LDL - Age adjusted markers

LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is one of the components of what you call cholesterol. Cholesterol, as you may know, is a dreaded lipid or fat that many fear.

In truth, LDL, or cholesterol, is anything but dangerous. In fact, LDL is vital to your survival. It is too much LDL that becomes problematic.

Too much or too little is a constant theme in all my communication. Both are bad for you. 

So how much LDL is too much? The surprising thing is that the number changes as you grow older. So, for a male 20 years of age or younger, a total LDL of 100 or less is considered normal. High starts at 130 or above. 

For a person who is 40 years old, the same number changes. Normal is still 100 or below. But the high risk level changes to 160–189 or higher. 

You might ask, Why is the standard different? Wouldn't it just be better to be below 130 or even 100? 

The answer might just help you reduce a whole lot of stress around not just LDL or cholesterol but many of your medical markers. 

Medical markers are made by looking at the data across thousands of people. When the team looking at the data finds an inflection point, they mark that as a cut-off.

So, if the research team found a large number of people with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, say 160, that would become the risky level. 

There are two things happening here. We are accounting for the age-related increase, which for many medical indicators is considered normal.

The research is also indicating that the cutoff need not be applied literally to you. Think of markers such as LDL and cholesterol warming you of a future that would be risky. If you change your lifestyle, the risk may not apply at all. 

So ask your doctor to give you your age-adjusted biomarkers and change your lifestyle, if you can, before you start medicating yourself. 

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain