Today is Lp(a) Awareness Day, and I refer to this genetic risk factor as “The Felon of the Lipid Neighborhood” in Chapter 6 of my book. And one of my best friends is a great example of how nefarious Lp(a) can be, even for those with optimal metabolic “Home Security Systems.” He wasn’t insulin resistant (even by my standards), his blood pressure was pristine, and his inflammatory markers were undetectable. He looked more like he had just descended from Mount Olympus than perched precariously on the precipice of a cardiovascular cliff!

His 10-year risk calculator of having a cardiovascular event was 2.3%, and his PREVENT risk calculator was even lower. “Keep up the good work, right?” Well, his family history was telling me a much different story. His Lp(a) was 128 mg/dL (when using this measurement, anything over 50 is significantly elevated), and his coronary artery calcium (CAC) score was 2,814! (for reference, those with scores of 300 or higher have equivalent risk of heart attacks, even over the short-term, as those who have had prior cardiac events.

My friend had to have a 5-vessel coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). And guess what? We’re still running together, he even qualified for the World Championships for Ironman Triathlons, I get to share his incredibly inspirational story…and most importantly, I continue to enjoy the blessing of his friendship.

Check your Lp(a). Just do it.