New heart health guidelines are here
Your heart health story is bigger than cholesterol.
Heart health isn’t just about one number. Your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function, physical activity, and other factors can work together to influence your cardiovascular health.
Updated 2026 cardiovascular guidelines¹ take a broader approach to heart health—looking beyond LDL cholesterol alone to include markers such as Lipoprotein(a) and metabolic health, with a greater focus on understanding cardiovascular risk earlier.
What should I know about Lp(a)?
One heart health marker you may not know about.
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol through the bloodstream. Unlike many other cardiovascular risk factors, Lp(a) levels are mostly inherited and can remain relatively stable throughout life. Although for women, studies have shown that menopause may cause levels to rise later in life.²
You can have a healthy-looking cholesterol panel and still have an elevated Lp(a) level. That’s one reason the latest cholesterol guidelines recommend that Lp(a) be measured at least once in a lifetime to help identify cardiovascular risk that may otherwise go unrecognized. Learn more about Lp(a) here.
How do insulin and metabolic health impact your heart?
Heart health doesn't exist in isolation.
Blood sugar, blood lipids, body weight, blood pressure, and kidney function can interact in ways that affect long-term cardiovascular health. The 2026 cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic guideline³ emphasizes looking at these factors together to identify risk earlier and support prevention.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome describes a complex, interconnected disease state in which metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, intersect with the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
What can I do to help prevent heart disease?
Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, may be preventable.
Tips for reducing your risk:
- Quit smoking
- Know your numbers: Get regular screenings for blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, and blood sugar
- Limit alcohol intake to 1 drink per day or less
- Exercise at least 30 minutes each day
- Eat a heart-healthy diet and manage your weight
- Reduce stress
- Get sufficient rest
Quest offers an array of cardiovascular health tests that can help you better understand your risk factors, measuring important health markers like cholesterol (lipids), coagulation (clotting), glucose (sugar), and so much more.
Please note: Testing can provide information about your health but cannot diagnose or predict your risk of heart disease on its own. Cardiovascular risk assessment should consider your complete medical history, family history, blood pressure, lab results, lifestyle and other factors. Discuss your results and appropriate screening or treatment with your healthcare provider.
Looking for a deep dive into your health?
Whether you’re establishing a baseline, monitoring changes over time, or it’s been a while since your last checkup, the Quest Elite Health Profile is your simple solution to gaining detailed insights into your health.
It has 85+ health markers analyzed, with actionable insights into your liver function, hormones, metabolic health, and so much more. Now you can add on a heart health test panel to your Elite Health Profile purchase and get both tests done in one appointment—making it easier to get a more complete picture of your health.
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-No doctor visit* or health insurance required for purchase
-No surprise medical bills in the mail
-Buy online and visit a nearby Quest location for sample collection or see if Quest Mobile® is available in your area
-Receive fast and confidential online results
-You have the ability to discuss your results with an independent healthcare provider
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*No doctor visit is required to buy your own lab test at questhealth.com. A $6 Physician Service Fee is collected on behalf of PWNHealth and its affiliates for independent physician oversight of lab testing including ordering testing if appropriate. PWNHealth also reviews your test results and will contact you directly if they require prompt attention. Included in each purchase is the ability to discuss your test results with an independent healthcare provider; however, you are also encouraged to speak with your primary healthcare provider.
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