Normal cholesterol but early heart attack risk? Doctors say Lipoprotein(a) test can reveal hidden danger
Published on: March 12, 2026, 7 p.m. | Source: Times of India
For years, heart health conversations have focused on familiar numbers: LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. These markers appear in almost every routine cholesterol report. Yet cardiologists say an important piece of the puzzle is often missing.Across India, doctors are seeing a troubling pattern. People in their 30s and 40s are arriving at hospitals with heart attacks despite having “normal” cholesterol reports.The explanation sometimes lies in a lesser-known marker called Lipoprotein(a), often written as Lp(a). Unlike many other cholesterol markers, this one is strongly influenced by genetics and can quietly increase heart risk long before symptoms appear.
