Inflammation, why your Lp-PLA2 Levels are important to know – Blood Basics

Elevated Lp-LPA2 number can suggest increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, heart disease, stroke, or heart attack.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) Is a substance that aids in the inflammatory response of your blood vessels.  When blood vessels become inflamed (a process of healing) there is more chance that a clot will begin to form.

Think of your blood vessels as a blood highway, and inflammation as road construction workers. When your body gets a damage signal it sends a construction crew with to fix the pot hole. When we have too much inflammation for too long, our body works to repair pot holes that have already been filled, causing unnecessarily patch work resulting in a massive berm in your blood highway, or a blockage in your vessel.

Some recent studies have shown that elevated levels of this is an indicator of greater risk of heart attack and stroke.  It makes since then that this is a very important number to know. Cardiovascular disease (heart attack, heart disease and stroke) has caused more death in United States each year than any other cause of death.  So, when you combine elevated levels of this enzyme with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol levels then this creates a potential recipe for disaster.

This number is more concerning if also you have:

–  Strong family history of heart disease or stroke
–  Elevated Blood pressure
–  Elevated Pulse
–  Elevated Blood sugar levels
–  Elevated Cholesterol levels
–  Elevated Body inflammation markers

If your Lp-LPA2 number is elevated this would suggest that you have increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, heart disease, having a stroke or heart attack. But it is important to also note that just because your Lp-PLA2 levels may be high it’s not a death sentence; It is simply a risk factor that needs to be considered with the whole picture of your health.

If you are curious as to what your levels are come to Trivida where we will test this plus a whole lot more.

 Corey Feldman MMS, PA-C, ACSM-CPT
Trivida Owner, Physician Assistant and Trainer

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