Even Bad Cholesterol in the Moderate Range Can Spell Early Death

Adults who don't keep their "bad cholesterol" numbers at bay, who are otherwise healthy, are far likelier to die early deaths from cardiovascular issues than those who keep their cholesterol in the "good" range.  A recent study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center looked at data from over 36,000 patients with zero past incidences of diabetes or heart disease, including a low risk for heart attacks and strokes.  However, these patients had some level of LDL-C ("bad cholesterol" that can build up in your blood vessels), although it was low enough not to warrant prescription cholesterol medication, called statins.  The follow-up period for the study was around 27 years. During this time, over 1,000 people died from cardiovascular disease, while nearly 600 died from heart disease.  According to the study, the higher the person's LDL-C levels (ranging from 100 to 190 mg/DL), the higher their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or complications.  Usually, physicians don't prescribe statins unless the patient's cholesterol level reaches a threshold of 190 mg/DL.  This means even moderate levels of LDL-C can put you at risk.  Researchers say that the biggest takeaway from the study data is that a low risk for 10-year cardiovascular events does not mean the risk posed by higher LDL-C levels is wiped out.