An Important Overlooked Cardiovascular Lab Test Most Cardiologists Do Not Check (but Should)

Tucson Functional Medicine

3 years ago

For most people, cholesterol has been considered the cardiovascular lab test to monitor to assess your risk of a cardiovascular event. However, increased cholesterol levels were found in less than 50% of all heart attack and stroke victims.

Researchers at the World Health Organization published a study that pointed to an overlooked risk factor that accounted for the other half.

It was a blood marker known as fibrinogen.

To understand just how dangerous excess levels of this blood marker can be, we must first look at how it works in your bloodstream.

Fibrinogen is a protein produced by the liver and, in small quantities, is a vital component for survival. When you cut or scrape your skin, fibrinogen is the agent which causes the blood to thicken and eventually creates a scab that clots the wound altogether. It also works in your arteries by creating small clotting agents that patch up cracks and crevices from inflammation.

The problem begins when levels of fibrinogen become elevated. When this occurs, instead of creating a small clot to repair the arterial damage, the fibrinogen creates an adverse event by creating a much larger clot than is needed. These large clots can grow to the point where they entirely close off veins, blood vessels, or significant arteries and cause heart attacks and stroke.

A Harvard University study published in the American College of Cardiology found that “Those with high fibrinogen levels had a twofold increase in myocardial infarction (heart attack) risk.”

Another study published in the prestigious Royal College of General Practitioners found that when coupled with other heart-health risk factors such as cholesterol and high blood pressure, “incidence of heart attacks was respectively six times and 12 times greater in those with high plasma fibrinogen levels than in those with low fibrinogen levels.”

In other words, even if you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you’re 600% and 1200% less likely to suffer a heart attack if your fibrinogen levels are in line!

Assessing your risk

Any doctor can quickly test your fibrinogen levels simply by asking for what’s called a fibrinogen activity test.

I like to see my patients’ fibrinogen levels under 300 mg/dl. If your levels are lower, I will continue to get your levels tested around twice a year. If higher, you should contact your levels tested every three months.

How to Lower Your Fibrinogen Levels

Follow a strict Mediterranean diet.
Consume foods high in omega 3 (EPA and DHA). I recommend taking a supplement between 2-3 grams per day. The following foods are rich in Omega 3’s, such as wild salmon, mackerel and sardines, and avocados. Also, eat plenty of nuts and seeds, such as macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, and flaxseeds. And use macadamia nut oil, estate-bottled olive oil, and avocado oil.
Take Nattokinase and Serratiopeptidase

Word of Caution.

Always check with your physician if you are on blood-thinning medication, increasing your risk of bleeding episodes.

Call TODAY 520-334-6784 – Let’s run a blood test that includes Fibrinogen & Homoceistein. We can get to the underlying factors that may point you in the direction of future heart issues

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