Because Good Medicine Deserves Better Explanations
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 than ever. Meanwhile, his neighbor—an avid cyclist with “perfect” cholesterol—underwent … 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
For years, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been considered the main culprit in heart disease. The common belief is that high levels of LDL-C clog up arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. This idea has driven medical experts to focus on lowering LDL-C as much as possible, often using medications like statins. However, as … Read more
Statin drugs play an important role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and have been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with established atherosclerotic heart disease. Statins, however, are not without side effects, and 7 to 29% of patients report adverse musculoskeletal effects that limit their ability to use them as recommended by clinical … 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
