7 Myths About Cholesterol, Debunked

You may not recall every lab value from your last physical, but you probably remember one: Your cholesterol level. If it’s higher than ideal, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2015 and 2018, almost 12% of U.S. adults ages 20 and up had high total cholesterol, defined as above 240 mg/dL. The type that physicians mostly worry about is LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, which is one component of that total. Why do doctors care so much about cholesterol? First, “it predicts risk,” says Dr. Jeffrey Berger, a cardiologist and director of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone in New York City. “It’s been shown in probably hundreds of studies that higher levels of LDL cholesterol is associated with a higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or early death.” And, crucially, it’s possible to modify this risk factor. “Numerous studies have shown that when you lower cholesterol, you decrease the risk of a cardiovascular event,” Berger says. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Doctors’ understanding of cholesterol, including how to best manage it, has evolved over the years. Read on for the latest information from experts. The myth: Cholesterol is always harmful. The facts: Cholesterol, which is often described as a fat-like, waxy substance, is essential to the human body, including playing a key role during fetal d...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized freelance healthscienceclimate heart health Source Type: news