Up to 50% of people who have suffered a heart attack had “normal” cholesterol levels, according to standard cholesterol tests. Fortunately, now there is technology that was developed at Texas A&M University and offered by SpectraCell Laboratories called LPP™ (Lipoprotein Particle Profile) that will measure true risk by looking at a more accurate predictor of heart disease – the actual lipoproteins. Cholesterol is a necessary nutrient, needed for healthy cell membranes. It is carried throughout the body by sphere-shaped particles called lipoproteins, which are classified according to their relative size and density. It is these lipoprotein particles, not the cholesterol in them, that cause heart disease. This is because these lipoproteins can infiltrate the arterial lining of your blood vessels, resulting in dangerous plaque formation, also known as atherosclerosis. There are several types of lipoproteins, and even different types of LDL and HDL and some are much more dangerous than others. This is why standard cholesterol testing misses many patients that are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Most insurances cover this test for a nominal co-pay at the time of testing, so ask your doctor about doing the LPP™ test to accurately assess your risk and determine how to lower your risk of the nation’s #1 killer, cardiovascular disease.
