Heart Disease: Beyond Blood Test Results

摘要

Heart disease risk is primarily calculated based on how much total cholesterol is circulating in the blood. This is one indicator of risk, but isolated results can be misleading and detrimental to long-term health. Understanding nuances in cholesterol testing can help a patient construct a conversation with their doctor that sheds light on individual risks beyond the standard blood test results.One of the main ways the medical community determines heart disease risk is by a blood test that calculates how much cholesterol resides in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance made up of particles of various sizes and densities. These molecules also perform a multitude of critical jobs in the body. Having too much cholesterol can be detrimental, but so can having too little. The main concern of health experts is that certain cholesterol particles can hinder blood flow to the heart causing deterioration.