High Cholesterol & Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia — abnormal lipid levels in the blood — is a primary driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of death in the United States. Standard lipid panels (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) are a blunt instrument that misses significant cardiovascular risk in many patients. LDL cholesterol calculated by the Friedewald equation is notoriously inaccurate at lower levels and in the setting of elevated triglycerides. Small, dense LDL particles (sdLDL) and elevated LDL particle number (LDL-P) are far stronger predictors of cardiovascular events than LDL-C alone. Metabolic drivers — particularly insulin resistance and excess dietary refined carbohydrates — are frequently the primary cause of the most common dyslipidemia pattern (low HDL, high triglycerides, normal-appearing LDL with elevated particle count).