Francesco Lo Monaco/LinkedIn
Jan 25, 2026, 15:42
Francesco Lo Monaco on Heart Disease Starting Quiet While Your Labs Speak First
Francesco Lo Monaco, Cardiologist and Founder of The National Heart Clinic, posted on LinkedIn:
“If you wait for symptoms..
You’re already late.
Heart disease can show up in your blood long before you feel it.
If you care about long-term heart health, these are the blood tests I want checked annually, even if you feel well:
- Lipid panel (done properly)
LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, total cholesterol/HDL ratio ( very important!)trends matter more than single numbers. - ApoB
The most accurate marker of cholesterol particles driving plaque formation. - Fasting glucose + HbA1c
Early glucose dysregulation damages arteries long before diabetes. - Kidney markers (creatinine, eGFR)
Strongly linked to cardiovascular outcomes. - Liver enzymes + GGT
Early signs of metabolic stress and insulin resistance. - Full blood count
Oxygen delivery, inflammation signals, hidden deficiencies. - Ferritin
Too low or too high both increase cardiovascular risk. - Thyroid markers
Direct impact on lipids, weight, energy, and heart rate. - Vitamin D
Part of the wider cardiometabolic picture. - hs-CRP
Low-grade inflammation that accelerates atherosclerosis.
Bonus (once in a lifetime): Lp(a)
Genetic risk that standard cholesterol tests miss.
Homocysteine: high levels are linked to hypertension.
Most people make the same mistake.
They test once.
They’re told everything is “normal”.
And they don’t look again for years.
When was the last time you checked yours, properly?”
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