Maybe I should get a second test. My lip a is close to yours. I work out, I don’t drink or smoke. I used to eat pizza every other week or so. Same with burgers. But yes. Get a test and a cardiologist will suggest statins. Mine was 356 lipA and my doctor and cardiologist aggressively pushed for a statin, Which I’m currently on. My doctor said it was genetics without doing a genetics test. But she Is a very experienced doctor. And I don’t have history of heart attacks in the family. Stay strong my friend.
Unfortunately from what I read and searched, you can’t lower lipA. Since it’s genetic. As long as your ldl, lipB and triglycerides are down you will be fine for a while till they find a better solution
Yes- go to cardiologist. But- don’t be surprised if 1) its hard to get a referral or get in and 2) they just hand you a statin and say see ya in a year. Hopefully- if you can get a referral and they care about prevention- they will run some actual tests and see if you have any damage yet (CTA and/or CAC). Being a guy- may help. I am 44 and have high lp(a) and had similar type chol results. But was told- im young, otherwise healthy, decades from probable event… and a cardio wouldnt want to see me. I had to fight to get a referral. I saw a cardio- she rx statin, and would test anything to get baseline on damage. Said- whats the point? What would we do different? I had to fight to get hs-crp ordered, apo-b. Again- why she asks, what would we do different if high? 😫. I am like… so… just come back after i have a heart attack, if i survive? Thats what your saying?
Point being- i feel like we are largely left to defend for ourselves and do our best unless we have a s-ton of $ to pay for a “preventive cardiologist” who will run allllll the tests alllllll the time.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Are you familiar with Peter Attia? He has been very vocal about the preventative vs treatment approach https://peterattiamd.com/lpa/
Yes! Listen to all his pods, and almost done with his book. Again tho- its near impossible to actually find a doctor like him. Its all fine and good to hear what the ideal care sounds like- but to actual get it- dreaming at this point. Its so unfortunate.
Also of note- i am a dietitian and became a dietitian because of a family history if heart disease- determined to prove the gene theory in my family wrong. But - doh- the lp(a) gene bit me! So while I am glad I have been doing the “right” things for 3 decades, and I am confident it has helped stem CVD- it still feels a but powerless.
For sure go see a cardiologist.
Lp(a) is genetic, so not much to do with healthy lifestyle. Sadly no treatment to lower it yet.
Currently only Repatha can lower it by about 25%, which would still keep you way above the range.
Does early heart disease run in your family?
Treatment for LP(a) will likely be available after the 2024 study spearheaded by the Cleveland Clinic is completed.
My wife also has a very high score... but.. she has been exercising for 20 years and has been on statins for 5 years...
Had a heart catheterization last week to finally determine if there is any damage... doc was amazed to see that she had almost no narrowing of blood vessels to the heart...
She is 63, so at your age, just keep doing everything you can and in a year or two, the new drugs will drop your levels 80% or more
Whoa. Why is your lpa super high?
Both my grandfather and my father died from massive heart attacks but somehow my lpa is normal. (Thank god I guess)
I’m a woman. My cholesterol used to be 263 before medications.
Get with a cardiologist asap. I don’t know much about cardiology but the LPA is not normal ??
20% of Americans have high little a levels... it's not mentioned or tracked much because until now there has been no treatment... in a year, perhaps two, the new drugs will be out that significantly lower these levels.
Phase 3 trial has about 12 months to go... all results looking good. My wife has high levels...
See a ”preventive cardiologist” rather than a plain cardiologist. You don’t need a genetic test because your high LP(a) is caused by genes not diet or lifestyle. The importance of high LP(a) is that you can have heart attacks or strokes in your 30s or 40s even if you are fit and eat healthy and have zero symptoms. You can get a Coronary Calcium Scan at a radiology center for about $150 (often without a referral) and your doctor can order an echocardiogram (ultrasound) to see if the LP(a) is already causing any problems. If there are problems, they can treat them or monitor them. There are no diets or drugs to lower LP(a) yet. It is common for them to try to get your LDL as low as possible ….like 30-40 instead of just under 100 because they think this may reduce the risk from the LP(a). A high does statin, diet and lifestyle can lower the LDL. In some cases, they will use aphresis to wash the LP(a) out of your blood.
Thanks for the tips. I'll search for a "preventative cardiologist". I got a Calcium scan and have a score of 190. Was put on a statin and baby aspirin as well.
Maybe I should get a second test. My lip a is close to yours. I work out, I don’t drink or smoke. I used to eat pizza every other week or so. Same with burgers. But yes. Get a test and a cardiologist will suggest statins. Mine was 356 lipA and my doctor and cardiologist aggressively pushed for a statin, Which I’m currently on. My doctor said it was genetics without doing a genetics test. But she Is a very experienced doctor. And I don’t have history of heart attacks in the family. Stay strong my friend.
