What good does treatment of high cholesterol do?
It’s really worthwhile. A little work can make a big difference. Consider just these two simple but reliable rules: • Every 1% reduction in your cholesterol level lowers your risk 2%. • Each increase of 1 mg/dL (not percent) of your good cholesterol decreases your risk 2-3%. Investments in lowering your cholesterol are worthwhile! When and how should high cholesterol be treated? It depends on a number of factors, most importantly: • The level of cholesterol • The “type” of cholesterol which is elevated, most commonly the LDL and HDL • Other lipids, such as triglycerides • Whether the patient already has manifest arteriosclerosis, such as a heart attack, stroke, or other evidence of blocked vessels • Whether the patient has other risk factors for developing arteriosclerosis such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of early arteriosclerosis. The principles of treatment are: • Establish the accuracy of the measurements. More than one blood test is generally requ
