In this month's newsletter, I wanted to share an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that was published earlier this week. The article in the NEJM examined 3000 patients with known plaque build up in the coronary arteries, also called coronary artery disease. They divided the patients into a group with an LDL target goal of <70 and another group with a target LDL goal of <55. The study found that the group with an LDL <55 had far fewer deaths and heart attacks.
How to Detect Coronary Artery Disease:
My preferred method to detect plaque in the arteries is with a coronary CT angiogram. This specialized scan uses IV contrast to detect plaque before it builds up to cause a blockage.
How to Get Your LDL to <55:
Diet and exercise are important for many aspects of heart health. Sometimes supplements like Fish Oil, Citrus Bergamot and Berberine can help lower cholesterol. Oftentimes prescription medications are needed to lower it to such a low goal. These include Statins, Ezetimibe and PCSK9 injections like Repatha or Praluent.