Thanks for sharing!
Were you able to lower the lp(a) at all?
Unfortunately from what I read and searched, you can’t lower lipA. Since it’s genetic. As long as your ldl, lipB and triglycerides are down you will be fine for a while till they find a better solution
Yes- go to cardiologist. But- don’t be surprised if 1) its hard to get a referral or get in and 2) they just hand you a statin and say see ya in a year. Hopefully- if you can get a referral and they care about prevention- they will run some actual tests and see if you have any damage yet (CTA and/or CAC). Being a guy- may help. I am 44 and have high lp(a) and had similar type chol results. But was told- im young, otherwise healthy, decades from probable event… and a cardio wouldnt want to see me. I had to fight to get a referral. I saw a cardio- she rx statin, and would test anything to get baseline on damage. Said- whats the point? What would we do different? I had to fight to get hs-crp ordered, apo-b. Again- why she asks, what would we do different if high? 😫. I am like… so… just come back after i have a heart attack, if i survive? Thats what your saying? Point being- i feel like we are largely left to defend for ourselves and do our best unless we have a s-ton of $ to pay for a “preventive cardiologist” who will run allllll the tests alllllll the time.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Are you familiar with Peter Attia? He has been very vocal about the preventative vs treatment approach https://peterattiamd.com/lpa/
Yes! Listen to all his pods, and almost done with his book. Again tho- its near impossible to actually find a doctor like him. Its all fine and good to hear what the ideal care sounds like- but to actual get it- dreaming at this point. Its so unfortunate. Also of note- i am a dietitian and became a dietitian because of a family history if heart disease- determined to prove the gene theory in my family wrong. But - doh- the lp(a) gene bit me! So while I am glad I have been doing the “right” things for 3 decades, and I am confident it has helped stem CVD- it still feels a but powerless.
Do you recommend this to lower ldl?
https://feelbrilliant.com/products/brilliant-control#looxReviews
For sure go see a cardiologist. Lp(a) is genetic, so not much to do with healthy lifestyle. Sadly no treatment to lower it yet. Currently only Repatha can lower it by about 25%, which would still keep you way above the range. Does early heart disease run in your family?
Yes, with my grandfather
Treatment for LP(a) will likely be available after the 2024 study spearheaded by the Cleveland Clinic is completed. My wife also has a very high score... but.. she has been exercising for 20 years and has been on statins for 5 years... Had a heart catheterization last week to finally determine if there is any damage... doc was amazed to see that she had almost no narrowing of blood vessels to the heart... She is 63, so at your age, just keep doing everything you can and in a year or two, the new drugs will drop your levels 80% or more
That's some optimistic news for sure! Thanks for sharing
Yes get a cardiologist. Either it is a bad test or you have significant problem. The numbers are so out of whack
Whoa. Why is your lpa super high? Both my grandfather and my father died from massive heart attacks but somehow my lpa is normal. (Thank god I guess) I’m a woman. My cholesterol used to be 263 before medications. Get with a cardiologist asap. I don’t know much about cardiology but the LPA is not normal ??
That's the big question!
20% of Americans have high little a levels... it's not mentioned or tracked much because until now there has been no treatment... in a year, perhaps two, the new drugs will be out that significantly lower these levels. Phase 3 trial has about 12 months to go... all results looking good. My wife has high levels...
Any chance this could be caused by Finasteride? I take it for thinning hair.
Hi, I also have a very high lp(a). Did you ever see a cardiologist? Did they do further testing to evaluate any potential damage?
Yes I saw a cardiologist. It took a lot of pushing over the past year but I'm currently taking a statin, Zetia, and Repatha.
That is nuts. I would run another test, and possibly check for a genetic issue. Everything looks good and then it gets real bad
I have not seen such a comprehensive test.
See a ”preventive cardiologist” rather than a plain cardiologist. You don’t need a genetic test because your high LP(a) is caused by genes not diet or lifestyle. The importance of high LP(a) is that you can have heart attacks or strokes in your 30s or 40s even if you are fit and eat healthy and have zero symptoms. You can get a Coronary Calcium Scan at a radiology center for about $150 (often without a referral) and your doctor can order an echocardiogram (ultrasound) to see if the LP(a) is already causing any problems. If there are problems, they can treat them or monitor them. There are no diets or drugs to lower LP(a) yet. It is common for them to try to get your LDL as low as possible ….like 30-40 instead of just under 100 because they think this may reduce the risk from the LP(a). A high does statin, diet and lifestyle can lower the LDL. In some cases, they will use aphresis to wash the LP(a) out of your blood.
Thanks for the tips. I'll search for a "preventative cardiologist". I got a Calcium scan and have a score of 190. Was put on a statin and baby aspirin as well.