Because Good Medicine Deserves Better Explanations
In cardiovascular medicine, some numbers are sacred. LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) has long been the cornerstone of risk assessment and treatment targets. But what if we’ve been following the wrong number? This updated article revisits and expands on a piece I wrote in 2021 — enriched by new evidence, deeper clinical insights, and a clearer understanding of … Read more
It’s called Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) for short. And if you haven’t had it measured, you’re not alone—most people haven’t. In fact, most of you may have never heard of it. It’s not part of a standard lipid panel. It doesn’t show up in routine check-ups. And yet, one in five people carry levels so high … Read more
Just days ago, something remarkable happened. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stood at a podium and said what would’ve once been unthinkable. “That dogma still lives large,” he declared, referring to America’s decades-long war on saturated fat. “You see remnants of it in the food guidelines that we are now revising.” It wasn’t just a revision. … Read more
Sometimes, the most dangerous number isn’t the one your doctor talks about. While LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) steals the spotlight in most lab reports, it’s not always the best predictor of cardiovascular risk. Hidden in plain sight is a more powerful marker: non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C)—a measure that captures all the cholesterol carried by atherogenic, plaque-building particles, not … Read more
The TG/HDL-C Ratio in Clinical Context For decades, cholesterol has been the headline act in our understanding of heart disease. High LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) — the so-called “bad” cholesterol — was cast as the main villain, while HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) earned praise as the “good” kind. Statins became the blockbuster therapy, and LDL-C targets the cornerstone of … Read more