Lowering LDL cholesterol beyond current goals cuts heart attack, stroke risk

• There are two main types of cholesterol in the body — HDL or “good” cholesterol, and LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
• Having higher levels of LDL cholesterol can potentially lead to atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
• High levels of LDL cholesterol are normally treated in a variety of ways, including medications.
• A recently presented study suggests that using cholesterol-lowering drugs more aggressively to lower LDL cholesterol levels may help decrease risk for major cardiovascular events.

There are two main types of cholesterol in the body — high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is known as “good” cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), called the “bad” cholesterol.

HDL acts as a protector of your blood vessels as it carries excess cholesterol away to the liver where it’s either recycled or excreted from the body.

Conversely, while LDL cholesterol also helps carry cholesterol through the bloodstream, when there’s too much it deposits cholesterol onto the inner walls of the arteries, creating a build-up of plaque that narrows the arteries and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the body. This plaque build up is medically known as atherosclerosis.

People with atherosclerosis are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, and renal artery stenosis. People with ASCVD are also at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

High levels of LDL cholesterol are normally treated in a variety of ways, including lifestyle changes such as eating a heart-healthy diet and getting enough exercise, and taking certain medications.

Now, a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) reports that using cholesterol-lowering drugs more aggressively to lower LDL cholesterol levels further than traditional guidelines suggest may help decrease risk for major cardiovascular events.

The findings of the study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.