The Heart Health #3 Extreme includes the following:
Wellness Panel #2 Essential, a detailed assessment of overall health 55 separate laboratory tests including:
Lipid Panel With Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio
Cholesterol, Total—A sterol in the blood. Knowing your cholesterol could be as important as knowing your blood pressure. Elevated cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoproteins are thought to take cholesterol away from cells and transport it back to the liver for removal or processing. They are known as the "good" cholesterol as persons with high levels of HDL may have less heart disease. Low HDL may be the result of smoking and lack of exercise.
VLDL—Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) is one of three major lipoprotein particles, the other two are high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Each one of these particles contains a mixture of cholesterol, triglycerides, and protein, but in varying amounts unique to each type of particle.
LDL Cholesterol Low-density lipoproteins contain the highest percentage of cholesterol and could be responsible for depositing cholesterol on the artery walls. For that reason, they are known as "bad" cholesterol. Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio is calculated by dividing the total cholesterol by the HDL cholesterol. It is the ratio used by physicians in determining the relative risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
Triglycerides—Triglycerides are fat in the blood that are responsible for providing energy to the cells of the body. Triglycerides should be less than 400 mg/dl even when in a non-fasting state.
Thyroid Panel with Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - Critical to your metabolism, thyroid function affects your energy level, heart rate, weight control, plus more. The thyroid-stimulating hormone, which is produced in the pituitary gland, serves to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones. The TSH helps identify an underactive or overactive thyroid state. This comprehensive evaluation of your thyroid hormone levels includes: T-3 Uptake, T4, T7, and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential and Platelets: A complete blood count (CBC) gives important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC will help your health professional check symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising, you may have. A CBC also helps your health professional diagnose conditions, such as anemia, infection, and many other disorders.
Kidney Panel: Albumin, Calcium, Carbon Dioxide Total, Chloride, BUN, Creatinine, BUN/Creatinine Ratio, Phosphorus, Potassium Sodium
Diabetes: Glucose
Fluids and Electrolytes: Chloride Serum, Potassium, Sodium Serum, Carbon Dioxide
Mineral and Bone: Iron, Phosphorus, Calcium
Homocysteine: Homocysteine, an amino acid, plays a role in destroying the lining of your artery walls, promoting the formation of blood clots, and also accelerates the buildup of scar tissue. High levels of homocysteine may increase the chance of heart disease and stroke, especially if you have other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, or family history.
C-Reactive protein: A substance in the blood that indicates the presence of inflammation and may warn of a heart attack in advance. Elevated amounts of the protein in men can triple their risk for heart attack and double their risk for stroke, in women elevated amounts can increase their heart attack risk up to seven times. Cardio (also specific or high sensitivity) C-Reactive Protein is a marker of inflammation to the blood vessels and a good predictor of risk for future myocardial infarctions. Cardiovascular tests ordered may vary based on patient symptoms as well as family history.
Lipoprotein-assoc. Phos A2, PLAC Lp-PLA2 (the PLAC Test) is a vascular-specific inflammatory marker independent of other inflammatory markers and traditional risk factors. Unlike CRP,hs, Lp-PLA2 does not correlate with smoking status or BMI. The PLAC Test is the only bio marker that is FDA approved for is chemic stroke risk assessment. Other important facts:
- Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2)
- Enzyme not lipoprotein
- Circulates in blood primarily bound to LDL
- Produced and secreted by macrophages in circulation
- Proposed causal role in atherosclerosis, not just marker of disease
- Implicated in formation of vulnerable, rupture-prone plaque
- Generates pro-inflammatory mediators from oxLDL particles –lysophosphotidylcholine (lyso-PC) –oxidized fatty acid (OxFA)
NMR LipoProfile® is an advanced cardiovascular diagnostic test that uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to uniquely provide rapid, simultaneous and direct measurement of LDL particle number and size of LDL particles, as well as direct measurement of HDL and VLDL subclasses. This detailed lipoprotein particle information allows health professionals to make more effective individualized treatment decisions than previously possible based on standard lipid panel testing. The atherosclerotic culprit is LDL particle number, not LDL cholesterol.
The VAP Test uses an advanced technology that provides an accurate, individualized picture of heart disease risk, so health professionals may take steps to prevent future heart attacks. The VAP Expanded Lipid Profile measures basic information provided by the routine cholesterol test and also identifies hidden cholesterol problems that can increase the risk of developing heart disease-even if routine cholesterol test results are "normal." The VAP Test was named one of "Ten Ways to Live Longer" by Forbes.com, and selected as one of "Five Tests Worth Paying for" by The Wall Street Journal.