

Q: I am a 71-year-young man in excellent condition. At my last physical, my HDL was 63, triglycerides 55, and LDL was 173.
I’ve been told this is on the high side for LDL. How do I reduce my LDL cholesterol and protect myself from heart disease?
A: Congratulations on such a terrific lipid profile! Why do I think it’s terrific? When I see triglycerides as low as yours, you’ve basically eliminated a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Indeed, high triglycerides may be a greater risk factor than LDL cholesterol. Couple that with a very healthy HDL of 63, and you’ve decreased your risk even more. But here are some tests you should have first to determine risk factors:
Finally, consider getting an EBT heart scan to see if that high LDL is actually doing any damage to your coronary arteries. This is a discussion to have with your doctor.
To your health!
Leyla Muedin, MS, RD, CDN
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