This Cheap Blood Test Could Save Your Life (seriously!)
Brad Stanfield
Jul 11, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Combine low-dose statin and ezetimibe for low LDL targets
To reach very low LDL targets, a combination of a low-dose statin and the medication ezetimibe is a cheap and effective option.
Get Lipoprotein(a) blood test once to assess key risk factor
You only need to get the Lipoprotein(a) blood test once in your life, and it can cost as little as $51 to assess this key risk factor.
Understand genetic influence on lipoprotein(a) levels
Unlike most heart disease risk factors, your Lipoprotein(a) levels are almost exclusively driven by your genetics, not your lifestyle.
Get tested for elevated Lp(a) to understand your risk
About one in five people have elevated Lipoprotein(a) levels, but since only 1-2% of people are ever tested, most are unaware of their risk.
Acknowledge lack of lifestyle or drug solutions for high Lipoprotein(a) levels
There are currently no significant lifestyle changes or approved medications that can specifically lower high Lipoprotein(a) levels.
Aggressively lower LDL cholesterol below 40-50 mg/dL for high Lipoprotein(a)
For patients with high Lipoprotein(a), the strategy is to aggressively lower LDL cholesterol to a target below 40-50 mg/dL.
Consider aspirin for primary prevention in high Lipoprotein(a) patients
For patients with high Lipoprotein(a), there is evidence that the benefits of using aspirin for primary prevention may outweigh the risks.
Recognize Lipoprotein(a) as six times more damaging than LDL
A Lipoprotein(a) particle is particularly inflammatory and causes about six times as much damage compared to a regular LDL particle.
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