Cholesterol and LPA: What if traditional tests don't tell you everything?

When we do blood tests to check the heart health, we are used to always looking at the same values: the "good" cholesterol (HDL), the “bad” one (LDL) ei triglyceridesIf these numbers fall within the parameters, we tend to breathe a sigh of relief and think we are safe.

Yet, medical research has found that nearly half of people dealing with cardiovascular disease have seemingly perfect cholesterol levels.

How is this possible? The answer lies in the fact that our blood contains other indicators that are "invisible" to routine tests. One of the most important is Lipoprotein (a), Or simply LPA.

LPA is a particular substance present in the blood that often travels undetected. It doesn't depend on how much exercise we do or how healthy our diet is: it's written in our DNAEach of us is born with different levels and we inherit them from our families.

When LPA is present in high concentrations, it can act silently within the blood vessels, affecting circulation even in those who feel in perfect shape and live an impeccable lifestyle.

While cholesterol levels can fluctuate throughout the year based on what we eat or our stress levels, LPA levels remain virtually constant throughout our lives. For this reason, a simple one-time check is all it takes to get to know it and add a fundamental piece to the picture of your health.

Asking yourself whether it is worth exploring this value further is particularly useful if:

Getting informed and talking to your doctor about these “hidden” parameters is the first step to taking conscious care of yourself.

At Hub Vicenza Medical CenterOur blood collection point is available to perform blood tests and help you monitor all the values ​​important for your well-being.