Rooted Heart
Wellness
Go beyond standard cholesterol testing with advanced lipid panels including ApoB, Lp(a), and CAC score review. Jessica Love, FNP-C provides thorough atherosclerosis risk evaluation in Kansas City, Overland Park, Leawood & the KC metro.
Most annual physicals include a basic lipid panel — total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. But research shows these numbers miss a number of people who go on to have heart attacks. At Rooted Heart Wellness, we dig deeper with advanced lipid testing and atherosclerosis risk evaluation to find the markers that actually predict cardiovascular events.
Patients from across the Kansas City metro — from Overland Park and Leawood to Independence and Blue Springs — come to us because they want answers beyond "your cholesterol is a little high." Whether you have a strong family history of heart disease, have already been told your numbers are borderline, or simply want the most thorough evaluation available, this is where we start.
ApoB is now considered one of the most accurate predictors of cardiovascular risk — better than LDL cholesterol alone. Every potentially dangerous lipoprotein particle in your blood carries one ApoB molecule. We measure ApoB to understand the true number of atherogenic particles circulating in your system, not just the cholesterol they carry.
Lp(a) is a genetically determined risk factor that affects roughly 1 in 5 people. It is not routinely checked in standard care, yet elevated Lp(a) significantly increases risk for heart attack and stroke. Patients in Lee's Summit, Liberty, Shawnee, and Olathe often tell us this is the first time anyone has ever tested it. Knowing your Lp(a) changes how we approach prevention — because diet and exercise alone cannot lower it.
The CAC score is a low-cost CT scan that directly measures calcium deposits in your coronary arteries — a sign of actual plaque buildup. We review your CAC results in the context of your full metabolic profile to determine how aggressively we need to intervene. A score of zero is reassuring. A score above zero tells us the disease process has already begun, even if you feel perfectly fine.
hs-CRP — High-sensitivity C-reactive protein measures systemic inflammation, a key driver of plaque instability
Homocysteine — Elevated levels are associated with endothelial damage and increased clotting risk
Fibrinogen — A marker of blood viscosity and clotting tendency
Oxidized LDL — Measures the form of LDL most likely to penetrate artery walls
Insulin & glucose markers — Because metabolic dysfunction drives atherosclerosis from the inside
We do not just hand you lab results and say "take a statin." Our evaluation connects your lipid data with your metabolic health, inflammation levels, family history, lifestyle, and stress profile to build a complete picture. From there, we create a personalized plan that may include targeted supplementation, nutritional changes, exercise guidance, prescription optimization, and ongoing monitoring.
For patients in Prairie Village, Gladstone, Raytown, and Grandview who have been told their cholesterol is "fine" but still feel concerned, advanced testing often reveals hidden risk that standard panels miss entirely. That peace of mind — or that early intervention — can be life-changing.
Anyone with a family history of early heart disease (before age 55 in men, 65 in women)
Patients with borderline or elevated cholesterol who want deeper answers
People already on statins who want to understand if their treatment is truly optimized
Anyone with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes
Patients who have had a CAC score above zero
Adults over 40 seeking proactive cardiovascular prevention
Available in-person in the Kansas City area and via telehealth for patients across Kansas and Missouri.