Heart Health - Basic Most Popular

The Heart Health - Basic panel contains 3 tests with 11 biomarkers.

Brief Description: 

The Heart Health - Basic Panel is a crucial set of tests tailored to evaluate key factors that influence cardiovascular health. This panel is designed to offer a snapshot of an individual's risk for heart disease by assessing lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and proteins associated with heart health. It serves as an essential tool for early detection of potential heart issues, guiding preventive measures, and monitoring the effectiveness of lifestyle changes or treatments aimed at improving heart health.

Collection Method: Blood Draw

Specimen Type: Serum

Test Preparation: Fasting for 12 hours is required.

When and Why the Panel May Be Ordered

Healthcare providers may order the Heart Health - Basic Panel for individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases, including those with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. It's also recommended for those exhibiting symptoms of heart conditions or for anyone interested in getting a baseline assessment of their heart health. Regular monitoring with this panel can help in the early detection and management of factors that may contribute to heart disease.

What the Panel Checks For

Each test within the panel provides critical insights:

  • Apolipoprotein A1 is a major component of HDL ("good" cholesterol) and is involved in the transport of cholesterol from tissues back to the liver for excretion. High levels are generally associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

  • Apolipoprotein B is a primary component of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and VLDL. Elevated levels are considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

  • hs-CRP (High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein) measures low levels of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

  • Lipid Panel with Ratios provides a comprehensive look at cholesterol levels, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides, along with ratios that help assess cardiovascular risk.

Expanding Health Insights with Advanced Panels

For individuals seeking a more detailed analysis of heart health risks and contributing factors, progressing to more comprehensive panels offers deeper insights:

  • The Heart Health - Basic Plus Panel adds tests such as Homocysteine, Insulin, and Lipoprotein (a), markers that provide further details on metabolic health, inflammation, and genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

  • The Heart Health - Advanced Panel includes all the markers from the Basic Plus panel and introduces Fibrinogen Activity, Glucose, Hemoglobin A1c, Omega -3 and -6 Fatty Acids, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, offering a broader view of factors that impact heart health, including blood clotting, blood sugar levels, dietary fats, and thyroid function.

  • The Heart Health - Comprehensive Panel is the most comprehensive panel of the group, encompassing all tests from the Advanced panel and further extending the evaluation to include B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Cystatin C, Myeloperoxidase Antibody, and QuestAssureD 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Total with D2 and D3. This panel provides an extensive overview of heart health, renal function, inflammation, oxidative stress, and vitamin D status, crucial for a holistic approach to cardiovascular disease prevention and management.

Conditions and Diseases Detected

The Basic Panel can help detect and manage conditions such as:

  • Atherosclerosis: Elevated ApoB and abnormal lipid ratios may indicate an increased risk of plaque buildup in the arteries.

  • Cardiovascular Disease: High hs-CRP levels, along with unfavorable lipid profiles, are associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

  • Inflammation: Elevated hs-CRP levels can also point to underlying chronic inflammation, a risk factor for several heart conditions.

Clinical Applications

Healthcare professionals use the results from the Heart Health - Basic Panel to identify individuals at risk for heart disease, guide lifestyle and dietary recommendations, and potentially initiate medications to manage lipid levels or inflammation. Follow-up testing can monitor the effectiveness of these interventions and adjust strategies as needed to optimize heart health.

The Heart Health - Basic Panel is an invaluable starting point for assessing cardiovascular health, offering insights that can prompt early intervention and guide preventive measures. By identifying key risk factors for heart disease, this panel empowers individuals and healthcare providers to take informed steps towards maintaining heart health and preventing heart-related conditions.

We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.

The following is a list of what is included in the item above. Click the test(s) below to view what biomarkers are measured along with an explanation of what the biomarker is measuring.

Apolipoprotein A1

Apolipoprotein B

Apolipoprotein B/A1 Ratio

Also known as: C-Reactive Protein, Cardio CRP, Cardio hs-CRP, CRP, High Sensitivity CRP, High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein, High-sensitivity CRP, Highly Sensitive CRP, hsCRP, Ultra-sensitive CRP

Hs Crp

A high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test may be used by itself, in combination with other cardiac risk markers, or in combination with a lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) test that evaluates vascular inflammation. The hs-CRP test accurately detects low concentrations of C-reactive protein to help predict a healthy person's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). High-sensitivity CRP is promoted by some as a test for determining a person's risk level for CVD, heart attacks, and strokes. The current thinking is that hs-CRP can play a role in the evaluation process before a person develops one of these health problems.

Also known as: Lipid Panel with Ratios (fasting), Lipid Profile with Ratios (fasting), Lipids

Chol/HDLC Ratio

Cholesterol, Total

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood and stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods. You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower your cholesterol.

HDL Cholesterol

LDL-Cholesterol

LDL/HDL Ratio

Non HDL Cholesterol

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a form of fat and a major source of energy for the body. This test measures the amount of triglycerides in the blood. Most triglycerides are found in fat (adipose) tissue, but some triglycerides circulate in the blood to provide fuel for muscles to work. After a person eats, an increased level of triglycerides is found in the blood as the body converts the energy not needed right away into fat. Triglycerides move via the blood from the gut to adipose tissue for storage. In between meals, triglycerides are released from fat tissue to be used as an energy source for the body. Most triglycerides are carried in the blood by lipoproteins called very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). High levels of triglycerides in the blood are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), although the reason for this is not well understood. Certain factors can contribute to high triglyceride levels and to risk of CVD, including lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking cigarettes, consuming excess alcohol, and medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease.
*Important Information on Lab Test Processing Times: Ulta Lab Tests is committed to informing you about the processing times for your lab tests processed through Quest Diagnostics. Please note that the estimated processing time for each test, indicated in business days, is based on data from the past 30 days across the 13 Quest Diagnostics laboratories for each test. These estimates are intended to serve as a guide and are not guarantees. Factors such as laboratory workload, weather conditions, holidays, and the need for additional testing or maintenance can influence actual processing times. We aim to offer estimates to help you plan accordingly. Please understand that these times may vary, and processing times are not guaranteed. Thank you for choosing Ulta Lab Tests for your laboratory needs.

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