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Question:
Should I take a statin?
With a 40% left carotid blockage, total cholesterol 218, HDL 100, LDL of 40, and triglycerides 97, do you think a statin is called for?
submitted by Michele from New York on 10/15/2011
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Domingo G. Gonzalez, Jr., MD
With statin therapy, the goal is HDL greater than or equal to 40 in men and 50 in women. For LDL the goal is equal to or less than 100 and in certain high risk populations less than 70. There is much data that shows mortality and morbidity benefit under these guidelines for statin therapy in at risk populations. Even though some may think the more the better, there is no data to show benefit or harm from statin therapy at the values you mention.
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Updated October 2011
