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
The LDL Paradox: High Can Be Harmless, Normal Can Harm He wasn’t exactly a poster child for heart health. He loved steak, hated vegetables, and didn’t care much for doctors. His LDL-cholesterol hovered around 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) for most of his adult life. Yet, at age 88, his arteries were clean—and his mind sharper … Read more
He’s just poured his first cup of coffee. The house is quiet; the day just beginning. A minute ago, he noticed a light sweat along his back — strange but easy to ignore. Then it hits. A tightness in his chest, deep and growing. A wave of nausea. His skin turns cold and clammy. He … Read more
The role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the evolution of heart disease is fairly well established. In addition, the benefits of pharmacological treatment with agents that lower LDL-C in high-risk patients are well documented. Lipoproteins are biochemical structures that enable the transport of lipids such as cholesterol in the circulation. LDL-C represents the amount … Read more
A recently published scientific paper shows that measuring cholesterol levels in the blood may not be an optimal tool to predict the risk of cardiovascular events (1). The study is especially important because our confidence in cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in particular, has been pretty consistent for a very long time. The paper, published by Marston … Read more