels — we’re also looking at inflammation, particularly since it’s involved in all stages of heart disease development. 
 

The MDVIP Wellness Program uses a couple of tests to gauge inflammation levels. One is the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test. This advanced test measures very small amounts of C-reactive protein, a substance the liver produces in response to inflammation. Unlike a standard CRP test, the hs-CRP test can detect low-grade, chronic inflammation that may not cause symptoms but can contribute to cardiovascular diseases and events such as coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. 
 

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels also may be measured as part of the MDVIP Wellness Program. MPO is an enzyme that kills harmful bacteria. MPO is beneficial if you smoke, have high blood pressure or have high blood sugar, because all three inflame the arteries and damage the inner lining, known as the endothelium. Once damaged, it’s easier for LDL (bad cholesterol) particles to enter the endothelium, accumulate in the arterial wall and develop into plaque, impeding the artery. Your body tries removing cholesterol from the arteries by signaling white blood cells to enter the vessel and release MPO.

 
But there’s a downside. Increased MPO activity and protein levels have been observed in many inflammatory conditions. MPO releases a bleach-like substance that erodes arterial walls, destabilizing arterial plaque and raising the risk of rupture. If the plaque ruptures, your body forms a clot to patch the area, which can impede blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke. It also reduces the effectiveness of HDLs (good cholesterol), raising the risk of arterial plaque build-up and interfering with blood flow. MPO removes nitric oxide, a chemical that helps lower blood pressure by allowing arteries to expand. Without nitric oxide, arteries stiffen, and the inflammation persists. This is why having a high MPO is considered a coronary artery disease risk factor, even in healthy people who do not have any other heart disease risk factors.

Results from these tests can help doctors lower their patients’ risk of heart disease by prescribing medication, recommending lifestyle changes and referring to specialists. Here’s one example.

I’ve been a patient of Dr. John H. Mitchell’s for more than 30 years. During that time, he recognized the development of heart disease. He gave me medication and prompted me to change my diet and to exercise. Now I'm approaching my 80s with a strong, healthy heart. My life has improved tremendously without the fear of an impending heart attack. A fear that was amplified by my father's death by heart attack when he was struck down at only 49 years old. I feel that Dr. Mitchell is more than my doctor; he's also a good friend. 
--Patient of John H. Mitchell, MD (Brea, CA)

If you’re concerned about your heart health, talk to your MDVIP-affiliated doctor about including inflammation tests with your annual MDVIP Wellness Program.