Ask Dr. K: ‘Advanced’ cholesterol test not for all

DEAR DOCTOR K: Should I request “advanced” cholesterol testing at my next checkup?

DEAR READER: A standard cholesterol test, or lipid profile, measures levels of HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. So-called “advanced” cholesterol testing is a more detailed version of this test.

Cholesterol is a waxy, yellowish fat. It travels through your bloodstream in tiny, protein-covered particles called lipoproteins. These particles contain cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat.

The smallest and densest particles are high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Also known as “good” cholesterol, HDL removes cholesterol from artery walls. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles are known as “bad” cholesterol. They add cholesterol to the artery walls. There, it creates artery-clogging plaque that can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Most doctors use LDL levels to predict heart attack risk. But many people with heart disease have LDL levels that aren’t especially high.

My colleague Dr. Jorge Plutzky is director of the Lipid/Prevention Clinic and co-director of Preventive Cardiology at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He says that for the average person, the additional detail from advanced lipid testing isn’t critical. It wouldn’t change the treatment a doctor would have otherwise recommended.

Dr. Plutzky thinks that advanced cholesterol testing might help to better understand heart disease risk in certain groups of people. These include people with:

• A history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) without obvious risk factors (such as high blood pressure or diabetes);

• A history of CVD before age 55 in men or before age 65 in women;

• A parent or sibling with early heart disease.

Whatever you decide about the test, don’t forget tried-and-true strategies for lowering heart disease risk. These include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight.