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A Heart Disease Risk Even Your Doctor May Not Know About
By NAPS,
North American Precis Syndicate
. New York
,
NY
.
Photo:
NAPS
It's a healthy idea to know all your cholesterol numbers, no matter how fit you feel. (NAPS) |
(NAPSI)—If you’re like most people, you’re familiar with
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), particles
in the blood that carry what is often referred to as “bad” and “good”
cholesterol. There is, however, another lipoprotein particle you should be
aware of: lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), which poses a high risk of
early cardiovascular disease.
The Danger
High levels of Lp(a) travel through the bloodstream and enter into the
arteries, leading to gradual narrowing of the artery that can limit blood
supply to the heart or brain. This increases the risk of blood clots, heart
attack, stroke and aortic stenosis. Lp(a) is the most prevalent genetic risk
factor for coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis. One in five people have
inherited high Lp(a)-63 million in the U.S. Anyone with a parent with
elevated Lp(a) has a high risk of inheriting it.
People with high levels of Lp(a) can be at risk even if they’re
physically fit and have “normal” LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.
Unfortunately, for many, the first sign of the disease is a heart attack or
stroke.
A Simple Test May Be The Answer
The good news is a simple blood test measures Lp(a) concentrations, though
it’s not included in most standard lipid panel tests. Current cholesterol
guidelines miss 8 percent of people who have a cardiovascular event whose
only risk factor is high Lp(a). Knowing Lp(a) levels could be the first step
in preventing up to 120,000 cardiovascular events in the U.S. every year.
Saving Lives In Three Easy Steps
1. Recognition: Test everyone
for high lipoprotein(a) once in their lifetime.
2. Prevention: If you have high
Lp(a), work with your physician to develop an aggressive prevention plan.
3. Vigilance: People with high
Lp(a) levels should be aware of stroke and heart attack symptoms.
“Fit, healthy people can inherit genetic factors like high Lp(a)
that cause early heart disease,” said Dr. Henry N. Ginsberg, the Irving
Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. “Research continues to
show the significance of Lp(a) as an independent, genetic risk factor for
cardiovascular disease.”
The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation’s mission is to empower patients to
prevent cardiovascular events and support research into a specific treatment
for elevated lipoprotein(a). “We are advocating that Lp(a) testing be
added to the standard cholesterol test to increase the rate of early
diagnosis and provide a more accurate prediction of risk,” said Sandra
Revill Tremulis, founder of Lipoprotein(a) Foundation.
Learn More
For further facts, visit www.TESTLpa.org.
 ““Fit,
healthy people can inherit genetic factors like high Lp(a) that cause early
heart disease,” said Dr. Ginsberg, the
Irving Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. http://bit.ly/2q1rQQn”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)
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