If you answer “yes” to
any of the questions below, you will benefit from making an
appointment with us.
Controlling carbohydrate intake can significantly decrease triglycerides,
aids in weight loss and helps decrease blood pressure. Balancing
healthy fats, avoiding trans-fats along with consuming adequate
fiber and exercise can decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase
HDL (good cholesterol). However, these are not the only factors
involved in good heart care.
A comprehensive blood work-up helps in the early detection and
prevention of heart disease and should include a breakdown of
HDL and LDL into sub particles*, homocysteine, lipoprotein a,
C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin
levels. An electrocardiogram (EKG) and a non-invasive heart scan
also helps to give a more complete picture of heart health.
* Individuals with increased amounts of small dense LDL sub particles
and low levels of HDL 2b sub particles are at a higher risk of
heart disease than individuals with large LDL sub particles and
higher levels of HDL 2b sub particles.