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A cholesterol test that many Americans don't receive may do a better job of identifying who needs treatment to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to new research from Northwestern Medicine.In the study, published in JAMA in April, researchers found measuring apolipoprotein B, or apoB, was more effective than tracking non-HDL cholesterol or LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol, which is what millions of Americans have tested each year.Deaths from heart disease and stroke have declined in recent years, but they remain the leading cause of death for Americans, according to the American Heart Association.High cholesterol − as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking − can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.What is apoB?ApoB is a protein found on the particles that can deposit cholesterol in artery walls, the American Heart Association explains. Over time, these particles can cause buildup in the arteries. "In some cases, LDL-cholesterol may appear to be at a healthy level while ApoB may be elevated. When that happens, a standard lipid panel may not fully show a person’s risk for heart disease," the organization added.Other ways to measure riskEarlier this year, the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and nine other leading medical associations jointly issued updated guidelines for screening and treating people for high cholesterol levels.The new guidelines noted Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), should be measured at least once in adulthood, as it is a genetic marker of heart disease risk. The higher the number, the more increased long-term risk of heart attack or stroke.Lp(a), like other cholesterol tests, is measured via a blood sample.
