Heart Health
Heart attack despite low cholesterol?
Ask the doctor
I have a relative who had a total cholesterol value of 155, yet he still had a heart attack with 90% blockage in one artery. How could that happen?In a population, a lower LDL level is—on average—associated with a lower risk of heart attack. But about half of all heart attacks occur in people with "normal" cholesterol levels. An individual person may have a whole range of other conditions that could raise the risk. Some of the best-known ones are smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and a lack of physical activity. Other potential contributors include secondhand smoke and air pollution. In addition, there are likely genetic and lifestyle factors that we don't fully understand.
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