Do you know that LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol has multiple subtypes of cholesterol.
That means that the standard test for cholesterol is inadequate when it comes to identifying how cholesterol affects your changes of having arterial disease.
Going by the standard cholesterol test is only 40 percent accurate in predicting heart attack risk.
Fortunately, they have new test that are available than can measure cholesterol subtypes.
Listed below is a rundown on the key cholesterol components that you need to watch: YOUR LDL COMPONENTS High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol are thought to increase the risk of heart attack, but up to a certain level, it's a really good guy.
LDL is a fatty substance produced in the liver and wrapped in a protein coating.
It performs absolutely essential services in the body as a raw material.
LDL converts enzymes into vitamin D, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol as steroid hormones, and the bile acids that are critical for proper digestion.
LDL is dangerous only when it is made up mostly of small dense particles, rather than large, fluffy, and more "buoyant" particles.
YOUR LDL SUBTYPE LP(a) LEVEL Your subtype of LDL called Lp(a) is the most dangerous for of cholesterol.
It's highly inflammatory and thrombotic, which means it causes blood clots.
When the Lp(a) increases abnormally high in the bloodstream, your risk for heart attack goes up 25 times.
Even persons who have normal cholesterol levels but high Lp(a) have cardiovascular disease.
That is why you hear of people with normal cholesterol have heart attacks and you wonder why.
The usual primary risk factor for high Lp(a) is genetic, and with a family history of cardiovascular disease.
When you go in for your yearly checkup, you should request that they test your Lp(a).
YOUR HDL (good) CHOLESTEROL SUBTYPES Your HDL (good) cholesterol has two subtypes, HDL1 and HDL2.
Both reduce cardiovascular risk, but HDL2 is far superior and provides more protection than HDL1.
IDL (INTERMEDIATE DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS) IDL is a type of blood fat that is an inherited independent risk factor for heart disease.
When the blood fat is extremely high, it is hard to separate the good from the bad in a blood test.
TRIGLYUCERIDE FRACTIONS When your test on a total triglyceride level is above 180, it was considered a risk.
Triglycerides are fat globules in the bloodstream.
The concentrated form of triglycerides creates the "love handles" around your midsection.
That is called heart attack roll.
There are different types of Triglycerides and the one to be most concerned about is the VLDL3, the most inflammatory triglyceride.
The VLDL3 is the prime indicator for the progression of coronary artery disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
When you have your cholesterol checked and your results shows a total to be 271, your LDL 165 (example) and the doctor wants you to take a statin cholesterol medication, have the doctors office to do a VAP test first.
VAP is short for vertical auto profile.
If a doctor wants you to take a statin product, first try some natural supplements.
Statin medicines deplete your body of CoQ10 and drives up Lp(a).
The recommended natural supplements are niacin, nattokinase, and fish oil.
ANOTHER TESTING OPTION: THE LLP Recently a new test and better test has emerged.
It's called Lipoprotein Particle Profile (LPP).
LLP test allows for more precise measurements, because it can measure remnant lipoprotein (RLP).
To date, no other test has been able to single out this type of cholesterol.
To understand the importance for the RLP test, you have to remember how arterial plaque forms.
When LDL cholesterol penetrates the endothelial wall to make repairs, it can become oxidized.
Once it oxidizes, it starts the inflammatory process, calcifies and eventually becomes part of plaque.
RLP works the same way, except it doesn't oxidize.
It enters the endothelium and begins contributing to the inflammatory process.