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Lp(a): L-P-little a, Lipoprotein (a). Actor portrayals.
Information is key to helping you take charge of your heart health—and your family’s
Here you can find the most common questions about high Lp(a). Sign up to receive future updates and news on high Lp(a). Always talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have about your health and together you can figure out the best steps to take.
Learning about high Lp(a)
High Lp(a) can be an important factor in understanding overall heart health.
Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), is in your blood, and made up of both fat (lipo) and protein. Its main job is to help transport fats through your bloodstream.
However, too much Lp(a) in the blood can stick to your artery walls and cause harmful blockages. A high Lp(a) level may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke early in life, as well as another event in the future. "Early" means before age 55 in men, and 65 in women.
A normal level of Lp(a) is under 75 nmol/L (30 mg/dL). If your lipoprotein (a) level is greater than or equal to 125 nmol/L (50 mg/dL), this means your Lp(a) level is high and you are at a higher risk for heart disease.
An Lp(a) level that is greater than or equal to 125 nmol/L (50 mg/dL) is considered high and is an emerging indicator for heart risk. It’s an inherited condition, meaning it can be passed down from your parents and may not be impacted by lifestyle, diet, or exercise.
High Lp(a) may increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke earlier in life (before age 55 in men, and 65 in women). And, after suffering a heart attack or stroke, having a high lipoprotein (a) may increase the risk of having another event in the future.
It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans may have inherited a high level of Lp(a), also known as lipoprotein (a). That’s roughly 1 in 5 people in the United States. High lipoprotein (a) is even more common in Black and South Asian individuals. It's especially important to know if you have high Lp(a) if you have had a heart attack or stroke at a younger age (for men, this means before age 55, and for women, before age 65).
Your Lp(a) level is 90% inherited, meaning it is mostly determined by your genes, and it is generally not impacted by lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. While healthy habits won’t affect your Lp(a) level, they are still important for overall heart health.
Getting tested for high Lp(a)
Getting tested for high Lp(a) can be an important step in overall heart health.
A simple blood test can let you know whether you have high Lp(a)—no genetic testing is needed.
At your next visit, you can ask your doctor if you should have a lipoprotein (a) test added to your routine blood work. If you or a parent or sibling have had a heart attack or stroke at a younger age than expected, be sure to mention this to your doctor when you ask for an Lp(a) test. Your doctor will use the CPT® code 83695 when ordering the blood test.*†
*CPT Copyright 2017 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
†CPT® codes (Current Procedural Terminology) provide doctors and health care professionals a uniform language for coding medical services and procedures.
You can order an Lp(a) test online. To learn more, check out our Resources section.
You should consider testing if:
You have a personal history of early heart attack or stroke: if you have an event before age 55 in men or before age 65 in women.
Your parents or siblings have high Lp(a).
You have a family history of early heart problems, like a parent or sibling who had a heart attack or stroke younger than expected (before age 55 in men, or age 65 in women).
High Lp(a), or lipoprotein (a), is a hidden condition, and people may be unaware they have it unless they get tested. High Lp(a) can raise your risk for heart disease—even if you don't have other common risks like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. This risk can last your whole life, especially since your high Lp(a) level is mostly inherited.
Thinking about next steps with high Lp(a)
If you have high Lp(a), these answers can help. Always talk to your doctor about the next steps to manage your overall heart health.
If your Lp(a) level is high, you should begin by discussing your results with your doctor. To help you with your follow-up visit, we developed a guide with important topics for you to consider.
Since high Lp(a) is an inherited condition, a high reading for you could indicate that other members of your family may be affected too. You can talk to them about getting tested through their doctor or by a lab.
Yes! Especially if your Lp(a) is high, it's important to work with your doctor on a plan to manage your overall heart health. This could include a heart-healthy diet, exercise, not smoking, getting a good night's sleep, and maintaining a healthy body weight. While these measures are unlikely to push down your Lp(a) level, they can help address other risks to a healthy heart.
Having a healthy diet has little to no impact on your Lp(a) level. Still, having healthy habits is important to support your overall heart health.
Yes, always take medicines as prescribed by your doctor. Work with your doctor to create a plan to manage other heart risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels.
The Family Heart Foundation aims to increase timely identification and improved care of high Lp(a). They also have care navigators—heart experts who are ready to answer all your questions—at no cost to you. You can get more information at familyheart.org ↗.
Currently, there are no medicines approved by the FDA to decrease Lp(a). However, therapies are being investigated. You should stay vigilant with your heart health. Sign up to stay tuned for news on high Lp(a).