{"id":420805,"date":"2026-01-21T12:56:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/420805\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T12:56:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:56:22","slug":"the-one-heart-related-blood-test-people-over-50-should-get-in-january-according-to-a-cardiologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/420805\/","title":{"rendered":"The One Heart-Related Blood Test People Over 50 Should Get in January, According to a Cardiologist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Staying on top of all the appointments it takes to stay healthy can be challenging. Annual checkups with your primary health provider, skin checks with a dermatologist, teeth cleanings with your dentist<\/a>, getting vaccinated for COVID and flu<\/a>\u2026It\u2019s a lot.<\/p>\n

Between busy work schedules, family<\/a> responsibilities and everyday life<\/a>, preventive care often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. Many people don\u2019t skip appointments intentionally\u2014they simply run out of time or assume they\u2019ll get to it \u201clater.\u201d Unfortunately, later has a way of turning into years.<\/p>\n

One easy way to stay on top of it: Make January<\/a> the month you get all your crucial health appointments on the books. Even if the actual appointments are spread out throughout the year, you\u2019ll at least have a plan and know they\u2019ll get done.<\/p>\n

Scheduling ahead can also help you be more strategic about your care. When appointments are on the calendar, you\u2019re more likely to follow through, track trends over time and notice changes that might otherwise slip by unnoticed. It can also make it easier to coordinate visits and lab work, rather than scrambling when something feels off.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in good health, it can be tempting to skip seeing your doctor for a yearly checkup. But according to a cardiologist, there\u2019s one important heart-related blood test it\u2019s crucial to get, especially if you\u2019re 50 or older. Otherwise, you could miss out on knowing some important information about your heart health.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\ude7a<\/a>SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week<\/a>\ud83d\udc8a<\/a><\/p>\n

The Heart-Related Blood Test Everyone 50 and Older Should Get\"Blood<\/p>\n

Blood sample tube for apolipoprotein B test&sol;Getty Image<\/p>\n

(Blood sample tube for apolipoprotein B test&sol;Getty Image)<\/p>\n

How\u2019s your cholesterol<\/a>? Whether you think you know or you have no idea, you can likely benefit from getting an ApoB test. \u201cAn ApoB test is a type of cholesterol test that your health care provider can order. It is not part of the traditional cholesterol or lipid panel test and is ordered separately,\u201d explains Dr. Alex A. Gyftopoulos, MD<\/a>, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.<\/p>\n

Related: What’s More Important for Heart Health: Lowering Dietary Cholesterol or Saturated Fat?<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Gyftopoulos explains that a traditional cholesterol test checks levels of HDL \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol and LDL \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol. But, he says, cholesterol is more complex than what checking these two levels shows. \u201cApoB, or apolipoprotein B<\/a>, is a part of every different type of cholesterol in the body that has been associated with the development of plaque in the arteries that can result in heart attacks<\/a> and strokes<\/a>. ApoB can give individuals a more accurate depiction of their heart disease risk,\u201d Dr. Gyftopoulos says. But since it\u2019s not included with the typical cholesterol test, you have to ask for it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re between the ages of 45 and 65, it\u2019s recommended<\/a> to get a traditional cholesterol test every one to two years, depending on your risk factors. If you\u2019re 65 or older, it\u2019s recommended to get your cholesterol checked every year. While there aren\u2019t set recommendations on how often to get an ApoB test, getting one every couple of years can help give you and your doctor a better picture of your heart health, especially if cardiovascular disease, stroke or heart attack runs in your family.<\/p>\n

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist\u2014This Is the One Thing I Always Do as Soon as I Wake Up in the Morning’<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cCholesterol testing is individualized based on a person\u2019s medical history, family history and other risk factors. All adults should have their cholesterol tested and including ApoB with that testing can give a more accurate picture of someone’s overall risk for heart disease and stroke,\u201d Dr. Gyftopoulos says.<\/p>\n

What Happens if You Never Get an ApoB Test?<\/p>\n

Not getting an ApoB test can mean missing out on some potentially life-saving information. \u201cFor many people, the traditional lipid panel will provide enough information to make lifestyle and treatment decisions. But for some, ApoB can uncover an increased risk for heart disease and stroke that may otherwise be missed. Now that ApoB testing is well validated and available, there is little reason not to include it when evaluating the risk for cardiovascular disease,\u201d Dr. Gyftopoulos says.<\/p>\n

What happens after you get the results of your ApoB test? Now, you and your doctor can assess if any changes to your diet or lifestyle need to be made to support your heart health, or if you could benefit from cholesterol-lowering medication.<\/p>\n

Related: Exactly How Many Minutes of Walking You Need To Do Per Day To Boost Heart Health <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing your risk for heart disease and stroke can help you and your health care provider decide on lifestyle changes and medications that can be used to reduce your risk,\u201d Dr. Gyftopoulos says.<\/p>\n

ApoB test results<\/a> can range from 20 and 400 milligrams per deciliter (mg\/dL). Apo B higher than 130 mg\/dL is considered to be higher than optimal and indicates a higher risk for heart disease.<\/p>\n

If your ApoB test results are higher than 130 mg\/dL, Dr. Gyftopoulos says that the first step is to consider your diet and lifestyle habits. If you use tobacco, it\u2019s a major sign to stop. If you\u2019re not getting regular cardiovascular exercise or aren\u2019t eating a nutrient-rich diet, your ApoB test results are a red flag indicating that you need to make some changes. For some, Dr. Gyftopoulos says that cholesterol-lowering medication may be recommended.<\/p>\n

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health. The more you know about your body, the more you know how you can best support it. An ApoB test is one powerful way to clue you in on how your heart is doing. Take advantage of it!<\/p>\n

A quick note:\u00a0Parade\u00a0is partnering with Cleveland Clinic for an \u201cAsk a Cardiologist\u201d advice column in the month of February, which will be found in our newsletter\u00a0What burning questions<\/a> do you have about heart health, particularly as it relates to the aging heart? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n

Up Next:<\/p>\n

Related: This Is the #1 Best High-Protein Snack for Heart Health, According to Cardiologists<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources<\/p>\n

Dr. Alex A. Gyftopoulos, MD<\/a>, cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus<\/p>\n

This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Staying on top of all the appointments it takes to stay healthy can be challenging. Annual checkups with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":400672,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[201002,69152,69150,97,252,39410,253,1492,15421,201003,201001],"class_list":["post-420805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-alex-a-gyftopoulos","tag-apolipoprotein-b","tag-cholesterol-test","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-health-care-provider","tag-healthcare","tag-heart-disease","tag-heart-health","tag-lipid-panel-test","tag-university-of-maryland-medical-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420805\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/400672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}