Lp(a) Awareness Day is March 24

Join us all month in raising awareness of elevated lipoprotein(a)

Do you #KnowLpa?

Managing all risk factors, such as cholesterol level, blood pressure, blood sugar, diet & lifestyle, smoking, and weight, will help reduce the overall risk of heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Lipoprotein(a)

What is Lipoprotein(a)?

You’ll often see lipoprotein(a) referred to as Lp(a), pronounced “L-P-little-A.”

Lp(a) is a particle that carries cholesterol in the blood just like LDL cholesterol. High Lp(a) levels are associated with higher risk for heart disease and stroke related to buildup of plaque in the arteries, development of blood clots, and inflammation. Lp(a) levels are inherited and not associated with diet, exercise, or obesity.

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Lipoprotein(a) Testing and Diagnosis

A lipoprotein(a) test is not included in a regular lipid panel and most people have never had their Lp(a) tested. To understand your risk for cardiovascular disease, you should ask to have your Lp(a) tested. Most people do not need regular Lp(a) testing – it is either high or it is not high and it does not generally change very much. If it is high, the recommended course of action is to manage all of your other cardiovascular risk factors, including lowering your LDL.

Having high LDL and high Lp(a) are serious cardiovascular risk factors no matter how high you HDL is. High HDL does not protect you from high LDL or high Lp(a).

If your Lp(a) level is greater than 125 nmol/L or greater than 50 mg/dL, you have high Lp(a).

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How to Treat High Lipoprotein(a)

Lifestyle has little or no impact on lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a) levels. Still, diet and exercise can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and those with high Lp(a) levels will want to consider making some changes.

Reducing All Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Even though there are no current medications to lower Lp(a) levels, you can and should work to reduce all other risk factors if you have high Lp(a). If you are overweight, try to get to a healthier weight. If you smoke, quit. These are not easy changes to make, but the sooner you do it – the better. If you have other risk factors, like high blood pressure or diabetes, take all prescribed medications for these conditions.

Anyone who has an elevated Lp(a) should work on lowering their LDL cholesterol as much as possible. People with no history of cardiovascular disease should aim for less than 100 mg/dl. People with cardiovascular disease strive for levels less than 70 mg/dL. And if you have heart disease and other cardiac risk factors, aim for an LDL-C less than 55 mg/dL.

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