Most of us have heard stories about people who suffer heart attacks even though they experienced no traditional symptoms.

I believe that the PLAC Test can change that, and I consider it one of the most important among the new generation of cardiac tests.

The PLAC Test measures the blood level of Lp- PLA2, an enzyme that, when elevated, indicates arterial inflammation, making heart attack or stroke more likely. This is the best test for pinpointing vascular inflammation.

Elevated Lp-PLA2 is associated with increased risk of unstable arterial plaque, which can tear or rupture.

If that occurs, a blood clot can form and block the artery that supplies blood to the heart, leading to a heart attack.

The PLAC Test proved itself in a study that compiled data on almost 4,600 people ages 45 to 92 with no prior history of heart disease. Researchers gave the participants the PLAC Test and followed them for an average of five years.

The study found that men and women who scored high on the PLAC Test had more than double the heart attack risk of those scoring lower. The PLAC Test is for people who have not yet been diagnosed with heart disease.

Ask your doctor about the test if you fall into one or more of these categories:

• Family history of early heart disease or stroke (men before age 45, women before 55)

• You have diabetes

• You are obese or overweight

• You use tobacco products

• Your cholesterol is borderline high or elevated

• You are experiencing symptoms that could be heart related but are not typical

I’ve advocated the PLAC Test for many years, so I was pleased when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it last year. This paves the way for insurance reimbursement, which should result in the test becoming more widely available.