Why do you have a heart attack when cholesterol is normal? Learn about the Silent Killer Lp(a)

Heart attack normal cholesterol: In today's time, the cases of sudden heart attack are increasing rapidly even among young people who look very fit in the age group of 30 to 40 years. The most shocking thing is that the cholesterol report of such patients is quite normal. So who's doing the damage to the heart? According to medical experts, this is due to a hidden genetic marker called 'lipoprotein (a)' i.e. Lp(a). Which is not caught in the routine blood test and becomes a silent killer and gradually creates a risk of heart disease. Let us understand what this Lp(a) is and how to avoid it.

The hidden threat to today's youth

You must have heard of a 38-year-old fit young man going to office and suddenly he has chest pain. His last cholesterol report should also be perfectly normal. This is no longer a new or rare thing for doctors in India. We always focus on reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing good cholesterol (HDL). Control our diet and exercise regularly. When the report comes back normal, we breathe a sigh of relief that our heart is safe. But the real biggest threat is never seen in the report

lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a)?

lipoprotein (a) is a clever molecule of cholesterol that is never revealed in our normal lipid profile test. It behaves even more dangerous than bad cholesterol (LDL). The biggest problem is that a good diet or exercise doesn't work against this, because it's been written in your DNA from the moment you are born. The prevalence of this marker is more common in Indians, which quietly lays the foundation of heart disease without anyone noticing><

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Arrival of heart attack in India 10 to 15 years early

hospitals in India are showing a worrying trend. Young people in their 30s and 40s, who have no previous warning signs or bad reports of a heart attack, are reaching the emergency ward directly with a major heart attack. Indians are getting heart attacks 10 to 15 years earlier than in western countries. Several studies, including research from the National Institutes of Health, show that it is not just poor lifestyle that genetics play a major role in this.

So what is the solution? What can we do?

bitter truth is that there is currently no magic pill, no special diet, or any specific exercise available to reduce Lp(a). But that doesn't mean we should give up. Correct information is your biggest weapon:

Lp(a): Doctors specially advise that if a parent, sibling or a close relative in your family has suffered a heart attack, stroke or heart disease before the age of 60, you should immediately consult a doctor and get your blood test done for LP(a) without delay

Strict control over other risks: If the doctor finds that your Lp(A) level is high, they will advise you to aggressively control other risk factors. For example, keeping LDL cholesterol levels very low, high blood pressure and diabetes under strict control, and losing weight. Doing so can greatly reduce the overall risk of heart disease

NOTE: A normal cholesterol report does not necessarily mean that your heart is 100% healthy. It just means that there is no problem caught in that normal test. Be sure to ask your doctor about Lp(a) and get tested if necessary. Ignorance of health is a big gamble, which can prove fatal at any time.

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