Recent scientific evidence shows that the blood concentration of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an important marker for the risk of developing heart disease. Nonetheless, Lp(a) measurements are not widely available and are seldom used in routine clinical practice. A traditional lipid panel measures total cholesterol, triglycerides,and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) The numbers are then used to … Read more
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein that plays an important role in the development of heart disease. Elevated blood levels of ApoB indicate an increased risk. Actually, ApoB may be a stronger predictor of risk than commonly used lipid markers such as LDL-cholesterol (1). ApoB is an important component of lipoproteins that participate in the … Read more
Loss of muscle mass, also called sarcopenia, is often considered a normal part of aging. Just like bone density decreases with age, loss of muscle mass and strength also occurs. Loss of skeletal muscle mass may start as early as in our thirties and appears to continue for the rest of our lives. Evidence suggests … Read more
The death rate from coronary artery disease (CAD) has declined considerably over the last three decades. This is mainly due to better control of risk factors and advances in therapy. However, the prevalence of CAD remains high due to the aging of the population and better survival of those affected. The current epidemic of obesity … Read more
Have you ever experienced or sensed your heartbeat? Although such a sensation is usually completely normal, it may be unpleasant. For instance, people often describe hard beats, fast beats, irregular beats, skipped beats, fluttering, “flip-flopping” or a pounding sensation in the chest or neck. The term palpitations is used to describe an unpleasant awareness of the … Read more