What are the non-traditional risk factors responsible for plaque formation?
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) jointly released a statement in 1999 about considering nontraditional risk factors in assessing heart disease. These include small LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), and homocysteine. Advanced lab testing allows measuring the size of the LDL cholesterol particles; this is significant because small particles will have the ability to penetrate the arterial wall to form plaque. In May 2001, the following were added as equivalent risks for heart disease: symptomatic carotid artery disease, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the legs), abdominal aortic aneurysm, and diabetes. We also focus on identifying and treating Metabolic Syndrome that consists of a pattern (abdominal obesity or large waist size, triglycerides over 150, low HDL, fasting blood sugar greater than 100) that increases the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension. The Metabolic Syndrome is also associated with small LDL cholestero
