Target number one
A decrease in LDL for every 1 mmol/l reduces the risk of heart attack by about 20% - that’s why cardiology “counts” this particular fraction. Goals depend on risk: <3.0 in healthy people, <1.8 in high risk groups, <1.4 after a heart attack. Control on statins is planned, without stopping the drug before the test.
When is it appointed?
- assessment of cardiovascular risk from 30–40 years - every 1–5 years;
- hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking - mandatory control;
- heredity for heart attacks and strokes at a young age;
- control of statin therapy - achieving target LDL;
- erectile dysfunction - vascular screening.
Cholesterol and blood vessels
Atherosclerosis develops silently for decades - the lipid profile shows the risk in advance: “bad” LDL builds plaques, “good” HDL takes cholesterol from the walls, triglycerides reflect metabolic syndrome. Target levels are individual (the higher the risk, the lower the LDL goal), so the numbers are interpreted with a doctor. For men with erectile dysfunction, a lipid profile is required: the vessels of the penis “age” first.
