Article: Dean - Cholesterol Myths that May Surprise You

Dean's Stroke Musing

More from Yahoo health, run these by your doctor for full details at the link Cholesterol Myths that May Surprise You. -- Dean's Stroke Musing


Life insurance companies know a surprising secret about cholesterol that most doctors never tell patients: When it comes to rating your risk for a fatal heart attack, the least important cholesterol number is your level of LDL (bad) cholesterol. In fact, life insurance actuaries don’t even look at LDL levels, because large studies show it’s the worst predictor of heart attack risk.

Instead, life insurance companies use a simple math formula to rate your heart attack risk: They divide your total cholesterol by the level of HDL (good) cholesterol.

“If the ratio is below three, and there’s no inflammation in your arteries, you’re practically bulletproof against heart attacks and strokes, even if your LDL is high,” reports Amy Doneen, MSN, ARNP, medical director of the Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center in Spokane, Washington.

Here’s a look at eight common cholesterol myths.

     Myth: Cholesterol is inherently evil.
     Myth: Low cholesterol is always a sign of good health.
     Myth: High LDL means you could be headed for a heart attack.
     Myth: All LDL particles are equally dangerous.
     Myth: Americans have the world’s highest cholesterol levels.
     Myth: Triglycerides trigger heart disease.
     Myth: Eggs clogs up arteries.
     Myth: There are no visible symptoms of high cholesterol.

See the full details in Cholesterol Myths that May Surprise You in Yahoo!