March 24th is Lipoprotein(a) Awareness Day!

https://familyheart.org/lpa-awareness-day Today is Lp(a) Awareness Day! A diagnosis is critical for a person to receive appropriate care and to be empowered to make informed choices. In the case of Lp(a), making a diagnosis is easy; a simple blood test is all that is needed. The higher the Lp(a), the higher the risk. Upwards of 64 million people in the United States have been born with a genetic mutation that causes them to have abnormal Lp(a) levels circulating in their bloodstream. Every individual with high Lp(a) is at higher risk of early and aggressive cardiovascular disease. Sometimes cardiovascular disease manifests as a stroke; other times, it is a blocked coronary artery or arteries that cause a heart attack or require invasive surgery. Sometimes, cardiovascular disease shows up as peripheral artery disease, which reduces healthy blood flow to extremities, usually the legs. Today, it is estimated that fewer than 5 million people in America have ever been screened – leaving 60 million people in the dark about their condition and the risks it poses. Since the Family Heart Foundation first launched Lp(a) Awareness Day on March 24, 2022, the Lp(a) screening rate has more than quadrupled, but going from 1 percent to 4–5 percent is not fast enough. Today is your chance to raise your voice. Use social media for good! Share our resources with your family and among your friends and colleagues. Raise awareness, because it saves lives. And always, stay curious. Learning keeps us young at heart. Please join us in making today matter! Happy Lp(a) Awareness Day. https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyHeartFoundation/streams