WORLD HEART DAY: Your Heart Health is Front & Center.
The Depressing Reality of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in North America. We all know that LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is called the “bad” cholesterol, while HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is known as the “good” cholesterol.
Understanding your test results from cholesterol tests, along with advanced heart tests, can help you stay proactive in preventing heart issues. Our goal is to support you by providing the right tools, information, and tips for a healthy heart. By focusing on these areas, we can help you lower the risk of conditions like blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
We aim to support you in your prevention journey by providing essential knowledge, resources, and strategies for maintaining heart health, ranging from cholesterol assessments to sophisticated cardiovascular evaluations. As World Heart Day on September 29 approaches, it’s a great time to think about heart health.
We can take steps to protect our heart and overall wellness. At AXIA®, we’re committed to staying on top of cutting-edge heart health research to help you make informed decisions about your health. From understanding the role of cholesterol tests to advanced cardiovascular testing, we want to join you on this journey to prevention by equipping you with the right tools, information, and longevity
Rethinking “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol
We’ve all heard of LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) being labeled as the “bad” cholesterol and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) as the “good” cholesterol. While it’s true that high HDL-C levels certainly help transport cholesterol away from the arteries, the conversation around cholesterol is more nuanced than we’ve been led to believe.
HDL is often seen as the “hero” because it helps move excess cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver for excretion. This is especially helpful when density lipoproteins (LDL) levels are high, as HDL assists in clearing out the cholesterol that could otherwise contribute to plaque buildup (and therefore increase your risk of heart attack and other heart problems). But there’s a catch. High HDL levels aren’t necessarily a sign of good heart health. When cholesterol levels—both LDL and HDL—are elevated, it can still indicate an overall imbalance and tells us that your risk is still higher than someone with “normal” or healthy cholesterol levels. In fact, studies have shown that having higher HDL-C is not actually preventing heart attacks or strokes in people with high cholesterol.
Therefore, our goal should be to maintain normal cholesterol levels across the board, rather than relying on HDL to counterbalance high LDL. Elevated cholesterol, regardless of type, can still increase your risk of coronary heart disease. That’s why comprehensive cholesterol tests are so important, going beyond standard panels to provide a deeper look at what’s happening in your body.
The Importance of ApoB
When it comes to understanding heart disease risk, focusing on LDL-C alone can miss the mark. ApoB, or apolipoprotein B, offers a more accurate picture. ApoB is a protein attached to LDL particles and other cholesterol-carrying particles in your bloodstream. The best way to describe it is that the higher your ApoB level, the more “packages” of cholesterol are circulating through your arteries, increasing the risk of plaque buildup and heart attack or stroke.
Here’s a simple analogy: if LDL-C represents the total amount of cargo (cholesterol) being transported, then ApoB represents the number of trucks (LDL particles) carrying that cargo. More trucks mean more opportunities for that cholesterol to clog up your arteries, even if the amount of cholesterol per truck (particle size) varies. This is why measuring ApoB is crucial for a complete understanding of your cardiovascular risk.
The Role of Inflammation
You cannot talk about heart health without talking about inflammation. A key player in heart disease risk is chronic inflammation, which silently damages your blood vessels over time. Inflammation roughens the lining of your arteries, making it easier for cholesterol to get stuck and form plaque. This process is a major contributor to atherosclerosis, the narrowing of arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
One of the best ways to detect inflammation is through blood tests that measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation. Elevated hs-CRP levels can indicate a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, even if your cholesterol levels fall within the normal range. We suggest testing hs-CRP routinely and keeping on top of the fluctuations in this lab, as it is crucial data on the journey to understanding your heart health and your risk of heart disease.
Advanced Testing We Recommend
Traditional cholesterol tests are useful, but they don’t always give you the full picture. That’s where advanced testing comes in. Here are two advanced tests we recommend looking into for a deeper picture of your heart health and disease risk:
- Lipoprotein(a) is a modified form of LDL with a unique structure that makes it stickier and more prone to causing blockages in your arteries. Elevated Lp(a) is primarily determined by our genetics and isn’t easily altered by diet or lifestyle, making it an important marker to test at least once in your life.
- Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score: This non-invasive test measures calcium buildup in your arteries, a hallmark of plaque formation. A high CAC score is a strong indicator of future cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes. The CT scan used to measure CAC does expose you to a small amount of radiation, but the benefits of understanding your risk for coronary heart disease far outweigh this exposure.
How AXIA Longevity Helps You Take Back Control
At AXIA, we believe in empowering you with the knowledge to take control of your heart health. Inspired by leading experts like Dr. Peter Attia, we advocate for a comprehensive, personalized assessment of your cardiovascular risk factors. Understanding your unique biomarker profile allows for targeted lifestyle changes that can help prevent heart disease before it becomes a problem.
Whether it’s adjusting your diet to lower ApoB, managing stress to reduce inflammation, or using advanced testing to catch potential issues early, taking a proactive approach can add years to your life—and life to your years. In addition to these crucial pillars of health and prevention, research around NAD+ boosters is booming, and we are on the edge of our seats with its potential to impact our heart health, too.
We all know that LDL-C, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is the “bad” cholesterol. HDL-C, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is known as the “good” cholesterol. In addition to focusing on cholesterol levels, inflammation, and advanced heart health testing, NAD+ boosters seem to have a potential role in promoting cardiovascular health. In case you need a refresher, NAD+ is a crucial coenzyme found in every cell of your body, and it plays a critical role in energy production, DNA repair, and cellular health. As we pass the age of 30, NAD+ levels rapidly decline, which can negatively impact numerous bodily functions, including our heart health.
How NAD+ Boosters Support Heart Health:
NAD+ is essential for maintaining the proper function of mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, which provide energy to fuel the heart’s constant work. As NAD+ levels drop with age, the mitochondria become less efficient, which may contribute to our risk for cardiovascular disease. By increasing NAD+ levels through supplementation of NAD+ precursors (or “boosters”), it’s possible to improve mitochondrial function and boost the energy available to our heart.
Adequate NAD+ levels enhance our cellular energy, reduce inflammation, improve our blood vessel health through the activation of sirtuins (proteins that help protect cells from damage), and prevent oxidative stress through its support of antioxidant enzymes.
At AXIA, our NAD+ booster, Cellenial, is designed to support optimal NAD+ levels, contributing to improved heart health and overall vitality. Incorporating NAD+ boosters into your daily routine could be a key part of a holistic approach to protecting your heart as you age.
Additionally, maintaining a diet low in saturated fat, staying physically active, and managing your weight loss goals can further reduce your risk for heart problems. Remember that some lifestyle changes can have side effects. It’s important to work with a healthcare provider when changing your diet and activity levels. The American Heart Association provides great resources on maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Ready for a deeper understanding of your cardiovascular health? Stay ahead of heart disease by keeping up to date with the newest research on aging and heart health from AXIA Longevity.
Your heart will thank you.
