So you’ve recently been diagnosed with a heart condition or have a family history of heart disease. Perhaps you’re wondering what you can do about it, and how to track improvements and manage risk. And if you weren’t, hopefully you are now. Cardiovascular illness is the leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 1 death every 36 seconds, according to the CDC. [1] There are three lab tests I commonly order on patients with a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease. My mindset is prevention, individualized plans, and focused treatment so that we can improve quality of life and maintain good cardiovascular health. You’ve heard of inflammation from doctors and medical advertisements. But what does it mean? Well, “good inflammation”, is when you cut your finger  and see the areas around it become more pink and slightly swollen. Your immune system triggers an inflammatory response …