There are 2 different types of cholesterol in your blood: HDL ("good" cholesterol) and LDL ("bad" cholesterol).

The lower you can get—and keep—your bad cholesterol (LDL-C), the better. High bad cholesterol can make your heart disease worse, especially if you’ve got diabetes or high blood pressure, so it’s essential to keep it under control. Consistently high levels of LDL-C lead to plaque buildup, which can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Even if you don’t feel it, high LDL-C can silently worsen heart disease over time.

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:

ASCVD is a common type of heart disease. It is caused by consistent high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood that can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries. ASCVD can also lead to the need for revascularization (a procedure that improves blood flow), such as stent insertion. 

ASCVD can put you at an increased risk of the following:

If you have ASCVD, it's important to lower your bad cholesterol. 

It is not known if LEQVIO can decrease problems related to high levels of bad cholesterol, such as heart attacks or stroke.

The challenge of multiple conditions

While ASCVD can be challenging on its own, the following conditions can increase bad cholesterol levels:

• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Lupus
• Hypothyroidism

Diet and exercise can help, but for some people, it may not be enough. It’s not you, it’s your LDL-C. 
Sticking with your unique treatment plan is key to staying on top of your heart health. Our medicine tracker, which can keep you on schedule with your medications, can also help.