Ep. 351: The "Evil Cousin" to LDL - Why Everyone Should Know Their Lp(a) Number with Dr. Akil Taher

What if one simple blood test could reveal a genetic risk factor for heart disease that affects 1 in 5 people worldwide?

Rip sits down with physician, endurance athlete, and author Dr. Akil Taher to talk about a critical—but often overlooked—marker for cardiovascular risk: Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a).

Despite decades of research linking elevated Lp(a) to heart attacks, strokes, and aortic valve disease, fewer than 2% of Americans have ever been tested.

Dr. Taher shares his remarkable personal story—from heart disease and bypass surgery to becoming a marathoner and mountain climber in his 70s—and explains why understanding your Lp(a) level could be lifesaving.

They dive into:

• What Lp(a) actually is and why it's called the “evil cousin of LDL”
• Why genetics—not lifestyle—largely determine your Lp(a)
• Why many healthy people still suffer heart attacks
• The surprising link between Lp(a), inflammation, and blood clotting
• Who should absolutely get tested
• Why the nanomoles-per-liter test matters
• How lifestyle medicine and a whole-food plant-based diet still play a critical protective role

Dr. Taher’s message is simple but powerful:

Get tested. Know your number. Protect your heart.

Because what you don’t know can hurt you—but what you discover could save your life.

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