A treatment’s effect on atherosclerosis

[Yuck]

Greetings!

A question on the topic in the title was asked by maresba14.

One important response from Identiy addressed how atherosclerosis is a common condition in life even in those whose blood lipids are excellent.

Nevertheless, doctors should evaluate their patients at least once in their lives for a dangerous type of Cholesterol that is high in 20% of people and is a percentage of the LDL reading. It is called Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a).

Lifestyle, diet, and statins do not and cannot specifically reduce Lp(a).

Lp(a) testing can be done at the same time as the traditional tests for Cholesterol. Since easy treatments for high Lp(a) are not readily available, even the best doctors tend to overlook this test.

For those whose family members had cardiac disease, strokes or aortic valve issues at younger ages, this test could be important.

High Lp(a) is associated with genetic factors inherited from one’s parents and is NOT linked to behavior.

There is a national organization which can provide lots of information. It is the Family Heart Foundation, easily found on the Internet.

Best to all,

Yuck

[Lenny123]

Atherosclerosis is influenced by many things, diet, tobacco smoking, activity, genetics, age, Diabetes, to name a few. some controllable, some not.A thrilling, indisputable fact is that good studies, have demonstrated the power of slowing and even reversing its effects, to an extent. specifically those of Dean Ornish MD and others. Since at least the 1980's.

A regime of avoidance of animal derived foods, tobacco, as well as doing mild exercise, eating whole, minimally processed foods, is remarkably and reproducably effective.

Most clinicians do not even breach the topic, out of ignorance. out of cynicism( which may be justified as few will engage and sustain such regimes). and because of financial and other inducements to use procedure and medication.

Medications and procedures are an underappreciated blessing in our time, but there are other, very important aspects which the determined, can use to their benefit.

[Cliff_G]

Agreed, Yuck . In controlling my post-event cholesterol, my Consultant did the Lp(a) test and lo, I am very high (200+) in spite of my L/HDL etc being not at all bad. This could well have had an influence on my having an aortic dissection, possibly/probably due to a (definite) Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer, in turn possibly due to the Lp(a). As you say, it can have a genetic basis, and is associated with aortopathies. What my consultant advised agrees with what you said that Lp(a) can't be specifically targeted, however, he said that the way it can be handled is to minimise the risk from other atherosclerotic risk routes.

[Yuck in reply to Cliff_G]

Hi Cliff!

Thank you for sharing your experience and your consultant’s advice. I hope others will read your post and get themselves and their family members tested, if warranted. All the best,

Yuck