Understanding Lp(a) or Lipoprotein(a)
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of cholesterol that can quietly raise your risk of heart and blood vessel problems.
High Lp(a) levels have been linked to heart attacks, stroke, valve disease, and even poor circulation in the legs.Doctors have known about Lp(a) for many years, but only in the past couple of decades have we understood how important it is as a separate risk factor — even if your regular cholesterol looks fine.
Understanding Lp(a)
Lipoprotein(a) – The Hidden Heart Risk Factor
What is Lp(a)
Lipoprotein(a), also called “Lp little a,” is a type of cholesterol particle similar to LDL (“bad” cholesterol), but it carries an extra protein that makes it stickier and more likely to cause plaque buildup in arteries. Unlike other cholesterol types, Lp(a) levels are primarily determined by your genes, not your lifestyle.
1 in 5
People have elevated Lp(a)
90%
Determined by genetics
Why Does Lp(a) Matter?
High Lp(a) can triple your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and valve problems — even when other cholesterol levels are normal. It promotes plaque buildup and blood clot formation. Most people don’t know they have elevated levels because exercise and healthy eating don’t lower it.
3x
Higher heart disease risk
Silent
Most people don’t know
Understanding Your Levels
Lp(a) is measured in nmol/L. Here’s what your results mean:
<75 nmol/L
Desirable
75-100 nmol/L
Borderline
>125 nmol/L
High risk
Who Should Be Tested?
Many major societies now recommend testing everyone once in their lifetime. However, especially consider Lp(a) testing if you have:
✓ Family history of early heart disease or stroke
✓ High cholesterol that’s difficult to treat
✓ Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
✓ Had stent, bypass, or valve disease without a clear cause
✓ Moderate to high overall heart risk
What If My Lp(a) Is High?
There’s no direct treatment yet, but you can still lower your overall cardiovascular risk:
LDL-cholesterol
Manage LDL-C aggressively
Blood Pressure
Keep BP controlled
Weight
Maintain healthy weight
Diabetes
Control blood sugar levels
Exercise
Stay physically active
Lifestyle
Quit smoking, healthy diet
❤️ Key Takeaways
Many major societies now recommend testing everyone once in their lifetime. However, especially consider Lp(a) testing if you have:
✓ Lp(a) is largely genetic – you can’t diet or exercise it away
✓ One test is usually enough – levels don’t change much over time
✓ High Lp(a) means more aggressive management of other risk factors
✓ New treatments specifically for Lp(a) are in development
✓ Family screening is recommended if you have high levels