By Christopher Piercecchi, MD
Physician and Wellness Manager, Founder, The Men’s Clinic for Wellness & Vitality
SITREP is an evidence-review briefing for patients and colleagues of The Men’s Clinic for Wellness & Vitality. It is educational and does not constitute individualized medical advice.
Most men are familiar with cholesterol. They know about LDL, often called “bad cholesterol,” and HDL, commonly referred to as “good cholesterol.” Many have their cholesterol checked every year and assume that if the numbers are acceptable, their cardiovascular risk is reasonably well understood.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There is another important cardiovascular risk factor that is not included in a standard cholesterol panel, is largely determined by genetics, and can remain completely unrecognized for decades. It is called lipoprotein(a), abbreviated Lp(a).
Approximately one in five people has an elevated Lp(a) concentration. Unlike many conventional cardiovascular risk factors, Lp(a) is largely unaffected by exercise, dietary changes, or weight loss. A man can be lean, physically active, metabolically healthy, and have relatively normal cholesterol levels while carrying a substantial inherited predisposition to cardiovascular disease.
This does not mean that everyone with elevated Lp(a) will develop heart disease. It means that a potentially important part of their cardiovascular risk may be missing from the evaluation.
Back to All Blogs