0
People die from heart disease in the U.S. each day.

Someone in the U.S. has a heart attack every
0 secs.

0%
of patients who have a heart attack or stroke have normal cholesterol levels.

Every year heart disease and stroke cost the nation over
$0 bil.

ABOUT HEART DISEASE

We all want to age well, but far too many young Americans are having heart attacks or strokes and many are life-ending events. In fact, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack every 43 seconds.

Heart disease and stroke are not only the leading causes of death but can make it impossible for some adults to return to work and enjoy their favorite activities. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are more people under age 65 who are dying from preventable heart disease and strokes than those who are older than 65 years. Once thought to be a “man’s disease”, heart attacks and strokes kill more women each year than the next four causes of death combined, including cancer.

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RISK

 
The inner lining of your arteries are damaged by things like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and poor lifestyle habits. This damage allows cholesterol in your blood to more easily enter the walls of your arteries, leading to disease.
The cholesterol injures the inside of the artery wall and your body tries to get rid of it in the same way it does a splinter in your finger. As you know, the inflammation that forms around the splinter can cause a painful, red sore. When cholesterol enters the wall of the artery, a sore forms inside the artery wall. When enough cholesterol accumulates, it may cause inflammation to the point it triggers a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor has probably tested your cholesterol levels to see if you are at a risk for a heart attack. If you have normal cholesterol levels you may assume you are not at risk for a heart attack or stroke. This is not always true. Approximately 50% of patients who experience a heart attack or stroke have normal cholesterol levels. So, what is driving these events to still happen? Researchers now understand that heart attacks and strokes happen because of inflammation in the artery. Measuring cholesterol without inflammation may only tell part of the story.

Cholesterol testing provides part of the picture. Inflammation testing helps provide a more complete picture of YOUR RISK for heart disease.

INFLAMMATION AND HEART DISEASE

Cleveland HeartLab’s inflammation tests can help YOU and your doctor have a better understanding of YOUR RISK of heart attack or stroke.

Watch the Know Your Risk Video™ to learn more about how simple blood and urine tests help doctors assess inflammation so they have a more complete picture of your individual risk for a heart attack and stroke. Understand how doctors identify which patient is at risk based on inflammation test results.

INFLAMMATION TESTING

Cholesterol testing provides part of the picture. Inflammation testing provides a more complete picture of YOUR RISK for heart disease.

Cleveland HeartLab offers simple blood and urine testing that provides you and your doctor information that may be used to help evaluate your risk for heart disease. These tests can be used alongside cholesterol testing to provide a more complete picture of YOUR RISK for heart disease.

artery wall
The following tests may help to identify your early risk for disease:
F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) is a 'lifestyle marker' that measures the amount of oxidation in your body that may damage your endothelium. Eating too much red meat, smoking or not exercising enough can increase your F2-Isoprostanes levels and increase your risk for future heart disease. Oxidized LDL (OxLDL) is a marker that measures the amount of LDL - or "bad cholesterol"- that has been damage due to oxidation. Poor lifestyle habits can increase your OxLDL levels and increase your risk for pre-diabetes.

artery wall section 2
The following tests may help to identify the presence of disease:
hsCRP is a general marker of inflammation. The presence of a cold may increase hsCRP levels over the short-term (days to weeks). However, the accumulation of cholesterol in the artery wall many result in increased hsCRP levels over the long-term (years to decades).
Urinary Microalbumin is a marker of endothelial damage in your kidneys. If the endothelium is damaged in your kidneys then it’s likely damaged in other parts of your body including your arteries. Increased levels of urinary microalbumin may identify the presence of diabetes or heart disease.


artery wall section 3

The following tests may help to identify active disease:

Lp-PLA2 Activity is a marker that measures the active build-up of cholesterol inside your artery walls. Your risk for a heart attack or stroke increase as Lp-PLA2 Activity levels increase.
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a marker that measures the body's response to a damaged endothelium that has become thinned, cracked and ultimately unstable due to cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. Your risk for a heart attack increases as your MPO levels increase.

F2-IsoPs

Information about the inflammation test for
F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs).

Microalbumin

Information about the inflammation test for
Urinary Microalbumin.

OxLDL

Information about the inflammation test for
Oxidized LDL (OxLDL).

MPO

Information about the inflammation test for Myeloperoxidase (MPO).

hsCRP

Information about the inflammation test for
High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP).

Lp-PLA2 Activity

Information about the inflammation
test for Lp-PLA2 Activity.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

 
Often the first symptom of
heart disease is a heart attack.

Ultrasound and imaging tests help doctors identify patients at risk for a heart attack but they cannot be done everywhere and are too expensive to be done on everyone. Fortunately there are new blood and urine tests that are easy to do in your doctor’s office. These simple tests can help you and your doctor know your risk for a heart attack or stroke. When you KNOW YOUR RISK of a heart attack or stroke, you can work with your doctor to REDUCE YOUR RISK.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has identified the following risk factors for developing heart disease.

Age – Your risk increases as you get older.
Gender – Men are at higher risk if over 45 years of age and women if over 55 years of age.
Family History – Your risk is higher if members of your family have had cardiovascular disease (heart attack, bypass surgery, a stent, or stroke) at a young age; before age 55 years for men or before age 65 years for women.
High Blood Pressure – Know your blood pressure. Ideally it should be less than 120/80 mm Hg when you are at rest, although somewhat higher levels are often OK with your doctor when you’re older.
High Blood Cholesterol – Your risk for heart attack is lower if your LDL-cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL and your non-HDL-cholesterol is less than 130 mg/dL.
Physical Inactivity – Sitting for long periods of time increases your risk. Even moving around for 5-10 minute periods throughout the day can lower heart attack risk.
Obesity and Overweight – Risk for disease is related to those extra pounds around your waist line. Losing 5-10% of your body weight reduces health risk.
Smoking – Research has shown that every 5 cigarettes a day smoked increases heart attack risk. Quitting smoking reduces heart attack risk immediately.
Diabetes – It is very important to KNOW your blood sugar level. Normal blood sugar levels are under 100 mg/dL.

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LOWER YOUR RISK NOW

What can I do to help lower my F2-IsoProstane levels?
You can make changes in your daily life which can lower your F2-IsoPs to safe levels.
Reducing the amount of red meat and increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat can help lower your F2-IsoPs levels. Adding one fish meal a week as part of a low-fat diet may also lower F2-IsoPs levels.
Your F2-IsoP levels may also be lowered by increasing the amount you exercise.
If you smoke, quitting will lower your F2-IsoPs levels.
What can I do to help lower my oxidized LDL levels?
Lifestyle changes are the best option to help lower your oxidized LDL levels.
If you smoke, ask your medical provider to help you quit.
Adjust your diet to include foods low in saturated fat and those with zero trans-fat. Fruits and vegetables are also great options as they contain antioxidants.
Talk with your medical provider about over-the-counter supplements containing antioxidants.
Increase your amount of physical activity.