Ask the Doctor :: What lab tests are best to determine my heart health?

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Ask the Doctor:

Question: I’m thinking I should talk to my doctor about my heart. Do you recommend any labs I might ask to be done?

Below are a  few lab tests that I suggest to my patients; however, but I always remind my patients  that blood tests are not the determining factors for your risk of heart disease – your lifestyle habits are equally as important at if not more important, so be sure to talk to your doctor about optimizing your everyday health.

On a side note: I usually encourage my patients to do yearly lab work that covers the basics- complete blood count,  chemistry screen with blood sugar and lipids  – which will give a good picture of how your body is functioning. Each new result will allow your doctor to compare with the earlier years  and determine if something looks suspicious.

C- reactive protein

This protein is produced in your liver in times of inflammation, injury or infection. The reason that it is an important marker in heart disease is that inflammation plays a large role in the development of the fatty deposits that may occur in your arteries (atherosclerosis).

Homocysteine

In order for the body to make proteins, strengthen and build tissue, it needs the substance, homocysteine. When there is too much homocysteine in your body, the risk of stroke and other diseases of the blood vessels may be increased.

Fibrinogin

Fibrinogin is a protein found in the blood that aids platelets in forming blood clots (scabs – watch Pearl’s video below on how scabs are formed). When levels are high, it may indicate the possibility of vascular disease or heart attack.

Be well,

dr.heather