We still don’t know if lowering Lp(a) can decrease cardiovascular risk (though Berger said research and drug trials increasingly hint at this benefit). And because Lp(a) level is largely driven by genetics, it doesn’t shift in response to lifestyle changes the way other cholesterol levels do. Some doctors may alternatively prescribe a non-statin cholesterol medication called ezetimibe, which blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine and could slightly reduce Lp(a), Smith said. Preliminary data suggests these medications can lower Lp(a) levels, but it’s still to be determined if they ultimately reduce risk for poor cardiac outcomes. The post The sneaky kind of cholesterol that may be threatening your heart health appeared first on Washington Post.