Term | Description |
Lp(a) | Lipoprotein little (a) is a subset of fats that, if elevated (usually over 100), are felt to be another risk factor for developing early coronary artery disease or strokes. |
Preconception | Before pregnancy. Preconception counseling refers to counseling that takes place prior to a couple beginning a pregnancy. Includes an assessment of personal and family medical history, risk factors (including age and lifestyle factors), as well as certain screening blood tests, such as ethnicity-based screening tests. |
Risk factor | A clearly defined occurrence or characteristic that has been associated with the increased rate of a subsequently occurring disease; something that increases the chance of a disease occurring (patched together from Dorland's). |
Risk factors | These are factors that can increase the likelihood of elevated cholesterol and coronary artery disease and are as follows: age, gender, overweight, smoker, elevated blood pressure, lack of exercise, and family history of elevated cholesterol (i.e., low HDL or elevated Lp(a) and/or stroke or heart attack prior to age 55.) |