lipid.siteYour guide
Now the big question. Whether medicine is worth it depends on your overall risk and how far your LDL falls. Try a scenario, from diet and exercise alone to a statin, and watch what happens to a hundred people like you.
Room 5 · The Risk Simulator
Do I really need medicine?
About 4 minutes
Guess first
100 people each have a 10% chance of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. They lower LDL by about 50 mg/dL. About how many of those events are prevented?
3. Or build your own
Medicines
Food and activity
What studies see when people stick to the plan closely.
LDL-C
168 → 168
no change
10-year risk
10% → 10.0%
For one to benefit
–
people for 10 years
- heart attack or stroke anyway: 10
- prevented by lower LDL: 0
- neither: 90
Using a sample visitor. Illustration using averages from large trials: about 22% fewer major heart and stroke events for each 39 mg/dL lower LDL-C, applied to the 10-year risk you chose. Food and activity effects on LDL come from NCEP ATP III and the AHA/ACC lifestyle guideline. Real results vary, and this shows benefits only; side effects are in the Myth Lab. Not a personal prediction or medical advice.
Make your guess to turn on the lights