Lipoprotein(a) Foundation Thanks Bob Harper for Revealing High Lp(a) Levels Led to His Recent Heart Attack on The Dr Oz Show

Commends Mandatory AEDs in Every Gym Efforts and Encourages Broader
Access to Testing for High Lp(a)

SAN CARLOS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#REVEALpa–The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation commends health and fitness expert Bob
Harper for sharing the genetic condition that led to his recent heart
attack on The Dr Oz Show – high levels of Lipoprotein(a), also
known as Lp(a).

When doctors discuss heart health, they are not concerned about
cholesterol itself, but rather the lipoprotein packages that carry
cholesterol through the bloodstream. While most people are familiar with
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein),
packages in the blood that carry what is often referred to as “bad” and
“good” cholesterol, Lp(a) carries bad cholesterol and other bad lipids
into your artery walls. High levels of Lp(a) travel through the
bloodstream and enter into the arteries, leading to gradual narrowing of
the artery that can limit blood supply to the heart or brain and can
increase the risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke and aortic
stenosis. High levels of Lp(a) also increase your risk of a blood clot.

Lp(a) is currently the strongest genetic risk factor for coronary heart
disease and aortic stenosis. Unfortunately, for some people like Bob
Harper, the first sign of disease is a heart attack or stroke. One in 5
people globally have inherited high Lp(a) – 63 million in the U.S. Lp(a)
concentrations can be measured by a simple blood test, but it is not
included in most standard lipid panel tests that check cholesterol
levels. The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation recently issued an Infographic
to raise awareness that a simple blood test could be the first step in
preventing up to 120,000 cardiovascular events every year. For more
information about patients with high Lp(a) and heart disease, visit www.TESTLpa.org.

“We want to thank Bob Harper for sharing his story and reinforcing the
fact that fit, healthy people can inherit factors like Lp(a) that cause
early heart disease. We commend his efforts to educate people about the
need for CPR education and to push for mandatory AEDs in every gym,”
said Sandra Revill Tremulis, founder of Lipoprotein(a) Foundation.
“There is a growing body of research that links high Lp(a) to heart
attacks and strokes. The mission of the Lipoprotein(a) Foundation is to
empower patients and prevent cardiovascular events due to high Lp(a)
through proper testing and diagnosis and we hope that Bob Harper’s story
will help raise awareness about genetic causes of heart disease.”

About The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation

Because approximately 63 million Americans have high Lp(a) and are at
risk of premature cardiovascular disease, the vision for the foundation
is: To live in a world where high Lp(a) is routinely diagnosed,
treated and family screened. The mission is to prevent
cardiovascular events due to high Lp(a) by diagnosing this inherited
risk for cardiovascular disease; educating and empowering patients and
saving lives. Our goal is to save lives by increasing awareness,
advocating for routine testing, and supporting research that will lead
to a specific treatment for high Lp(a). Based in San Carlos, California,
the Lipoprotein(a) Foundation is a patient-founded, 501(c)3 non-profit
organization. To learn more about high Lp(a) visit: www.TESTLpa.org.

Citations available upon request.

Contacts

Lipoprotein(a) Foundation
Sandra Revill Tremulis, MBA, 650-995-3242
President
and Founder
serevill@lipoproteinafoundation.org