Understanding Lp(a) Test for Patients
What is Lp(a)?
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) for short, is a special type of particle that carries cholesterol around in your blood.
What determines my Lp(a) level?
How much Lp(a) you have is mostly decided by the genes you get from your parents — it's not really something caused by diet or exercise, unlike some other types of cholesterol.
Why is it important to know your Lp(a) level?
If your Lp(a) level is high, it can raise your chances of getting heart attack or stroke later in life.
A level of 125nmol/L raise by ~1.5 fold
A level of 250nmol/L raise by ~2 fold
A level of 350nmol/L raise by ~3 fold
Why blood test is needed?
About 1 in 5 people have a high Lp(a) level, but here's the tricky part: it usually doesn't cause any symptoms. So most people don't even know they have it unless they get a blood test specifically checking for it
After testing, how can my doctor help me?
Certain medications may lower Lp(a) and/or reduce residual cardiovascular risk
Your doctor may enhance treatment for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes
Your doctor may also advise you to
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eat a heart healthy diet
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physical exercise
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maintain a healthy weight
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stop smoking
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getting 7-8 hours of sleep each day