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  • 4 months ago
Think you’re in the clear because your cholesterol is “normal”? Think again. There’s another, often overlooked marker that may silently increase your cardiovascular risk—lipoprotein(a). In this eye-opening video, we explore why health-conscious individuals need to pay attention to more than just LDL and HDL.
Lipoprotein(a), a genetically inherited particle similar to LDL but with a dangerous twist, can promote both plaque buildup and vascular inflammation—double trouble for your heart. Unlike traditional cholesterol, this risk factor cannot be controlled through diet, exercise, or other healthy lifestyle habits alone. In fact, even the most rigorous healthy living routine may have no effect on your lipoprotein(a) levels.
We break down the science behind how this molecule contributes to heart attacks, what current therapies can and can’t do, and why testing for lipoprotein(a) might be crucial—especially if heart disease runs in your family.
For those fanatical about optimizing their health, understanding lipoprotein(a) could be the missing piece in your prevention strategy. Don’t miss this essential guide to safeguarding your heart
Transcript
00:00Most people have heard of LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.
00:05Those are the cholesterol types that people commonly refer to as the good cholesterol and the bad cholesterol.
00:14But did you know that even if your cholesterol levels are normal, you can still be at risk for heart disease and stroke?
00:24That is because there is another cholesterol particle that you need to be aware of and that you need to follow.
00:34That is the lipoprotein little a.
00:37Lipoprotein little a can be described as an LDL molecule with an extra protein attached to it.
00:46That extra protein is the apolipoprotein little a.
00:51The apolipoprotein little a can cause inflammation in the body.
00:58Now, lipoprotein little a also contains regular cholesterol.
01:04The result is the molecule, the lipoprotein little a, that can damage the body in two fashions.
01:13First, it contains cholesterol, which we know can build up in the arteries and lead to plaque formation.
01:24Then it has the apolipoprotein molecule that can cause inflammation in the vessel wall.
01:30And the inflammation in the vessel wall can lead to rupture of plaques and to heart attacks and strokes.
01:39In fact, that is the most common way heart attacks occur.
01:44Exactly how lipoprotein little a increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes is still not known.
01:51Lipoprotein little a is similar in structure to a substance in the blood that dissolves clots.
02:01That substance is called plasminogen.
02:05Scientists believe that lipoprotein little a interferes with the function of plasminogen
02:12and that makes our blood prone to clotting.
02:18Now, unlike regular cholesterol levels that can be lowered by lifestyle changes,
02:24lipoprotein little a is not affected by these.
02:30Stress management, a heart healthy diet, regular exercise, blood pressure control,
02:37weight loss will not lower your lipoprotein little a levels.
02:45This is because 70 to 90% of your lipoprotein little a levels are inherited.
02:53On top of that, there still are no good medications to lower lipoprotein little a levels.
02:59So what can you do if you receive a report and your lipoprotein little a levels are high?
03:07The regular cholesterol-lowering medications that we're familiar with
03:11will not lower lipoprotein little a levels.
03:15But they are beneficial.
03:19They can lower the overall cardiovascular risk.
03:25Doctors will therefore optimize your cardiovascular risk by prescribing a statin.
03:33The next step is to maximize your overall cardiovascular health through rigorous lifestyle changes
03:44that include heart-healthy diets, regular exercise, 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly,
03:54smoking cessation, weight control, blood pressure control,
03:59and, of course, if you're diabetic, diabetes control.
04:05Checking lipoprotein little a levels are very important for people with premature heart disease
04:11or with a family history of premature heart disease.
04:15That is, if you or a family member had heart disease or stroke
04:21before the age of 55 in men or 65 in women.
04:28People who have heart-to-treat cholesterol are on maximum cholesterol medication
04:35and their cholesterol levels are not lowering or not descending
04:39should also have their lipoprotein little a checked.
04:42And you should have your family members checked too.
04:47Elevated lipoprotein little a levels run in families.
04:52The good news is that there are ongoing trials right now
04:55with promising medications that will lower the lipoprotein little a in the future.
05:02I hope you found this video useful.
05:04If you did, like and share with friends and family.
05:08You can support this channel by subscribing.
05:10Until the next video, stay healthy and stay safe.

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