Cholesterol (cont.)

Medical Author:
Medical Editor:

Is lowering LDL cholesterol enough?

LDL cholesterol reduction is only part of the battle against atherosclerosis. Individuals who have normal or only mildly elevated LDL cholesterol levels can still develop atherosclerosis and heart attacks even in the absence of other risk factors such as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. It is clear that while lowering LDL cholesterol below NCEP target levels is an important step, there are other factors involved in heart disease that are yet to be discovered.

REFERENCES:

Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. "Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)."

National Institutes of Health. NIH stops clinical trial on combination cholesterol treatment.

Previous contributing author: Dennis Lee, M.D.


Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 7/21/2011

Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Cholesterol - Share Your Experience Question: Please share your experience with high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol - Medications Question: What medications have you taken to lower your cholesterol or triglycerides? What side effects have you experienced?
Cholesterol - Effective Treatments Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your cholesterol?
Cholesterol - LDL Cholesterol Question: In what ways have you tried lowering your LDL cholesterol?

Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE!