Heart attack risk factors
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Unhealthy “good” and “bad” cholesterol ratios increases risk by 4X
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Diabetes increases risk 4X for women and 2X for men
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Hypertension increases risk 2X for women and 3X for men
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Stress and depression increase the risk by almost 3X
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Obesity increases risk by greater than 2X
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Lack of exercise increases the risk by approximately 20%
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Smoking increases the risk 2-3X
A healthy diet decreases the risk almost 30%
Source: National Geographic February 2007
At this office, we are firm believers in total health care. That means helping you to achieve your health and performance goals through exercise, stretching, joint manipulation and mobilization, muscle activation and relaxation techniques, lifestyle modification, and nutritional counseling.
Understanding your risk for heart and vascular disease is an integral part of your total picture of health. Many problems with blood sugar imbalance and blood lipid levels can be managed effectively with lifestyle modification, aerobic exercise and nutritional supplementation, rather than with dangerous statin drugs.
We offer in house blood lipid/cholesterol testing with a state of the art Cholestech LDX© blood lipid analyzer. This unit is used in hospitals and medical centers throughout the country. This is one of the few units which allow the physician to be in control of all phases of quality control (calibration, optics testing, controls, etc), ensuring the highest quality results each time a test is performed. An additional benefit is the added ease and convenience of having your results in 5 minutes and the ability to perform retests at any time.
We are able to test the following parameters: Total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, TC/HDL ratio, cardiovascular risk factors, AST/ALT and fasting blood glucose.
We offer a lifestyles consultation which includes a fasting blood glucose and complete lipid profile with one of the doctors reviewing your blood lipid results, suggestions for lifestyle modification, exercise, nutritional and supplement recommendations. The consultation is approximately 45 minutes and costs $125. A portion of this may be reimbursable by your health insurance.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEST RESULTS
A lipid profile is a detailed measure of the fats in your blood. It consists of measuring your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides and calculating your LDL cholesterol. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) ATP III Guidelines (a study by a panel of medical experts) recommends a complete lipid profile as the initial test. If lipid values are abnormal, test every 6 weeks until goals are met and every 4-6 months thereafter.
Cholesterol is one of several components that form your lipid profile. Total Cholesterol (TC) is a measure of the total amount of both “good” and “bad” cholesterol in your blood at a given time.
The “good” cholesterol or High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol carries excess cholesterol away from your arteries. The higher your HDL, the better. An HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is beneficial and considered protective against heart disease. An HDL less that 40mg/dL is considered a risk factor for heart disease.
A TC/HDL Ratio is total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol. Some health care providers may use this ratio to assess heart disease risk. Lower ratios are associated with lower risk.
Non-HDL is calculated as total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. The NCEP ATP III recognizes non-HDL as a secondary target of therapy in persons with high triglycerides (>200mg/dL).
The “bad” cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol contributes to the buildup of fatty plaque deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis).
Plaque can restrict blood and oxygen flow, causing either a heart attack or stroke. About 65% of the cholesterol in your blood is LDL. The primary target of the NCEP Program’s Guidelines is to control LDL levels.
Depending on your LDL levels and other risk factors, we will determine the appropriate heart disease prevention plan for you, and make the appropriate referral to another physician if necessary. If you have a low risk of developing heart disease, and LDL of less than 130 mg/dL is desirable. If you have a personal history of heart disease or diabetes, or if you have multiple risk factors, your LDL should be below 100 mg/dL.
Triglycerides (TRG) are composed of fatty acids and glycerol. Like cholesterol, they circulate in your blood, but are stored in body fat and used when the body needs extra energy. After eating, your triglycerides increase significantly. If your body processes the fat efficiently, the level of triglycerides will decrease naturally. Your fasting triglyceride level should be below 150 mg/dL.
Glucose (GLU) is a measure of your blood sugar level, which can determine your risk for diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin – the hormone needed to convert food into energy. Diabetes is a major risk factor for strike, peripheral arterial disease and heart disease. Fasting glucose levels should be below 100 mg/dL. Pre-diabetes occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, but can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes.
If you have had blood work done elsewhere, we encourage you to share your results with one of our doctors. They will carefully examine your results to assess your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Other risk factors will be considered including age, family history, blood pressure, smoking status, weight, exercise level and stress level.
This information is for reference only. Please ask one of our doctors if you have additional questions.
Blood Test Results Ranges
Total Cholesterol
<200 mg/dL Desirable
200-239 mg/dL Borderline high
≥ 240 mg/dL High
HDL Cholesterol
<40 mg/dL Risk factor for heart disease
≥60 mg/dL Protective against heart disease
LDL Cholesterol
<100mg/dL Optimal
100-129 mg/dL Near Optimal/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL Borderline High
160-189 mg/dL High
≥500 mg/dL Very High
Triglycerides
<150 mg/dL Normal
150-199 mg/dL Borderline High
200-499 mg/dL High
≥500 mg/dL Very High
Glucose Level
<100 mg/dL Normal
100-125 mg/dL Pre-diabetes
≥126 mg/dL Diabetes
1.NCEP ATP III Guidelines (2002)
2.American Diabetes Association (2005)
3.American Heart Association/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003)