CALGARY, Jan. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - The HeartFit Clinic introduces this new cholesterol test so that people can truly understand their cardiovascular risk and make the necessary changes to lower particle size cholesterol, and prevent and reverse heart disease.
February is heart month and heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, yet, the number one preventable disease. Standard Cholesterol Testing has been for 40 years and only gives part of the picture, leaving many people with "normal" cholesterol numbers unaware that they are still at risk for a heart attack. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) introduced new risk factors that are responsible for many individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. These risk factors can only be identified with a particle size test.
According to the NCEP guidelines, over 50% of people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels. Over 75% of patients with heart attacks fell within current guideline-recommended targets for LDL as measured by basic cholesterol panels.
Cholesterol is carried throughout the body in little balls called lipoproteins. It is the lipoproteins, not the cholesterol in them that leads to clogging of the arteries.
"Getting a cholesterol test is like a coin flip. Modern day medicine is a lot better than that." Says Dr. Iyer, Medical Director of Better Health. It is important to know the size of cholesterol so doctors can determine the best course of treatment. Not all bad cholesterol is bad. This is vital knowledge especially for individuals who have no heart disease but are taking a cholesterol lowering drug, like a statin.
"We all have good intentions but it is important to truly understand cardiovascular risk to make the necessary changes to prevent and reverse heart disease." Says Diamond Fernandes, Director of Heart Fit Clinic. Once people truly understand their cardiovascular risk they can take the proper precautions to then reverse this risk.
How can the large discrepancy between accurate diagnosis and standard cholesterol testing be prevented? This can be done by simply testing the LDL and HDL particle numbers and size, a test that is unfortunately not done at your doctor's office.
HeartFit Clinic is Calgary's centre for heart health. For more information please visit http://HeartFitClinic.com.
Image with caption: "New Cholesterol Test That Will Uncover Hidden Heart Attack Risk (CNW Group/Heart Fit Clinic)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140128_C5504_PHOTO_EN_35937.jpg
SOURCE: Heart Fit Clinic
Contact: Diamond Fernandes
Phone: 403-870-4348
[email protected]
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