Know Your LP(a) Number

Luca’s Story: A Heart “Alarm” behind a Cardiac Arrest

Get your #GotMyLp sticker after completing an LP (a) Test

Lucas never thought he would have anything to do with cardiovascular disease.

At 52, he managed to do weekly exercise and maintain a regular diet. Everything changed when he suddenly collapsed at home. It was one ordinary Friday afternoon in 2023, and Lucas suddenly felt an intense crushing pressure in his chest.

A Heart Attack With No Explanation

Lucas could not believe that he had a heart attack. It only made him more confused after he reviewed his test results. His blood pressure and cholesterol are normal, and his coronary arteries don’t have severe narrowing. In theory, this shouldn’t have happened.

“I even thought about enduring it-I figured maybe I ate too much at lunch, or I’d just been too tired lately,” Lucas remembers. Lucas’ life returns to his daily routine, as if the incident were a dream. During an annual physical test, the Doctor added one new item: Lipoprotein (a) testing.

Lucas was confused about the newly added test and asked the Doctor, “Why test this?” Lucas said. “He told me: you had a heart attack at a relatively young age, and your cholesterol isn’t extremely high, so we need to see if this is a genetic factor.”

It Runs in the Family

The test result came. Lp(a) result: 180nmol/L, which was far above the normal limit. The results were completely beyond Lucas’ expectations. “This was totally unexpected,” Lucas stated. “As an outdoor lover who enjoys hiking and running, it was a shock to me that my arteries were in such bad shape,” Lucas explained.

The Doctor asked, “Do your parents have a history of heart disease?”

“My father died from a heart attack at 68.”

“Lp(a) is largely determined by genetics. It can raise the risk of heart attacks.”

Lucas froze. He immediately realized family genetic inheritance. What about his two daughters? Lucas called Eva and Ella and urged them to get tested. Eva and Ella’s results came back, and both girls have high cardiovascular risk.

Knowing Your Risks

“I felt terrified and relieved,” Lucas said. “Terrified because I would have never known these risks are carried through genetics if I had never done the test. Relieved because my daughters know these risks early, so they don’t have to go through the same thing I experienced.”

“I never will or have blamed my dad. Knowing about my body and risks is a gift to me. It helps me build healthy habits and learn how to take care of myself, said Eva, Lucas’ eldest sibling.

We can’t choose our genetics. But we can choose to know. And knowing your Lp(a) isn’t about living in fear-it’s about making sure your future decisions are based on information, not guesswork.

Book an Lp(a) Test for you. For your loved ones.