Cardiac Check-in! Labs To Know
On our recent podcast, Dr. Columbus Batiste provided a list of labs that you can request to better understand your cardiac health.
What they are and what they mean:
Blood pressure: Measures the force of blood against artery walls, with readings given as systolic (pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic (pressure between beats). High blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage, while low blood pressure (hypotension) may cause dizziness or fainting.
A1C: Reflects average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, making it a key test for diagnosing and managing diabetes. A higher A1C indicates elevated blood glucose over time and increased risk of complications like nerve damage and cardiovascular disease.
ApoB (Apolipoprotein B) : Measures the number of LDL and other harmful cholesterol-carrying particles in the blood, providing a more accurate risk assessment for heart disease than LDL alone. Elevated ApoB levels indicate a higher likelihood of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Lipoprotein A: A genetically influenced type of LDL cholesterol that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. High levels are associated with a greater likelihood of plaque buildup in arteries, independent of traditional cholesterol markers.
CRP (C-Reactive Protein): A marker of inflammation in the body, with elevated levels suggesting an increased risk of heart disease, infections, or chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) is often used to assess cardiovascular risk.
LDL: Often referred to as “bad cholesterol,” LDL carries cholesterol to the arteries, where it can form plaques and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Lowering LDL through diet, exercise, or medication helps reduce cardiovascular risk.
Low density lipoprotein C: This measures the amount of cholesterol carried by LDL particles in the blood. While commonly used in lipid panels, it does not account for the number of LDL particles (which ApoB measures) and may underestimate cardiovascular risk in some cases.