Anyone else out there with extremely high lipoprotein (a)?

Posted by csage1010 (Sue) @csage1010, Feb 21, 2022

Hi! I just found out that I have an extremely high lipoprotein (a) of 515 nmol/L. I'm terrified; it's that high. I'm 58 years old and my total cholesterol is 212. My LDL is 141, and my HDL is just 40. My cholesterol/HDL ratio is 5.3. Of course it's a long weekend and I may not be able to reach my doctor tomorrow. I have watched a couple of informational sessions online from various doctors discussing elevated LP(a), but no one mentions anything close to how high mine is. Is there anyone else out there with severely elevated Lp(a)? Thanking you in advance. Sue M.

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@yuki65

I’m a 65 year old , that is very healthy, I weigh 115 walk and average of 5 to 9 miles a day. I try and eat healthy I don’t drink and smoke. I keep active. But the calcium score freaks me out. 600 is way too high. What can I do?

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Many - MANY - folks have much higher CAC scores and remain asymptomatic.

Rule out obvious things:
- stress test with echo
- peripheral artery disease test
- advanced lipids test
- statins to get LDL around 50
- icosapent ethyl to get triglycerides around 50
- make sure you are symptomatic ... no chest discomfort ever?
- keep up your great lifestyle

Unless you have bad results from the above, live your life.

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@mayoconnectuser1

Age?
Previous issues?
Health?
Full lipid numbers?
Weight and height?
Body mass index?
Family history?

Ask your doctor, please.

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I’m a 65 year old , that is very healthy, I weigh 115 walk and average of 5 to 9 miles a day. I try and eat healthy I don’t drink and smoke. I keep active. But the calcium score freaks me out. 600 is way too high. What can I do?

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There are many kinds of coronary artery disease and combinations of lipids and lipid tests. It is kind of like putting together a puzzle. The numbers have to be used in context to each other and then that isn’t good enough we need a physical picture of our arteries to see if the puzzle pieces Have made an impact. This all must be used in combination with your diet and exercise. In summary, you need the numbers,, but they don’t work in a vacuum, so you need the pictures, and then you can make adjustments to your diet, exercise, routine, and medications. The science of coronary artery disease, the numbers, and the ratios are changing. New tests are emerging. Use those as a “guide“ to the actual photos of your arteries to see what condition you are actually in. Make adjustments where you can, research on your own, so you can suggest medication which you find promising, and see a cardiologist periodically to reassess your progress. From my observation, watching two generations of familial, coronary artery disease, it’s obvious that paying attention and making modifications along the way will allow everyone to live full lives. .

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@yuki65

I have a score of 600 for my calcium do I need to worry about taking cholesterol medication? My good cholesterol is really good but my bad is really bad 182? Should I start taking it.

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Age?
Previous issues?
Health?
Full lipid numbers?
Weight and height?
Body mass index?
Family history?

Ask your doctor, please.

REPLY

I have a score of 600 for my calcium do I need to worry about taking cholesterol medication? My good cholesterol is really good but my bad is really bad 182? Should I start taking it.

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Look up Dr Thomas Dayspring on YouTube. He is a lipidologist and he is fascinating. I think the best interviews are with Dr Gil Carvalho and another with Peter Attia. He said people should attack high cholesterol at the liver AND intestines. If you do one, the other will increase their receptors. I can not take statins, nor Praluent. I am taking Zetia, Nexletol and I added Benecol chocolates. My Dr wants my LDL below 30. I am a bit freaked out myself. My carotids are blocking and I have calcification in my aorta.

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@seroy

Hey there.
Just got my results and my
Lp a is 150 nmol.
Your results were in mg or nmol’s?

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I have 329 nmol. I have had one heart attack at 64. I just started taking Praluent which is a PCSK9 Inhibitor. I am hoping it will bring it down at least 30%. I am crossing my fingers.

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@seroy

Hey there.
Just got my results and my
Lp a is 150 nmol.
Your results were in mg or nmol’s?

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Nmol/L. Now 49 nmol/L. Down 63 lbs. afer 5+ years eating LCHF/keto.

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@whineboy

I don’t believe statins can do anything to reduce Lp(a); given your low HDL, you also might want to make lifesyle changes. I shifted to a low-carb healthy fat diet 3 years ago, my Lp(a) dropped from 92 to 66. Took a year.
Lifestyle changes can improve a range of things, including blood lipid profiles, blood sugar, and weight. I lost 50 lbs. and no longer am prediabetic.
Good luck!

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Hey there.
Just got my results and my
Lp a is 150 nmol.
Your results were in mg or nmol’s?

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Hello, I’m sorry I think I misread your question. I thought you were contemplating whether or not to go away for a long weekend, but your question was that you were concerned that you couldn’t get a hold of a medical professional or cardiologist over a long weekend.
My guess is the long weekend is over and you’ve had a chance to reach out to your medical professionals at this point?

Totally agree you should
Contact your personal care provider, and if you have a cardiologist contact them. If not, you should find a cardiologist. I have a very high CAC score, workout every day exercise, my diet could be better, and when asked by a cardiologist why my CAC score was so high, this might be the answer for the reason.

I’m an agreement with the previous post and that is you should probably have a hard scan to see what the levels of calcium and plaque are in your cardiovascular system.

I know you probably had some time to calm down, but sometimes it takes months. Just realize that what you know today was probably true yesterday and for a while before and you’re still here, so try not to overwhelm yourself. Stress is not good for you.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, and good luck keep us posted

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