How we assess cardiovascular risk and how we treat cholesterol has changed.
For decades, standard cholesterol panels and statin prescriptions formed the backbone of prevention. Today, advanced tools provide a far more detailed and personalized picture of risk – and a broader set of solutions. Beyond LDL cholesterol, tests such as coronary artery calcium scoring and lipoprotein(a) screening now allow physicians to tailor prevention and treatment with greater precision.
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a cholesterol-like particle that is inherited, largely unaffected by diet or exercise, and present in one in five adults. Elevated Lp(a) significantly increases the risk of heart attack and aortic valve disease, yet it is not included in routine blood work. As a result, many people are unaware of their levels. Current guidelines recommend that every adult be tested at least once.
Equally important are the new therapies available for lipid disorders. For patients who cannot tolerate statins or require additional treatment, effective alternatives now exist — some taken only twice monthly or even twice yearly. These advances mark a turning point in cardiovascular care.
The future of prevention lies in personalized medicine: harnessing genetics, imaging, and advanced therapies to match the right treatment to each individual and protect long-term health.
Dr. Taher Modarressi, a Princeton native, studied at Princeton University and NYU School of Medicine before completing residency at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Board-certified in endocrinology, obesity medicine, and clinical lipidology — and a Fellow of the National Lipid Association — he brings a unique expertise to the management of complex lipid disorders, metabolic health and cardiovascular risk.
Princeton Cardiometabolic Health, 21 Route 31 North, Suite B6, Pennington. 609-951-3944. www.advocarecardiometabolic.com.
