It is now widely accepted that high LDL cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease.

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The most common type of cholesterol problem is a high LDL (low density lipoprotein) which is usually best treated with a statin, of which there are at least four on the market.

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These post-menopausal women had somewhat high LDL ("bad" cholesterol), but they were otherwise healthy, with an average age of 56 (that's young) and an average HDL ("good" cholesterol) of 67 (that's high).

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The addition of Kynamro helps to reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B, total cholesterol, and non-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non HDL-C).

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Generally, the focus of attention in such tests is LDL, or bad cholesterol, which at high levels has long been associated with increased chances of heart attacks and strokes.

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Levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, can be as high as six times normal, and patients can have heart attacks in their teens or twenties.

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Up until now, evidence for statins has been mainly in people with high "bad" cholesterol, properly known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

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Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol levels should be below 100, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) should measure 35 or above.

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"The system is set up so that the HDL high density lipoproteins, or artery-cleaning or 'good' cholesterol, cleans out the LDL low density lipoproteins, or 'bad' cholesterol, " she explains.

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