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Cholesterol and Lipid ScreeningSince our health is our most important asset, it is essential that we be as informed as possible when it comes to the things that can affect it. Most of us have a general awareness of what is good for us and what is not, but when it comes to food, our understanding sometimes becomes hazy. With so many studies giving us conflicting information about the types of foods we should consume, it is often difficult to differentiate between what we should eat and what we should stay away from. Most people know that they should not consume high quantities of cholesterol, but many are not familiar with the effects cholesterol can have on their bodies. The idea that cholesterol causes heart disease is a common misconception; in reality, lipoproteins are the culprit behind this devastating disease. Our Concierge Medical Practices provide patients with the NMR LipoProfile, the most sophisticated way to assess a patient’s risk of heart disease.In order to dispel the myth that there is a direct correlation between Cholesterol and Heart Disease, it is important to know the difference between the various types of cholesterol. Lipids are waxy, oily substances that are stored in the body. They travel through the circulatory system, but since oily lipids can’t travel through watery blood, they are covered by an outer layer of protein. Lipids that are covered in protein are referred to as “lipoproteins.” These lipoproteins carry cholesterol through the blood stream, and can sometimes build up in your arteries, leading to a heart attack. Low-density lipoprotein, in particular, is the kind you should look out for, since is it the type most likely to clog arteries. Because it carries away low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein is often referred to as “good cholesterol.” Triglycerides are another type of fat that exists within the blood. When you consume calories that your body doesn’t need, it converts them into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. High levels of triglycerides are associated with obesity and diabetes. In recent decades, cholesterol tests have been used to determine a given patient’s risk of heart attack. But recent medical advancement has shown Primary Care Physicians that even those who appear to have healthy cholesterol levels are at risk of developing heart disease. Since over 50% of people with normal cholesterol levels will develop heart disease, it is necessary to find a more accurate predictor. Scientists and physicians have found one in the Lipid Blood Profile, also known as lipoprotein profiling. Since the build-up of lipoproteins, and not cholesterol, is what leads to heart disease, determining the number of lipoproteins in the blood is a far more accurate indicators of risk of future heart disease in patients who are otherwise healthy.  Our
Concierge Medical Practices in
McLean and
Richmond Virginia
provide Lipid Testing in addition to our myriad
of other cutting-edge tests like
Berkeley Heart
Labs. Our Primary Care Practices in Northern
Virginia Suburbs specialize in
Holistic Family
Medicine and offer individualized treatment
plans to optimize health in all areas of life.
We see our patients as individuals and value the
time we get to spend with them since the
relationships we develop with our patients
result in better treatment plans. We focus on
Prevention
and Wellness so that our patients can get
healthy and stay healthy, and we promise no-wait
visits and 24/7 access to our dedicated
Central Virginia Family Physicians. Whether
you have concerns about your
Exercise and
Physical Fitness regimen, would like to
consult a
Holistic
Practitioner about your
Nutrition and Health,
want a qualified
Primary Care
Physician to give you tips on
Care Health Heart,
or simply want to become more familiar with the
approach known as Concierge Medicine, our Center
for Holistic Medicine can provide you with the
individualized care you’ve been craving.
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