Let’s get more specific. The culprit in arterial disease is LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol.
Introduction:
Heart attack, a leading cause of death worldwide, is often linked to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. A key player in this buildup is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as "bad cholesterol." This lesson explores the relationship between LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack and other serious complications of arterial disease. High LDL cholesterol levels also lead to strokes, aortic aneurysms, and leg amputations.
What is LDL Cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol is a type of fat-like substance that circulates in your blood. It's essential for building and maintaining healthy cells, but high levels can pose a significant threat to your heart health. When LDL cholesterol levels are elevated, they can accumulate in the arteries, forming plaque.
How LDL Cholesterol Contributes to Heart Attack:
Plaque Formation: High LDL levels contribute to the formation of plaque, a sticky, yellowish substance that accumulates on the artery walls. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other cellular debris.
Oxidized LDL cholesterol is the Real Problem
Many of you are aware that producing too many oxidants makes you age faster and develop chronic illnesses sooner. Many of you took vitamin E as an antioxidant to improve your health. That did not work out. Taking vitamin E proved not to be helpful but you were on the right track. An imbalance between oxidant production and antioxidants is a key factor in heart attack, other arterial disease, and chronic diseases generally. More on that in the next lesson.
Dr. Lustig seems to indicate low HDL cholesterol or TGL/HDL is the single highest determinant in CVD, high LDL levels not withstanding, your opinion?