"The Overlooked Red Flag in Assessing Heart Attack Risk, According to Doctors"

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a protein that can significantly increase the risk of heart attack when present in high levels in the blood, is often overlooked as a red flag for heart disease. Lp(a) causes atherosclerosis, inflammation, and increases the risk of clotting, making it a triple threat. Despite its prevalence and impact on cardiovascular health, only a small percentage of Americans have had their Lp(a) levels checked. While there is currently no therapeutic available to reduce Lp(a) levels, it is still important to test for it as it can help identify individuals at higher risk and allow for the mitigation of other cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers are actively studying Lp(a) and developing potential therapeutics to reduce its risk in the future.