WHY DO PEOPLE WITH “NORMAL” CHOLESTEROL STILL HAVE HEART ATTACKS? Had a patient come in yesterday who has always had good cholesterol numbers but recently had a stent put in due to 70% blockage in one of his coronary arteries. His cardiologist told him it was just genetic. We had a conversation about making sure his cardiologist checked other factors like homocysteine, hsCRP and Lp(a). I would not be surprised if they haven’t been checked. Frustrating. NEVER accept that “it’s just genetic.” That is the biggest cop out in medicine today.
WHY DO PEOPLE WITH “NORMAL” CHOLESTEROL STILL HAVE HEART ATTACKS?

This study alone finds a massive increase in risk of heart attack (more than triple the risk) in women with higher homocysteine levels. The sad thing is that homocysteine can be easily lowered with supplementation of B12, folic acid and B6. If you have a family history of heart disease and normal cholesterol and your doctor has not checked some of the above factors, force the issue with your PCP and find a new one if they refuse to check them.