New research by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Baylor College of Medicine, and other prestigious research facilities has uncovered new information that might lead to earlier detection of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients.

It was previously hypothesized that CHD, the most common form of heart disease and the number one killer of Americans, was caused by lipid accumulation within the arterial walls. However, nearly one half of all patients that suffer from CHD have normal (<130 mg/dL) or even below normal LDL cholesterol levels.

Recent studies have shown that inflammation within the arteries plays a central role in CHD and heart attacks. For the millions of patients who fall into the ‘gray area’ between ‘high’ and ‘low’ risk as determined by traditional risk factors, the identification of additional risk factors is invaluable in determining their complete CHD risk profile. Inflammatory markers are considered emerging risk factors that can be used to augment traditional testing and help identify at-risk patients. The markers C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and their associated tests (hs-CRP and PLAC) may help the medical community address the CHD epidemic. More-->

If you would like to assess your exercise risk, visit www.yourbody.com and take AFAA’s free Fitness Triage® assessment. Want to become a Personal Fitness Trainer? Click here for more information on AFAA's Personal Fitness Trainer Certification