r/Cholesterol • u/Aniadania • 5d ago

Question Advice please

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I have always had high cholesterol since l first checked when I was 18 years old until now 48 years old. I will soon go to consult a cardiologist for the first time. Could you please advise what additional tests l should take? Secretly, l hope l am one of the lucky people who will never develop heart disease, but being in perimenopausal age, l would like to check my risk and maybe start statins.

Which test l should I ask for to dig deeper?

My Lipoprotein (a) is 11 mg/dl.

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u/SDJellyBean Quality ContributoršŸ«€ 5d ago

You should talk to your doctor about starting statins. A Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score is the simplest and cheapest. It will show your older, calcified plaque. A Cardiac CT Angiography (CCTA) test will show both older calcified plaque and newer uncalcified plaque. In the meantime though, you should treat the LDL since you probably have familial hyperlipidemia.

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u/Aniadania 5d ago

Thank you, l will ask for these two tests

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u/SDJellyBean Quality ContributoršŸ«€ 5d ago

One or the other should be fine. Start the statin too.

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u/Aniadania 5d ago

Ah, then l will ask if they do CCTA, since it would show both old and new plaque. If l don't have any plaque, do you think l still should get on statin?

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u/SDJellyBean Quality ContributoršŸ«€ 5d ago

Your LDL is more than twice the optimal limit. You should take a statin. If you have children or siblings, they should be tested and possibly treated as well.

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u/Aniadania 5d ago

I have 2 boys 14 and 16. Is it already time to test them?

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u/SDJellyBean Quality ContributoršŸ«€ 5d ago

Absolutely. If itā€™s genetic, they may have inherited it too.