Thanks for this post. Funnily enough, after reading your Attia book summary, I'd made a note of this to ask my doc for at a physical earlier this week.
They unfortunately stuck me with an older doc I'd never met, and he was 100% not interested in hearing about apoB, or anything else outside of flowchart medicine from decades ago. I gently persisted, asking if due to family cardiac history I could get this added to my bloodwork. He got visibly angry, jaw clenched, and said, "I am not interested in alternative medicine." I said, "Or modern research, apparently," which was when he stormed out of the physical in a huff. So, all of that to say, not all doc's are on board with this. I hope that changes.
I did just find that Inside Tracker has added this to their screening, though their plans are very expensive (~$700 for the most basic testing plan). Still, could be money well spent if one can't find a doctor who will order this test.
Thanks so much for sharing, Rob. Your story reflects the pains that I and many others who are trying to be proactive with their health experience. To my doctor's chagrin, I've had two lipid panels this year (one in Jan, one in June) and he made it quite clear that he had had enough when I met him to discuss my most recent results in the summer. I would like to have another panel done as the first two did not provide consistent enough data to form a useful understanding of my situation but am quite hesitant to email him again for fear of feeling his wrath and impatience or being left without a doctor.
But we are singularly responsible and accountable for our own health. It's not worth having a heart attack or stroke because of one doctor's viewpoints. So I'm in the same boat as you, fighting the same battles. Companies like Inside Tracker and others provide great services, but like you, I am deterred by the cost especially considering a blood test is a snapshot in time and we need to continue measuring to determine how our health is tracking.
I'm not intricately familiar with the U.S. health system but I do understand that you have fantastic, albeit expensive, private care. This website isn't much use to me but might help you find a clinician who is specialized in lipids near you: https://www.learnyourlipids.com/find-a-clinician/
Best of luck and please let me know how I can be of continued support.
Thanks for this post. Funnily enough, after reading your Attia book summary, I'd made a note of this to ask my doc for at a physical earlier this week.
They unfortunately stuck me with an older doc I'd never met, and he was 100% not interested in hearing about apoB, or anything else outside of flowchart medicine from decades ago. I gently persisted, asking if due to family cardiac history I could get this added to my bloodwork. He got visibly angry, jaw clenched, and said, "I am not interested in alternative medicine." I said, "Or modern research, apparently," which was when he stormed out of the physical in a huff. So, all of that to say, not all doc's are on board with this. I hope that changes.
I did just find that Inside Tracker has added this to their screening, though their plans are very expensive (~$700 for the most basic testing plan). Still, could be money well spent if one can't find a doctor who will order this test.
Thanks so much for sharing, Rob. Your story reflects the pains that I and many others who are trying to be proactive with their health experience. To my doctor's chagrin, I've had two lipid panels this year (one in Jan, one in June) and he made it quite clear that he had had enough when I met him to discuss my most recent results in the summer. I would like to have another panel done as the first two did not provide consistent enough data to form a useful understanding of my situation but am quite hesitant to email him again for fear of feeling his wrath and impatience or being left without a doctor.
But we are singularly responsible and accountable for our own health. It's not worth having a heart attack or stroke because of one doctor's viewpoints. So I'm in the same boat as you, fighting the same battles. Companies like Inside Tracker and others provide great services, but like you, I am deterred by the cost especially considering a blood test is a snapshot in time and we need to continue measuring to determine how our health is tracking.
I'm not intricately familiar with the U.S. health system but I do understand that you have fantastic, albeit expensive, private care. This website isn't much use to me but might help you find a clinician who is specialized in lipids near you: https://www.learnyourlipids.com/find-a-clinician/
Best of luck and please let me know how I can be of continued support.