If heart attack ran a business, he would be a real equal opportunity employer.
His next “employee” could be anyone – a lean marathon runner, a 22-year-old college student, a sculpted gym guy, a dedicated 9-to-5 office worker, or a construction worker.
Gone are the days when heart attacks only “recruited” retirees. Today, they recruit anyone regardless of their age, gender, or fitness level.
Then? How do you avoid becoming the next “employee” in Heart Attack Inc.?
Let’s talk prevention:
Know your numbers
✅Get that lipid profile done yearly (bare minimum!)
✅Look beyond total cholesterol – HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are the real deal.
✅Ideally, total cholesterol should be less than 200 (the lower, the better).
HDL should be 60 or higher; but, 40+ for males or 50+ for females is acceptable.
LDL should be less than 100, and triglycerides’ level should be less than 149 (ideal is under 100.)
Advanced cardiac diagnostics
✅ApoB, Lp(a), C-reactive Proteins (CRP) – these are proteins that sits on top of LDL carries. If their counts are abnormal, you should know your arterial pathways are starting to get obstructed.
CT calcium score
✅There is a special CT scan of the heart that looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries.
✅A score of 100 to 300 means moderate plaque deposits.
✅A score greater than 300 is a sign of a higher risk of heart attack.
Remember, heart attacks don’t happen overnight. Early detection is key. Even if your tests look good, it’s not a free pass to party hard, smoke, or load up on junk food.
And always remember to consult your doctor before tests. They are the real experts in keeping you off Heart Attack Inc.’s payroll.
This is it for this week, folks! Will see you later. Till then, stay informed, stay healthy, and keep your ticker ticking strong!