For people who, along with diet and a statin, need help lowering their bad cholesterol (LDL-C).
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What is LDL-C?
There are 2 different types of cholesterol in your blood: HDL ("good" cholesterol) and LDL ("bad" cholesterol). If you have heart disease—known as ASCVD—or are at increased risk of developing heart disease, it's important to understand the role of bad cholesterol and what you and your doctor can do to lower yours and keep it low.
Bad Cholesterol, also known as Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
Your liver works to remove bad cholesterol naturally from your blood, but sometimes certain proteins can disrupt your liver’s hard work.
The lower you can get—and keep—your LDL-C level, the better. Consistently high levels of LDL-C in the body lead to a buildup of plaque on blood vessel walls, which restricts blood flow.
Plaque buildup is linked with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease, including ASCVD, as well as increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
It is not known if LEQVIO® can decrease problems related to high levels of bad cholesterol, such as heart attacks or stroke.
What causes high LDL-C?
There are many things that can cause high LDL-C. Some of these things you can control, and some you can’t.
Some common causes of high LDL-C include:
Smoking
Obesity
Family history
High-fat foods
Inactivity
What's ASCVD and how does it relate to bad cholesterol?
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, is a common type of heart disease. It is caused by consistent high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood that can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries. This can put you at an increased risk of:
 |  |  |
Heart attack | Stroke | Blockages |
If you have ASCVD, it's important to lower your bad cholesterol.
Facing the challenge of multiple conditions
Dealing with multiple conditions can be complicated, even overwhelming at times. Some conditions can actually cause high bad cholesterol levels, including:
Chronic kidney disease
Diabetes
HIV/AIDS
Lupus
Hypothyroidism
Working with your doctor to come up with a treatment plan for your unique health needs is key. Our medicine tracker, which can keep you on schedule with your medications, can also help.
Knowing your cholesterol numbers can be a good place to start
How do you know if your bad cholesterol (LDL-C) number is high? Since high cholesterol has no symptoms, the only way to find out is by asking your doctor for a blood test.
Lipid panels: The tool that puts you in charge
A crucial step in managing bad cholesterol (LDL-C) is testing. A lipid panel is a group of tests that measures the amount of cholesterol and other fats in your blood, including:
Total cholesterol
LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
HDL (“good” cholesterol)
Triglycerides (another type of fat that causes hardening of the arteries)
A lipid panel can be a helpful tool in predicting your risk for heart disease and stroke.
It is not known if LEQVIO can decrease problems related to high levels of bad cholesterol, such as heart attacks or stroke.
Lipid level analyzer: What does your LDL-C number mean for your health?
Your LDL-C number is one of the measures your doctor will be looking at when prescribing a treatment to help bring down your bad cholesterol. That’s why this easy-to-use tool can help you see what your LDL-C number means—and what you can do to stay on track with your health goals.
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Swipe through to find the range that corresponds to your most recent LDL-C number.
Swipe through to find the range that corresponds to your most recent LDL-C number.
OPTIMAL
<70 mg/dL
For people with established heart disease
OPTIMAL
<70 mg/dL
For people with established heart disease
If you have a history of known heart disease, you should strive to be below 70 mg/dL. If you’re not there yet, don’t be discouraged. Continue to follow your doctor's recommendations to help you achieve your LDL-C goal.
OPTIMAL
<100 mg/dL
For people at high risk of developing heart disease
OPTIMAL
<100 mg/dL
For people at high risk of developing heart disease
This is the goal you and your doctor are shooting for! Just have your number checked regularly and keep up with your treatment to make sure you stay on track.
NEAR OPTIMAL
100-129 mg/dL
NEAR OPTIMAL
100-129 mg/dL
You’re not completely where you want to be, but being near optimal means you’re still doing well. Talk to your doctor about the simple steps you can take from here, like losing weight or some gentle exercise.
BORDERLINE HIGH
130-159 mg/dL
BORDERLINE HIGH
130-159 mg/dL
Even if you’re making progress toward lowering your LDL-C, there’s still a little more work to be done. But you can do it!
HIGH
160-189 mg/dL
HIGH
160-189 mg/dL
LDL-C numbers in this range may show you have a way to go to reach your optimal number. Just remember that it could take a short while for your results to kick in—so it’s essential to keep up with your treatment.
VERY HIGH
190+ mg/dL
VERY HIGH
190+ mg/dL
It’s true, being in this range increases your risk of heart attack or stroke due to high LDL-C. But don’t be discouraged—look at this as just the start of your journey toward better health.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE or collect personally identifiable information. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about your lab results, talk to your doctor.
Getting more support
As you work toward your LDL-C goal, there’s help close by. Click on the links below for useful guidance and resources.
Doctor discussion guide
Get useful questions to ask your doctor at your next appointment.
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Recipe booklet
Discover food you can make that’s both tasty and healthy.
FAQs
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Definitions: ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.