Beyond Total Cholesterol: Key Markers for True Heart Health Revealed

• Cardiology experts emphasize that total cholesterol alone is insufficient to predict heart disease risk; focus on the number and type of cholesterol-carrying particles.
• Dr. Dmitry Yaranov highlights LDL-C as the primary driver of plaque, stating that lowering it reduces cardiovascular risk.
• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is identified as the most powerful risk marker, counting all plaque-forming particles; if LDL and ApoB disagree, ApoB is more predictive.
• Other crucial markers include Non-HDL Cholesterol (a practical backup for ApoB), Triglycerides (signaling excess harmful particles when elevated), and Lp(a) (a genetic risk factor that increases risk even with normal LDL).
• Dietary recommendations for heart health include fatty fish, oats, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and berries.