LDL Cholesterol: Levels, Risks & How to Lower It

Chances are, you don’t spend much time thinking about your cholesterol. ‍You’re likely focused on⁤ getting enough protein, improving your sleep, and figuring out the best workout order.

However, a 2023 study published in JAMA Cardiology found that over⁢ 40% of U.S.adults with high LDL cholesterol are unaware of it. This means ⁢many people are at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease without knowing it.

The good news is you can control your cholesterol levels. HereS what cardiologists recommend.

What is ‌LDL cholesterol?

Cholesterol frequently enough gets‍ a bad reputation, but it’s more complex than that. Dr. Ethan Korngold, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Abbott, explains that cholesterol – a waxy, fat-like substance – is essential for building cells and ​producing vitamins and hormones. “However, too much cholesterol can cause problems because it narrows the arteries, blocking blood flow, which increases‌ the risk of heart disease,” he says.

Cholesterol travels ‍through the blood ⁣via lipoproteins, specifically high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). HDL (“good” cholesterol) carries cholesterol to the liver for breakdown and removal.LDL delivers cholesterol to cells, and as Dr. Korngold explained, too ‍much of it…