Reducing ldl cholesterol protects your coronary heart and mind, no matter your age – Harvard Well being Weblog
Excessive or irregular levels of cholesterol, irritation, and endothelial dysfunction play a key position in atherosclerosis and plaque buildup, the commonest reason for coronary heart assaults and strokes. (Endothelial dysfunction refers to impaired functioning of the internal lining of blood vessels on the center’s floor. It ends in these vessels inappropriately narrowing as a substitute of widening, which limits blood movement.) There are a lot of several types of ldl cholesterol, together with excessive density lipoprotein (HDL, or good, ldl cholesterol); triglycerides (a byproduct of extra energy consumed, that are saved as fats); and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or unhealthy ldl cholesterol).
It’s properly established that decreasing LDL ldl cholesterol, typically no matter whether or not or not you might have excessive ldl cholesterol, improves cardiovascular outcomes. However do older adults reap the identical advantages from decreasing ldl cholesterol, and do they face extra dangers?
Reducing LDL reduces cardiovascular danger
Research have persistently proven that decreasing LDL ldl cholesterol reduces the chance of cardiovascular demise, coronary heart assaults, strokes, and the necessity for cardiac catheterizations or bypass surgical procedures. This has been proven in these with established coronary artery illness, in addition to in high-risk sufferers with out coronary artery illness.