Take your Cardio Res-Q results to your cardiologist or primary care doctor with a short written list of questions. The most useful ones all ask the same thing in different ways: does this result change my risk estimate, my treatment, or my follow-up?
The lists below are grouped by result so you can pull out the ones that apply to you. They work whether you had the Comprehensive Assessment ($775) or the Enhanced Assessment ($999), which adds a CIMT ultrasound and a coronary calcium score.
Key takeaways
- Pick your top three questions in advance, because appointment time is short.
- For each result, ask what it changes about risk, treatment or follow-up.
- Expect your doctor to weigh some tests more heavily than others, and ask which ones and why.
- Never start, stop or change a medication based on a report alone.
Before the appointment
- Ask our team to share your results with your doctor's office ahead of time. We are happy to share results and work with your existing providers. How and when records are sent is something to confirm with our team.
- Bring your own copy of the results and your written plan. Our article on what you leave with describes both.
- Bring a current list of medications and supplements, including anything the plan suggests adding.
- Mark the three questions that matter most to you and ask those first.
Questions about your overall risk
- What is my estimated 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke, and which calculator did you use? (See our PREVENT calculator guide for background.)
- Do any of these results move me into a different risk category?
- Do any of them count as a risk enhancer for me?
- How does my family history change the way you read these numbers?
The third question has a specific background. The 2018 US cholesterol guideline listed an ApoB of 130 mg/dL or higher, an Lp(a) of 50 mg/dL or 125 nmol/L or higher, and an hs-CRP of 2.0 mg/L or higher among its risk-enhancing factors.1 A result past one of those marks does not decide anything alone, but it is fair to ask how it figures in your case.
Questions about a calcium score
These apply if you had the Enhanced Assessment or have a score from elsewhere.
- Where does my score sit for my age and sex?
- Does this score change whether I should start a medication, or change the one I take?
- If my score is zero, how much reassurance does that give someone with my history?
- Should this scan ever be repeated, and when?
- Does this result call for any further testing, or is it enough to act on?
For context, that 2018 guideline said a calcium score of zero could support holding off on a statin, except in people who smoke, have diabetes or have a strong family history of early heart disease. It treated a score of 100 or higher, or one at or above the 75th percentile, as favoring a statin.1 Your doctor may apply newer guidance, which is a good reason to ask the question openly.
Questions about ApoB and Lp(a)
- Is my ApoB in line with my LDL cholesterol, or do the two disagree?
- What ApoB or LDL level would you like to see for someone at my risk?
- My Lp(a) is high. How does that change your approach to my other risk factors?
- Should my children, brothers or sisters have their Lp(a) checked?
- Does my Lp(a) ever need measuring again?
Two points help you follow the answers. A National Lipid Association consensus notes that when LDL cholesterol and ApoB disagree, cardiovascular risk generally tracks ApoB more closely.2 And Lp(a) is handled differently from other markers: because no specific Lp(a)-lowering treatment is available, a European consensus panel recommends early, intensive management of other risk factors when Lp(a) is high.3 So the practical question is what gets tightened elsewhere.
Questions about CIMT, hs-CRP and metabolic markers
- How much weight do you give my CIMT result?
- Did the ultrasound show actual plaque, or only wall thickness?
- Could something other than heart risk explain my hs-CRP, such as a recent illness?
- Do my insulin, glucose and A1c results suggest insulin resistance or prediabetes, and who should manage that?
Do not be surprised if your doctor gives CIMT limited weight. The 2013 ACC/AHA risk assessment guideline does not recommend routine CIMT measurement for predicting a first heart event.4 Carotid plaque seen on the scan is a stronger signal than wall thickness, which is why the second question is worth asking.
Questions about the plan and your medications
- Does anything in my Cardio Res-Q plan conflict with what I already take?
- Who will handle prescriptions and dose changes from here: you, YoungerMeMD, or both?
- Which labs should be rechecked, and when?
- Which symptoms should make me call you, and which mean calling 911?
Do not start, stop or change a medication without your prescriber.
If your doctor is unconvinced by some results
That is a normal outcome and can be a useful one. Doctors weigh these tests differently, and the evidence behind them is not equally strong. Ask one plain question: "Which of these results would you act on, and which would you set aside?" The answer tells you where the two views agree, and that shared ground is usually the safest place to start.
If the advice differs sharply, ask each clinician for their reasoning. Our article on how your results fit with your existing care covers how to keep everyone working from one plan.
How to book an assessment
If you have not had the assessment yet, go to the Cardio Res-Q program page, select the Comprehensive ($775) or Enhanced ($999) assessment, and pay online. Both are direct-pay and are not billed to insurance. Patients are welcome to try an HSA or FSA card, but the clinic cannot confirm it will be accepted, and it does not provide insurance reimbursement forms. To talk to someone first, contact our team.
Cardio Res-Q is not emergency care and does not replace a cardiologist. If you have chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath or fainting, call 911 or see a doctor now.
Are You a Candidate for Cardio Res-Q?
Three quick questions about the risk factors we screen for. Your answers stay between you and the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Will YoungerMeMD send my results to my cardiologist?
We are happy to share results and work alongside your cardiologist or primary care doctor. Ask our team how to request it and what they need from you.
Do I need a cardiologist at all?
Not everyone does. Many patients review their results with a primary care doctor. If you already see a cardiologist, keep doing so, because Cardio Res-Q does not replace that care.
What if my doctor has never ordered ApoB or Lp(a)?
That is common. Bring the report with the numbers and units, and ask how each one compares with your standard cholesterol results. Our guide articles on each test can help you prepare.
How many questions should I bring?
Bring the full list but lead with three. If time runs out, ask whether the rest can be answered through the patient portal or at a follow-up visit.
Related reading
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Decisions about testing and medication should be made with your clinician. If you have chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.
