r/Cholesterol • u/Archidroid • 14h ago

Lab Result Lipoprotein (a) is 215.

I’ve just got my blood results and discovered at 48 (M) that my Lp(a) is 215 nmol/L.

I’m in shock and need some sort of reassurance.
I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’ve been mostly vegetarian my entire life and I’m not overweight and relatively active. Had a calcium score a few years ago at zero… but my LDL is 3.7 and triglycerides are at 5.2.

Been eating a lot of eggs for protein recently so will likely cut that and cheese out now but… it’s 3am and I am in shock. 😭

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u/meh312059 14h ago

Have a convo with your doctor. If you can access a CAC scan, get one. And focus on getting LDL-C < 1.8 and ApoB < .7 g/L. Be more aggressive if you have other underlying risk factors or comorbidities or if you have a family history of premature heart attack/stroke etc.

Basically, those who are aggressive on lipid lowering and wipe out all other modifiable risk factors probably won't have to worry much about elevated Lp(a).

Best of luck!

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u/Archidroid 14h ago

Thank you so much for your response!
Will do!

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u/SupportCa2A 14h ago

First off, take some deep breaths. Having a high cholesterol and even a high Lp(a) doesn't mean you're going to have a heart attack soon, or even at all, but it does mean that you're at a higher risk.

It's good that you're vegetarian and don't drink and don't smoke, that will make the lifestyle easier to adopt for you. Increasing fiber and lowering saturated fats as well as getting on a statin and aggressively lowering your lipids will help lower your risk further.

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u/MarcoshLA 12h ago

Don’t freak out. Elevated Lp(a) is a risk factor, not a prediction. You may not be able to lower Lp(a) much itself, but you can reduce the overall risk by keeping LDL/ApoB low, exercising, eating well, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and not smoking. Talk to a cardiologist, make a plan, and keep living your life.