March 24 is being recognized this year as Lipoprotein(a) Awareness Day, a time to spread awareness among the general public and the medical field about elevated lipoprotein(a), a condition which can increase a person’s risk of premature stroke or heart disease. The Family Heart Foundation, a Patient Worthy partner organization, has put together a toolkit for anyone that is looking to advocate for increased awareness. Keep reading if you’re interested in getting involved.
About Elevated Lipoprotein(a)
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a low-density lipoprotein variant which contains a protein called apolipoprotein(a). While all people have Lp(a) in their blood, levels can vary by over a thousand parts between individuals. Elevated Lp(a) is not particularly rare, but it’s a condition that is widely underrecognized; an estimated 1 billion people have elevated lipoprotein(a), including 63 million people in the US. Lp(a) levels appear to be at least partly determined by genetic differences. A study found that people of African descent tended to have higher average levels than other populations, but the full range of variability can be found in people of all ethnic backgrounds. Research has revealed that high lipoprotein(a) increases risk of early heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease. For more information on this condition, click here.
The Family Heart Foundation has put a number of resources together for their Lipoprotein(a) Awareness Day Toolkit, such as:
- Pre-made social media posts for Twitter and Instagram
- Special Tweet-a-thon social media posts for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Make sure to use the hashtag #KnowLpa
- Printable posters and infographics
- A collection of personal stories from people with elevated lipoprotein(a)
What are you waiting for? If you are ready to play your part on Lp(a) Awareness Day, click here.
